hilosophy, therefore you must not expect it from me. I shall never be
ashamed to own that I have a particular value for you above any other,
but 'tis not the greatest merit of person will excuse a want of fortune;
in some degree I think it will, at least with the most rational part of
the world, and, as far as that will read, I desire it should. I would
not have the world believe I married out of interest and to please my
friends; I had much rather they should know I chose the person, and took
his fortune, because 'twas necessary, and that I prefer a competency
with one I esteem infinitely before a vast estate in other hands. 'Tis
much easier, sure, to get a good fortune than a good husband; but
whosoever marries without any consideration of fortune shall never be
allowed to do it, but of so reasonable an apprehension the whole world
(without any reserve) shall pronounce they did it merely to satisfy
their giddy humour.

Besides, though you imagine 'twere a great argument of my kindness to
consider nothing but you, in earnest I believe 'twould be an injury to
you. I do not see that it puts any value upon men when women marry them
for love (as they term it); 'tis not their merit, but our folly that is
always presumed to cause it; and would it be any advantage to you to
have your wife thought an indiscreet person? All this I can say to you;
but when my brother disputes it with me I have other arguments for him,
and I drove him up so close t'other night that for want of a better gap
to get out at he was fain to say that he feared as much your having a
fortune as your having none, for he saw you held my Lord L't's [?
Lieutenant's] principles. That religion and honour were things you did
not consider at all, and that he was confident you would take any
engagement, serve in employment, or do anything to advance yourself. I
had no patience for this. To say you were a beggar, your father not
worth L4000 in the whole world, was nothing in comparison of having no
religion nor no honour. I forgot all my disguise, and we talked
ourselves weary; he renounced me, and I defied him, but both in as civil
language as it would permit, and parted in great anger with the usual
ceremony of a leg and a courtesy, that you would have died with laughing
to have seen us.

The next day I, not being at dinner, saw him not till night; then he
came into my chamber, where I supped but he did not. Afterwards Mr.
Gibson and he and I talked of indiffere