"I can't fancy myself in your Place, _Prudence_! I would not have done such a Thing for the World! Certainly, I could not consider myself free! Nor _him_ secure! Fleet Marriages, I know, are binding in Law; but there's no Religion in them. Have you got a Certificate?" "Oh yes, a License, and a Certificate, and a Crown Stamp that cost a Guinea; and a Ring--" "That cost Two-pence! All of a Piece with the Rest. I never knew such a Jumble in all my Life! Never!" "It was great Folly--" "You know, _Prue_, what Mr. _Fenwick_ told us Folly is synonymous with in Scripture--_Sin_. 'The Foolishness of Fools is Folly'--He told us that was the same as 'the Foolishness of Fools is _Sin_.'" "Oh, _Patty_, don't trample upon me, now I'm down. I've vexed enough about it, already. That is, I've vexed about what you, and _Mother_, and _Father_, would think of it; for I must say, I'm glad to be secure of _Tom_ against he next comes Home--" "You might have been secure of him already; if his Love was worth Anything, which I can readily believe it to be. You might have trusted him." "I might; and he me. It was only the Folly of a Moment." "Ah, _Prue_, how often has the Folly of a Moment been the Ruin of a Life! This Man was a Clergyman, I suppose?" "Oh yes, no doubt of that. He was a Reverend Mr. _Sympson_, of some College, _Cambridge_, and late Chaplain of the Earl of _Rothes_. So he said." "That's well put in." "Well, he looked quite respectable, and you know there are many Clergy within the Rules. Don't be too suspicious, _Patty_." "Why, haven't I good Reason to be, _Prue_? Only it's all too late, now--Oh dear me!" And I groaned heavily. "Yes, it's all too late now," said _Prue_ rapidly, "and I meant no Harm, and we must make the best of it, and I feel a great Load off my Mind, now I've told _you_--" "Why, you've only shifted it from your own Mind to mine! I don't feel at all obliged to you!" "Well, perhaps poor _Mother_ might say the same; so we had better not tell her." "Oh, _Prue, Prue_! how one Sin leads to another! The Case is quite different. She has a _right_ to her Child's Confidence." "Why, _you_ don't tell her Everything, do you?" "What have I ever concealed?" "That you care about Mr. _Fenwick_." The Blood rushed to my Face, though we were in the Dark. "That's quite another Matter," said I. "You don't know that I care for him." "Oh _Patty_! how _can_ you say so?" "At all Events, he has never shown me any decided Preference that would justify me, as a modest young Woman, in letting his Name escape my Lips. You know, _Prudence_, how different the Cases are. Certainly, if my dear _Mother_, who is all Kindness and Truth, were to think fit to speak to me on that or any similar Subject, I might blush, I might shed a Tear, I might feel very uncomfortable, but I should answer her with perfect Sincerity." "Ah _Patty_! you are very good--And I am very bad--"