I had so bad an Opinion, that I must be uneasy at every Fellow
she looks at. My Dear, answer'd he, you injure me extremely, you was
not in my Thoughts, nor, indeed, could be, while they were covered by
so morose a Countenance; I am justly angry with that Parson, whose
Family hath been raised from the Dunghill by ours; and who hath
received from me twenty Kindnesses, and yet is not contented to
destroy the Game in all other Places, which I freely give him leave
to do; but hath the Impudence to pursue a few Hares, which I am
desirous to preserve, round about this little Coppice. Look, my Dear,
pray look, says he; I believe he is going to turn Higler. To Confess
the Truth, he had no less than three ty'd up behind his Horse, and a
fourth he held in his Hand.

Pshaw, says I, I wish all the Hares in the Country were d----d (the
Parson himself chid me afterwards for using the Word, tho' it was in
his Service.) Here's a Fuss, indeed, about a nasty little pitiful
Creature, that is not half so useful as a Cat. You shall not persuade
me, that a Man of your Understanding, would quarrel with a Clergyman
for such a Trifle. No, no, I am the Hare, for whom poor Parson
_Williams_ is persecuted; and Jealousy is the Motive. If you had
married one of your Quality Ladies, she would have had Lovers by
dozens, she would so; but because you have taken a Servant-Maid,
forsooth! you are jealous if she but looks (and then I began to
Water) at a poor P----a----a----rson in his Pu----u----u----lpit, and
then out burst a Flood of Tears.

My Dear, said he, for Heaven's sake dry your Eyes, and don't let him
be a Witness of your Tears, which I should be sorry to think might be
imputed to my Unkindness; I have already given you Some Proofs that I
am not jealous of this Parson; I will now give you a very strong one:
For I will mount my Horse, and you shall take _Williams_ into the
Coach. You may be sure, this Motion pleased me, yet I pretended to
make as light of it as possible, and told him, I was sorry his
Behaviour had made some such glaring Instance, necessary to the
perfect clearing my Character.

He soon came up to Mr. _Williams_, who had attempted to ride off, but
was prevented by one of our Horsemen, whom my Husband sent to stop
him. When we met, my Husband asked him how he did with a very
good-humoured Air, and told him he perceived he had found good Sport
that Morning. He answered pretty moderate, Sir; for that he had found
the three Hares