when I talked over past events, did I listen to her remarks, all
tending to one point, morality and virtue; often did I receive from her
at first a severe, but latterly a kind rebuke, when my discourse was
light and frivolous; but when I talked of merry subjects which were
innocent, what could be more joyous or more exhilarating than her
laugh--what more intoxicating than her sweet smile, when she approved of
my sentiments! and when animated by the subject, what could be more
musical or more impassioned than her bursts of eloquence, which were
invariably followed by a deep blush, when she recollected how she had
been carried away by excitement.

There was one point upon which I congratulated myself, which was, that
she had received two or three unexceptionable offers of marriage during
the six months that I had been in her company, and refused them. At the
end of that period, thanks to the assistance I received from the
Friends, I had paid Mr Cophagus all the money which he had advanced,
and found myself in possession of a flourishing business, and
independent. I then requested that I might be allowed to pay an annual
stipend for my board and lodging, commencing from the time I first came
to his house. Mr Cophagus said I was right--the terms were easily
arranged, and I was independent.

Still my advances with Susannah were slow, but if slow, they were sure.
One day I observed to her, how happy Mr Cophagus appeared to be as a
married man: her reply was, "He is, Japhet: he has worked hard for his
independence, and he is now reaping the fruits of his industry." That
is as much as to say that I must do the same, thought I, and that I have
no business to propose for a wife, until I am certain that I am able to
provide for her. I have as yet laid up nothing, and an income is not a
capital. I felt that whether a party interested or not, she was right,
and I redoubled my diligence.

PART THREE, CHAPTER ELEVEN.

A VARIETY OF THE QUAKER TRIBE--WHO HAD A CURIOUS DISINTEGRATION OF MIND
AND BODY.

I was not yet weaned from the world, but I was fast advancing to that
state, when a very smart young Quaker came on a visit to Reading. He
was introduced to Mr and Mrs Cophagus, and was soon, as might be
expected, an admirer of Susannah, but he received no encouragement. He
was an idle person, and passed much of his time sitting in my shop, and
talking with me, and being much less reserved and unguarded than the
generali