d 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 recei