often shifting and
changing the situation of his affairs; and that I myself had not always
had a fixed abode, but that now, as neither of us was very young, he
fancied I would be for taking up our abode where, if possible, we might
remove no more; that as to his part, he was of that opinion entirely,
only with this exception, that the choice of the place should be mine,
for that all places in the world were alike to him, only with this
single addition, namely, that I was with him.

I heard him with a great deal of pleasure, as well for his being willing
to give me the choice as for that I resolved to live abroad, for the
reason I have mentioned already, namely, lest I should at any time be
known in England, and all that story of Roxana and the balls should come
out; as also I was not a little tickled with the satisfaction of being
still a countess, though I could not be a princess.

I told Amy all this story, for she was still my privy councillor; but
when I asked her opinion, she made me laugh heartily. "Now, which of the
two shall I take, Amy?" said I. "Shall I be a lady--that is, a baronet's
lady in England, or a countess in Holland?" The ready-witted jade, that
knew the pride of my temper too, almost as well as I did myself,
answered (without the least hesitation), "Both, madam. Which of them?"
says she (repeating the words). "Why not both of them? and then you will
be really a princess; for, sure, to be a lady in English and a countess
in Dutch may make a princess in High Dutch." Upon the whole, though Amy
was in jest, she put the thought into my head, and I resolved that, in
short, I would be both of them, which I managed as you shall hear.

First, I seemed to resolve that I would live and settle in England, only
with this condition, namely, that I would not live in London. I
pretended that it would choke me up; that I wanted breath when I was in
London, but that anywhere else I would be satisfied; and then I asked
him whether any seaport town in England would not suit him; because I
knew, though he seemed to leave off, he would always love to be among
business, and conversing with men of business; and I named several
places, either nearest for business with France or with Holland; as
Dover or Southampton, for the first; and Ipswich, or Yarmouth, or Hull
for the last; but I took care that we would resolve upon nothing; only
by this it seemed to be certain that we should live in England.

It was time now to brin