'And you are indeed his wife, madam?' cries Mrs. Bailiff, a little softened.
'Yes, indeed, and upon my honour,' answers Amelia.
'If this be the case,' cries the other, 'you may walk up-stairs if you please. Heaven forbid I should part man and wife! Indeed, I think they can never be too much together. But I never will suffer any bad doings in my house, nor any of the town ladies to come to gentlemen here.'
Amelia answered that she liked her the better: for, indeed, in her present disposition, Amelia was as much exasperated against wicked women as the virtuous mistress of the house, or any other virtuous woman could be.
The bailiff's wife then ushered Amelia up-stairs, and, having unlocked the prisoner's doors, cried, 'Captain, here is your lady, sir, come to see you.' At which words Booth started up from his chair, and caught Amelia in his arms, embracing her for a considerable time with so much rapture, that the bailiff's wife, who was an eyewitness of this violent fondness, began to suspect whether Amelia had really told her truth. However, she had some little awe of the captain; and for fear of being in the wrong did not interfere, but shut the door and turned the key.
When Booth found himself alone with his wife, and had vented the first violence of his rapture in kisses and embraces, he looked tenderly at her and cried, 'Is it possible, Amelia, is it possible you can have this goodness to follow such a wretch as me to such a place as this-- or do you come to upbraid me with my guilt, and to sink me down to that perdition I so justly deserve?'
'Am I so given to upbraiding then?' says she, in a gentle voice; 'have I ever given you occasion to think I would sink you to perdition?'
'Far be it from me, my love, to think so,' answered he. 'And yet you may forgive the utmost fears of an offending, penitent sinner. I know, indeed, the extent of your goodness, and yet I know my guilt so great--'
'Alas! Mr. Booth,' said she, 'what guilt is this which you mention, and which you writ to me of last night?--Sure, by your mentioning to me so much, you intend to tell me more--nay, indeed, to tell me all; and not leave my mind open to suspicions perhaps ten times worse than the truth.'
'Will you give me a patient hearing?' said he.
'I will indeed,' answered she, 'nay, I am prepared to hear the worst you can unfold; nay, perhaps, the worst is short of my apprehensions.'
Booth then, after a little further apology, began and related to her the whole that had passed between him and Miss Matthews, from their first meeting in the prison to their separation the preceding evening. All which, as the reader knows it already, it would be tedious and unpardonable to transcribe from his mouth. He told her likewise all that he had done and suffered to conceal his transgression from her knowledge. This he assured her was the business of his visit last night, the consequence of which was, he declared in the most solemn manner, no other than an absolute quarrel with Miss Matthews, of whom he had taken a final leave.
When he had ended his narration, Amelia, after a short silence, answered, 'Indeed, I firmly believe every word you have said, but I cannot now forgive you the fault you have confessed; and my reason is --because I have forgiven it long ago. Here, my dear,' said she, 'is an instance that I am likewise capable of keeping a secret.'--She then delivered her husband a letter which she had some time ago received from Miss Matthews, and which was the same which that lady had mentioned, and supposed, as Booth had never heard of it, that it had miscarried; for she sent it by the penny post. In this letter, which was signed by a feigned name, she had acquainted Amelia with the infidelity of her husband, and had besides very greatly abused him; taxing him with many falsehoods, and, among the rest, with having spoken very slightingly and disrespectfully of his wife.
Amelia never shined forth to Booth in so amiable and great a light; nor did his own unworthiness ever appear to him so mean and contemptible as at this instant. However, when he had read the letter, he uttered many violent protestations to her, that all which related to herself was absolutely false.
'I am convinced it is,' said she. 'I would not have a suspicion of the
