to come; and we agree that if he come in a week's time, there will be no thought in anybody's mind of our having conspired to this end.
As the fates would have it, Mr. Godwin finished his painting on the Saturday following (the most wonderful piece of its kind I ever saw, or any one else, in my belief), and being justly proud of his work and anxious Sir Peter Lely should see it soon, he resolved he would carry it to Hatfield on Monday. Moll, who was prouder of her husband's piece than if it were of her own doing, was not less eager it should be seen; yet the thought that she must lose him for four days (for this journey could not well be accomplished in less time) cast down her spirits exceedingly. 'Twas painful to see her efforts to be cheerful despite of herself. And, seeing how incapable she was of concealing her real feeling from him whom she would cheer, she at length confessed to him her trouble. "I would have you go, and yet I'd have you stay, love," says she.
"'Tis but a little while we shall be parted," says he.
"A little while?" says she, trembling and wringing one hand within the other. "It seems to me as if we were parting for ever."
"Why, then," returns he, laughing, "we will not part at all. You shall come with me, chuck. What should prevent you?"
She starts with joy at this, then looks at him incredulous for a moment, and so her countenance falling again, she shakes her head as thinking, I take it, that if it were advisable she should go with him, he would have proposed it before.
"No," says she, "'twas an idle fancy, and I'll not yield to
