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CHAP. I - The Author, by the help of his Invisibility, has discover'd such a contrast in the behaviour of two married couple of distinction, as he thinks would be the utmost injustice to the public to conceal

from BOOK II

Carol Stewart
Affiliation:
University of Southampton
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Summary

Placentia, after a long and most passionate courtship, was at last wedded to Dalmatius; – she brought him an ample fortune, a very agreeable person, and an unblemish'd character; – she had studied all the duties of a wife before she became so, and afterwards practised them in the strictest manner: – whenever she found him gay, she heighten'd his good humour by her own sprightliness; and when sullen and perverse, as was too often the case, she endeavour'd to dissipate his chagrin either by playing on her spinnet or telling him some diverting story: – without seeming to consult his palate, she always took care to put such dishes into her bill of fare as she had perceiv'd he fed upon with most satisfaction: – whatever company suited his taste were sure to be often invited by her, and entertain'd with the greatest marks of esteem and complaisance: – her whole thoughts, indeed, were taken up with obliging and making him happy: – she had no will, – no inclination of her own, – both were entirely regulated by his; and, to add to all this, she was an excellent œconomist, understood the management of a family perfectly well, and knew how to make a grand appearance with less expence than some others are at who are accounted contemptibly parsimonious.

What would some husbands give to be bless'd with so virtuous, so tender, so endearing a companion? Dalmatius, instead of placing this jewel next his heart, hung it carelesly upon his sleeve; either not knowing, or not regarding the true value of it.

During the course of several Invisible Visitations I made at their house, never did I see him treat her in any degree proportionable to her merit; – when in his best humours he return'd the caresses she gave him only with a cold indifference; but when any thing abroad had happen'd to thwart his view, either of pleasure or ambition, no man could behave with more churlishness at home: – but the manner in which this couple behaved to each other will best appear from their own words, which I shall give a short specimen of on two different occasions.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Invisible Spy
by Eliza Haywood
, pp. 57 - 63
Publisher: Pickering & Chatto
First published in: 2014

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