on wherewith to charge him. I bade him tell Mr. _Milton_
that since we should meet soe soone, I need not write, but would keep
alle my News for our Fire-side. _Robin_ added, "Say, we cannot spare
her yet," and _Father_ echoed the same.

But I begin to feel now, that I must not prolong my Stay. At the
leaste, not beyond _Father's_ Birthday. My Month is hasting to a Close.

_Sept. 21, 1643_.

Battle at _Newbury--_Lord _Falkland_ slayn. Oh, fatal Loss! _Father_
and _Mother_ going off to my Lady: but I think she will not see them.
Aunt and Uncle _Hewlett_, who brought the News, can talk of nothing
else.

_Sept. 22, 1643_.

Alle Sadnesse and Consternation. I am wearie of bad News, public and
private, and feel less and less Love for the Puritans, yet am forced to
seem more loyal than I really am, soe high runs party Feeling just now
at Home.

My Month has passed!

_Sept. 28, 1643_.

A most displeased Letter from my Husband, minding me that my Leave of
Absence hath expired, and that he likes not the Messages he received
through _Ralph_, nor the unreasonable and hurtfulle Pastimes which he
finds have beene making my quiet Home distastefulle. Asking, are they
suitable, under Circumstances of nationall Consternation to _my owne_
Party, or seemlie in soe young a Wife, apart from her Husband? To
conclude, insisting, with more Authoritie than Kindnesse, on my
immediate Return.

With Tears in my Eyes, I have beene to my Father. I have tolde him I
must goe. He sayth, Oh no, not yet. I persisted, I must, my Husband
was soe very angry. He rejoined, What, angry with my sweet _Moll_? and
for spending a few Days with her old Father? Can it be? hath it come
to this alreadie? I sayd, my Month had expired. He sayd, Nonsense, he
had always askt me to stay over _Michaelmasse_, till his Birthday; he
knew _Dick_ had named it to Mr. _Milton_. I sayd, Mr. _Milton_ had
taken no Notice thereof, but had onlie granted me a Month. He grew
peevish, and said, "Pooh, pooh!" Thereat, after a Silence of a Minute
or two, I sayd yet agayn, I must goe. He took me by the two Wrists and
sayd, Doe you wish to go? I burst into Teares, but made noe Answer.
He sayd, That is Answer enough,--how doth this Puritan carry it with
you, my Child? and snatched his Letter. I sayd, Oh, don't read that,
and would have drawn it back; but _Father_, when heated, is impossible
to controwl; therefore, quite deaf to Entreaty, he would rea