had pointed to me to sit, for it was his house. After a little
while the mercer said, he did not know me again, and began
to make some compliments his way. I told him, I believed he
did not know me at first, and that if he had, I believed he
would not have treated me as he did.
He told me he was very sorry for what had happened, and that
it was to testify the willingness he had to make all possible
reparation that he had appointed this meeting; that he hoped
I would not carry things to extremity, which might be not only
too great a loss to him, but might be the ruin of his business
and shop, in which case I might have the satisfaction of
repaying an injury with an injury ten times greater; but that I
would then get nothing, whereas he was willing to do me any
justice that was in his power, without putting himself or me
to the trouble or charge of a suit at law.
I told him I was glad to hear him talk so much more like a man
of sense than he did before; that it was true, acknowledgment
in most cases of affronts was counted reparation sufficient;
but this had gone too far to be made up so; that I was not
revengeful, nor did I seek his ruin, or any man’s else, but that
all my friends were unanimous not to let me so far neglect my
character as to adjust a thing of this kind without a sufficient
reparation of honour; that to be taken up for a thief was such
an indignity as could not be put up; that my character was
above being treated so by any that knew me, but because in
my condition of a widow I had been for some time careless
of myself, and negligent of myself, I might be taken for such
a creature, but that for the particular usage I had from him
afterwards, –and then I repeated all as before; it was so
provoking I had scarce patience to repeat it.
Well, he acknowledged all, and was might humble indeed;
he made proposals very handsome; he came up to #100 and
to pay all the law charges, and added that he would make me
a present of a very good suit of clothes. I came down to #300,
and I demanded that I should publish an advertisement of the
particulars in the common newspapers.
This was a clause he never could comply with. However, at
last he came up, by good management of my attorney, to
#150 and a suit of black silk clothes; and there I agree, and as
it were, at my attorney’s request, complied with it, he paying
my attorney’s bill and charges, and gave us a good supper into
the bargain.
When I came to receive the money, I brought my governess
with me, dressed like an old duchess, and a gentleman very
well dressed, who we pretended courted me, but I called him
cousin, and the lawyer was only to hint privately to him that
his gentleman courted the widow.
He treated us handsomely indeed, and paid the money
cheerfully enough; so that it cost him #200 in all, or rather
more. At our last meeting, when all was agreed, the case of
the journeyman came up, and the mercer begged very hard
for him; told me he was a man that had kept a shop of his
own, and been in good business, had a wife, and several
children, and was very poor; that he had nothing to make
satisfaction with, but he should come to beg my pardon on
his knees, if I desired it, as openly as I pleased. I had no
spleen at the saucy rogue, nor were his submissions anything
to me, since there was nothing to be got by him, so I thought
it was as good to throw that in generously as not; so I told
him I did not desire the ruin of any man, and therefore at his
request I would forgive the wretch; it was below me to seek