Page:Maria, or, The wanderer reclaim'd.pdf/12

Rh his only friend, had procured him a place in one of the public offices, and was uſing his intereſt to advance him: but that if he ſhould be informed of his marriage, he would utterly reject him; and thus he ſhould loſe all his future proſpects— His intereſt was ſo much mine, that I readily acquieſced: but the knowledge of his circumſtances rendered me anxious and careful; and few women in my ſtate, I believe, would have lived with greater economy.

Indeed I had very little reaſon to be expenſive; for I ſaw, I could ſee, no company. I found that I was generally eſteemed by the ſober neighbourhood in an offenſive character; and, therefore, I could make no acquaintance with them: and I had no inclination to aſſociate with the abandoned, and loſt to reputation; ſince I knew, (or at leaſt imagined) there was no blot upon my own. My maid, and the good woman of the houſe where I lodged, were all my acquaintance; and a walk, in the duſk of the evening, my only refreſhment and recreation. Mr. G** would now and then bring a gentleman to paſs the evening; but their converſation was generally too looſe for me then to reliſh ; and I was apt to be diſpleaſed with him, for allowing his friends ſome liberties with me, which I thought did not agree with the delicacy of a huſband. Mr. S* in particular ſeemed my huſband’s favourite;