lio Nina, a story. Jan. i3^. 



Her discourse introduced a conversation on his spouse's 

 humour •, he said he feared to expose himself to it ; that for 

 almost three..years, he had seen her but seldom, and that 

 this retreat had procured him an uninterrupted tranqui;''" y".' 

 *' You cannot with any colour of reason decline granting ine 

 the favour I afii," answered the lady '■, " how do you knovi 

 bi't my presence may llielter you from her ill temper ? con- 

 sider that it is rather to please me, than to gratify her, you 

 take this step-, is it so diilicult a thing to sacrifice to your 

 wife an hour or two of your time, once in three years, you 

 who daily pafs many with persons who ate insupportable- 

 to your" 



The senator, "overcome hy her intreaties, consented, and 

 caused his wife to be told, that her friend would dine %vitli 

 her the next day. The excefsive joy of the lady cannot 

 be conceived. She took care to provide an entertainment, 

 with which her two guests could not but be satisfied ; Lew 

 impatient (he was till they came I — Ihe at last saw them en- 

 ter the house. 



The senator, desirous of avoiding being one moment, 

 alone with his wife, had thought proper to go himself for 

 the lady, and not to return without her. His wife, as soon 

 as flie saw him, began to act the same part (he had seen so 

 well performed by Nina, the preceding day; and (he soon 

 ptixtived that her behaviour was .highly agreeable to 

 her husband. Dinner-time being ccme, they sat down to 

 taile. 



The senator remarked, with apparent satisfaction, & 

 gaiety hitherto unknown to hira, in the heart of his wife; 

 he raw in her eyes, with some emotion, that love which 

 had distinguiflied the first three years of his marriage. Her 

 constant afsiduity to please him, daring the repast, at once 

 astonifhed and delighted him 5 he often said to himself, 

 '* How great has been my mistake ? Can I deny tha!rl pof. 



