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MY SECRET LIFE recollect I am married, let me say what I have come to say, and then I must go.”

“To say to me ?” said I. “Pray don’t misunderstand me, I thought you would excuse it”, said she getting confused, “besides it is my duty, and of course knowing what I do about you, I was so afraid of something.” “What do you mean?” “Well if I had known where she was going to I would have made mother stop it, now I come at once to ask you not to hurt her.” I pro- posed going into a small half-country ale-house close by, but she refused saying, that if seen to do so, and it became known to her husband, it might cause much harm.

“Oh! no”, said she in a hurry again, “I must go, I must get back, I came to ask you not to hurt her, promise you won’t for my sake.” All this time I was in a fog. “Who—who,—what do you mean?” said I. “Oh you know,—Mary, I mean Mary, she is my favor- ite sister, pray don’t harm her.” The whole affair was clear to me at once. “It that what you came about ?” I asked disappointed. “Yes, I have been coming for a fortnight, but could not make up my mind; her last letter made me determine at any risk to do so, and now dear, promise me not to hurt her, and I will go.”

I was annoyed and wounded in vanity, for I had al- most brought myself to think she had come for the pleasure of meeting me. I had no intention of quitting her so soon, felt as if I could not, so chaffed her, “What do you mean by hurting her?” “Don’t talk nonsense, you know what I mean.” “Another case of cock aund cunt coming together." “If you talk like that, you insult me, and I did not think you would.” “Well, I love you and would not like to hurt your —223—