' 'Sir (said she),
you are the best judge of your own affairs -- My fortune, I know,
does not exceed twenty thousand pounds -- Yet, even with that
pittance, I might have had a husband who would not have begrudged
me a house in London' -- 'Good God! my dear (cried poor Baynard, in
the utmost agitation), you don't think me so sordid -- I only
hinted what I thought -- But, I don't pretend to impose --' 'Yes,
sir (resumed the lady), it is your prerogative to command, and my
duty to obey' So saying, she burst into tears and retired to her
chamber, where she was joined by her aunt -- He endeavoured to
recollect himself, and act with vigour of mind on this occasion;
but was betrayed by the tenderness of his nature, which was the
greatest defect of his constitution. He found the aunt in tears,
and the niece in a fit, which held her the best part of eight
hours, at the expiration of which, she began to talk incoherently
about death and her dear husband, who had sat by her all this
time, and now pressed her hand to his lips, in a transport of
grief and penitence for the offence he had given -- From thence
forward, he carefully avoided mentioning the country; and they
continued to be sucked deeper and deeper into the vortex of
extravagance and dissipation, leading what is called a
fashionable life in town -- About the latter end of July, however,
Mrs Baynard, in order to exhibit a proof of conjugal obedience,
desired of her own accord, that they might pay a visit to his
country house, as there was no company left in London.
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