"And now, young man, I will, in the first place, say something about
the manner in which I quitted you. It must have seemed somewhat
singular to you that I went away without taking any leave, or giving
you the slightest hint that I was going; but I did not do so without
considerable reflection. I was afraid that I should not be able to
support a leave-taking; and as you had said that you were determined
to go wherever I did, I thought it best not to tell you at all; for I
did not think it advisable that you should go with me, and I wished to
have no dispute.

"In the second place, I wish to say something about an offer of
wedlock which you made me; perhaps, young man, had you made it at the
first period of our acquaintance, I should have accepted it, but you
did not, and kept putting off and putting off, and behaving in a very
grange manner, till I could stand your conduct no longer, but
determined upon leaving you and Old England, which last step I had
been long thinking about; so when you made your offer at last,
everything was arranged--my cart and donkey engaged to be sold--and
the greater part of my things disposed of. However, young man, when
you did make it, I frankly tell you that I had half a mind to accept
it; at last, however, after very much consideration, I thought it best
to leave you for ever, because, for some time past, I had become
almost convinced, that though with a wonderful deal of learning, and
exceedingly shrewd in some things, you were--pray don't be offended--at
the root mad! and though mad people, I have been told sometimes make
very good husbands, I was unwilling that your friends, if you had any,
should say that Belle Berners, the workhouse girl, took advantage of
your infirmity; for there is no concealing that I was born and bred up
in a workhouse; notwithstanding that, my blood is better than your
own, and as good as the best; you having yourself told me that my name
is a noble name, and once, if I mistake not, that it was the same word
as baron, which is the same thing as bear; and that to be called in
old times a bear was considered a great compliment--the bear being a
mighty strong animal, on which account our forefathers called all
their great fighting-men barons, which is the same as bears.

"However, setting matters of blood and family entirely aside, many
thanks to you, y