igations.'

'And is this possible, Mrs. Betty?' says the old lady. 'Then you have
been much juster to us than we have been to you; for we have all looked
upon you as a kind of snare to my son, and I had a proposal to make to
you for your removing, for fear of it; but I had not yet mentioned it
to you, because I thought you were not thorough well, and I was afraid
of grieving you too much, lest it should throw you down again; for we
have all a respect for you still, though not so much as to have it be
the ruin of my son; but if it be as you say, we have all wronged you
very much.'

'As to the truth of what I say, madam,' said I, 'refer you to your son
himself; if he will do me any justice, he must tell you the story just
as I have told it.'

Away goes the old lady to her daughters and tells them the whole story,
just as I had told it her; and they were surprised at it, you may be
sure, as I believed they would be. One said she could never have
thought it; another said Robin was a fool; a third said she would not
believe a word of it, and she would warrant that Robin would tell the
story another way. But the old gentlewoman, who was resolved to go to
the bottom of it before I could have the least opportunity of
acquainting her son with what had passed, resolved too that she would
talk with her son immediately, and to that purpose sent for him, for he
was gone but to a lawyer's house in the town, upon some petty business
of his own, and upon her sending he returned immediately.

Upon his coming up to them, for they were all still together, 'Sit
down, Robin,' says the old lady, 'I must have some talk with you.'
'With all my heart, madam,' says Robin, looking very merry. 'I hope it
is about a good wife, for I am at a great loss in that affair.' 'How
can that be?' says his mother; 'did not you say you resolved to have
Mrs. Betty?' 'Ay, madam,' says Robin, 'but there is one has forbid the
banns.' 'Forbid, the banns!' says his mother; 'who can that be?' 'Even
Mrs. Betty herself,' says Robin. 'How so?' says his mother. 'Have you
asked her the question, then?' 'Yes, indeed, madam,' says Robin. 'I
have attacked her in form five times since she was sick, and am beaten
off; the jade is so stout she won't capitulate nor yield upon any
terms, except such as I cannot effectually grant.' 'Explain yourself,'
says the mother, 'for I am surprised; I do not understand you. I hope
you are not in earnest.'

'Why, madam,' say