1665. which groweth under our Hands. Three Nights have I, without Complaynt, loft my Reft while writing at his Bedfide; this hath made me yawnish in the Day-time, or, as Mother will have it, lazy. However, I bethink me of Damo, Daughter of Pythagoras.

Mother came Home yesterday, and Betty, the Picture of Neatnesse, tooke goode Heede to be the first to welcome her, with officious Smiles, and Prayfes of her Looks. For my Part, I thoughte it fullfome, but knew her Motives better than Mother, who took it alle in goode Part. Indeede, noe one would

give this Girl credit for foe false a
Heart; fhe is pretty, modest looking,
and for a while before my Father's
Marriage was as great a Favourite
with Mary as now with
my Mother;
flattered her the fame, and tempted
her to idle goffiping Confidences.
She was flow to believe herself
cheated; and when 'twas as cleare
as Day, could not convince Father
of it.

On Mary's mentioning this Morn-
ing (unadvisedlie, I think,) the
Kitchen Vifitor, Mother made short
Anfwer-

"Tilly-vally! bad Mistresses make "bad Maids; there will be noe fuch

"Doings

1665.

1665.

Doings now, I warrant *

"I am fure, my Dear," appealing to Father, "you think well in the "main of Betty?”

"Yes," fays he, fmiling, "I think "well of both my Betties."

"At any rate," perfifts Mary, "the Man coulde not be at once "her Coufin and her Brother."

"Why no," replies Father, "there"in she worfened her Story, by say"ing too much, as Dorothea did, "when the pretended to have heard "of the Knight of La Mancha's "Fame, when she landed at Offuna; “which even a Madman as he was, "knew to be noe Sea-port. It re

"quires

66

'quires more Skill than the General "poffefs, to lie with a Circumstance."

Had a Valentine this Morning, though onlie from Ned Phillips, whom Mother is angry with, for filling my Head betimes with fuch Nonsense. Howbeit, I am clofe on fixteen.

Mary was out of Patience with Father yesterday, who, after keeping her a full Hour at Thucydides, fayd,

66

Well, now we will refresh our

"selves with a Canto of Ariofto,"

which was as much a fealed Book

to her as t'other.

Morning he fayd,

Howbeit, this

1665.

"Child,

1665.

66

Child, I have noted your Weari"neffe in reading the dead Lan

guages to me; would that I needed "not to be beholden unto any, "whether bound to me by Blood "and Affection or not, for the Food "that is as needfulle to me as my

daily Bread. Nevertheless, that I

"be not further wearifome unto thee, “I have engaged a young Quaker, "named Ellwood, to relieve thee of "this Portion of thy Tafk, foe that "thou mayst have the more Leisure "to enjoy the glad Sunshine and fair "Sights I never more shall fee."

Mary turned red, and dropt a quiet Tear; but alas, he knew it not.

"One