Or ever the Week was gone, my Father had contrived for me another Journey to _New Hall_, to abide with the Lay Nuns, as he calleth them, Aunt _Nan_ and Aunt _Fan_, whom my Step-mother loveth not, but whom I love and whom _Father_ loveth. Indeede, 'tis sayd in _Essex_ that at first he inclined to Aunt _Nan_ rather than to my Mother; but that, perceiving my Mother affected his Companie and Aunt _Nan_ affected it not, he diverted his hesitating Affections unto her and took her to wife. Howbeit, Aunt _Nan_ loveth him dearlie as a Sister ought: indeed, she loveth alle, except, methinketh, herself, to whom, alone, she is rigid and severe. How holie are my Aunts' Lives! Cloistered Nuns could not be more pure, and could scarce be as usefulle. Though wise, they can be gay; though noe longer young, they love the Young. And theire Reward is, the Young love them; and I am fulle sure in this World they seek noe better. Returned to _Chelsea_, I spake much in Prayse of mine Aunts, and of single Life. On a certayn Evening, we Maids were sett at our Needles and Samplers on the Pavilion Steps; and, as Follie will out, 'gan talk of what we would fayn have to our Lots, shoulde a good Fairie starte up and grant eache a Wish. _Daisy_ was for a Countess's Degree, with Hawks and Hounds. _Bess_ was for founding a College, _Mercy_ a Hospital, and she spake soe experimentallie of its Conditions that I was fayn to goe Partners with her in the same. _Cecy_ commenced, "Supposing I were married; if once that I were married"--on which, _Father_, who had come up unperceived, burst out laughing and sayth, "Well, Dame _Cecily_, and what State would you keep?" Howbeit, as he and I afterwards paced together, _juxta Fluvium_, he did say, "_Mercy_ hath well propounded the Conditions of an Hospital or Alms-house for aged and sick Folk, and 'tis a Fantasie of mine to sett even such an one afoot, and give you the Conduct of the same." From this careless Speech, dropped as 'twere by the Way, hath sprung mine House of Refuge! and oh, what Pleasure have I derived from it! How good is my Father! how the Poor bless him! and how kind is he, through them, to me! Laying his Hand kindly on my Shoulder, this Morning, he sayd, "_Meg_, how fares it with thee now? Have I cured the Payn in thy Head?" Then, putting the House-key into mine Hand, he laughingly added, "'Tis now yours, my Joy, by _Livery_ and _Seisin_." _Aug. 6th._ I wish _William_ would give me back my Testament. 'Tis one thing to steal a Knot or a Posie, and another to borrow the most valuable Book in the House, and keep it Week after Week. He soughte it with a kind of Mysterie, soe as that I forbeare to ask it of him in Companie, lest I should doe him an ill Turn; and yet I have none other Occasion.