_Ber._ Why, the People where I lodge will think me mad. _Aman._ Let 'em think what they please. _Ber._ Say you so, _Amanda_? Why then they shall think what they please: For I'm a young Widow, and I care not what any body thinks. Ah, _Amanda_, it's a delicious thing to be a young Widow. _Aman._ You'll hardly make me think so. _Ber._ Phu, because you are in love with your Husband: but that is not every Woman's Case. _Aman._ I hope 'twas yours, at least. _Ber._ Mine, say ye? Now I have a great mind to tell you a Lye, but I shou'd do it so aukwardly, you'd find me out. _Aman._ Then e'en speak the Truth. _Ber._ Shall I?----Then after all, I did love him, _Amanda_----as a Nun does Penance. _Aman._ Why did not you refuse to marry him, then? _Ber._ Because my Mother wou'd have whipt me. _Aman._ How did you live together? _Ber._ Like Man and Wife--asunder; He lov'd the Country, I the Town. He Hawks and Hounds, I Coaches and Equipage. He Eating and Drinking, I Carding and Playing. He the Sound of a Horn, I the Squeak of a Fiddle. We were dull Company at Table, worse a-bed. Whenever we met, we gave one another the Spleen. And never agreed but once, which was about lying alone. _Aman._ But tell me one thing truly and sincerely. _Ber._ What's that? _Aman._ Notwithstanding all these Jars, did not his Death at last extremely trouble you? _Ber._ O yes: Not that my present Pangs were so very violent, but the After-pains were intolerable. I was forc'd to wear a beastly Widow's Band a Twelvemonth for't. _Aman._ Women, I find, have different Inclinations. _Ber._ Women, I find, keep different Company. When your Husband ran away from you, if you had fallen into some of my Acquaintance, 'twou'd have sav'd you many a Tear. But you go and live with a Grandmother, a Bishop, and an old Nurse, which was enough to make any Woman break her Heart for her Husband. Pray, _Amanda_, if ever you are a Widow again, keep yourself so as I do. _Aman._ Why, do you then resolve you'll never marry? _Ber._ O, no; I resolve I will. _Aman._ How so? _Ber._ That I never may. _Aman._ You banter me. _Ber._ Indeed I don't. But I consider I'm a Woman, and form my Resolutions accordingly. _Aman._ Well, my Opinion is, form what Resolution you will, Matrimony will be the end on't. _Ber._ Faith it won't. _Aman._ How do you know? _Ber._ I'm sure on't. _Aman._ Why, do you think 'tis impossible for you to fall in love? _Ber._ No. _Aman._ Nay, but to grow so passionately fond, that nothing but the Man you love can give you rest? _Ber._ Well, what then? _Aman._ Why, then you'll marry him. _Ber._ How do you know that? _Aman._ Why, what can you do else? _Ber._ Nothing--but sit and cry. _Aman._ Psha. _Ber._ Ah, poor _Amanda_, you have led a Country Life: But if you'll consult the Widows of this Town, they'll tell you, you shou'd never take a Lease of a House you can hire for a Quarter's Warning.