, 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
strange 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 as 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