increaſing, the Mother and Wife took Horſe immediately, and went back to the Mother’s Houſe, and the Husband and Wife never bedded together after.
The Maid lay a long Time in the Priſon, it being near half a Year to the Aſſizes; but before it happened, it was diſcovered ſhe was with Child; when ſhe was arraign’d at the Bar, ſhe was diſcharged for want of Evidence; the Wife’s Conſcience touch’d her, and as ſhe did not believe the Maid Guilty of any Theft, except that of Love, ſhe did not appear againſt her; ſoon after her Acquittal, ſhe was delivered of a Girl.
But what alarm’d the Husband moſt, was, that it was diſcovered the Wife was with Child alſo, he taking it for granted, he had had no Intimacy with her, ſince her laſt lying in, grew jealous of her, in his Turn, and made this a Handle to juſtify himſelf, for his Uſage of her, pretending now he had ſuſpected her long, but that here was Proof; ſhe was delivered of Twins, a Boy and a Girl.
The Mother fell ill, ſent to her Son to reconcile him to his Wife, but he would not hearken to it; therefore ſhe made a Will, leaving all ſhe had in the Hands of certain Truſtees, for the Uſe of the Wife and two Children lately born, and died a few Days after.
This was an ugly Turn upon him, his greateſt Dependence being upon his Mother; however, his Wife was kinder to him than he deſerved, for ſhe made him a yearly Allowance out of what was left, tho’ they continued to live ſeparate: It laſted near five Years; at this Time having a great Affection for the Girl he had by his Maid, he had a Mind to take it Home, to live with him; but as all the Town knew it to be a Girl, the better to diſguiſe the Matter from them, as well as from his
