As theſe had both exerciſed their Talents chiefly in the Study of Divinity, this was, from their firſt Acquaintance, the moſt common Topic of Converſation between them. The Captain, like a well-bred Man, had, before Marriage, always given up his Opinion to that of the Lady; and this, not in the clumſy, aukward Manner of a conceited Blockhead, who, while he civilly yields to a Superiour in an Argument, is deſirous of being ſtill known to think himſelf in the Right. The Captain, on the contrary, tho’ one of the proudeſt Fellows in the World, ſo abſolutely yielded the Victory to his Antagoniſt, that ſhe, who had not the leaſt Doubt of his Sincerity, retired always from the Diſpute with an Admiration of her own Underſtanding, and a Love for his.
But tho’ this Complaiſance to one whom the Captain thoroughly deſpiſed, was not so uneaſy to him, as it would have been, had any Hopes of Preferment made it neceſſary to ſhew the ſame Submiſſion to a Hoadley, or to ſome other of great Reputation in the Science, yet even this coſt him too much to be endured without ſome Motive. Matrimony, therefore, having removed all ſuchMo-
