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I am ſure, cried Thomas Wilkinſon, that it is Bet's fault and not mine that I come to the alehouſe, I do not love ſtrong drink, indeed I do not, Sir, but I love peace and good-humour, and theſe Bet has turned out of doors, ſo I thought it beſt to follow after. I cannot ſay but that ſhe is a notable buſtling woman as ever lived, and knows how to turn a penny ; but ſhe is ſo plaguy nice that I am afraid to ſet my foot in my own houſe : for the ſcolds like a fury if I make the leaſt dirt in the world. She wears herſelf out almoſt with rubbing and ſcrubbing ; and would treat me like a ſlave. I muſt ſcrape my ſhoes every time I come in, if it were twenty times a day I muſt pull them off to go up ſtairs, if ever ſo tired I muſt not ſmoke a pipe I muſt not ſtir the fire for fear I ſhould ſpoil the bright poker : in ſhort, there are ſo many fiddle faddles that I am quite tired out. I hate to be met with a mop and a pail, and followed with a ſieve, every time I leave the print of a foot in the ſand, and therefore I come here, Sir, where I can do as I please.
Henry Perkins ſaid, that he had no reaſon to find fault with his wife for being over nice, on the contrary, ſhe fairly ſtunk him out of doors. He added that he had always been used to a clean house in his firſt wife's time, but had never had one ſince he married the second. It was his folly, he ſaid to
