Daniel Defoe

“ In short, have you enquired whether you are able to keep her?
2. “You have married a wife here and given her a great many fine things, and you maintain her like a princess, and sometimes call her so; pray what portion have you had with her? what fortune has she been to you? and where does her estate lie, that you keep her so fine? I am afraid you keep her in a figure a great deal above her estate, at least above all that you have seen of it yet; are you sure you haven’t got a bite, and that you have not made a beggar a lady?” ”

“ And let nobody conclude from the strange success I met with in all my wicked doings, and the vast estate which I had raised by it, that therefore I either was happy or easy. No, no, there was a dart struck into the liver; there was a secret hell within, even all the while when our joy was at the highest, but more especially now, after it was all over, and when according to all appearance I was one of the happiest women upon earth ”

“ I have told you how he gave back all my writings into my own hands again. “Well,” says I, “seeing you will have it be kept apart, it shall be so upon one condition which I have to propose, and no other.” “And what is the condition.” says he. “Why,” says I, “all the pretence I can have for the making over my own estate to me, is that in case of your mortality I may have it reserved for me if I outlive you.” “Well,” says he, ”that is true.” “But then,” said I, “the annual income is always received by the husband during his life, as ’tis supposed for the mutual subsistence of the family. ”