I met with a short dialogue, the other day, between a tradesman and his wife, upon such a subject as this, some part of which may be instructing in the case before us.
The tradesman was very melancholy for two or three days, and had appeared all that time to be pensive and sad, and his wife, with all her arts, entreaties, anger, and tears, could not get it out of him; only now and then she heard him fetch a deep sigh, and at another time say, he wished he was dead, and the like expressions.

At last, she began the discourse with him in a respectful, obliging manner, but with the utmost importunity to get it out of him, thus:-- _Wife_ .-- My dear, what is the matter with you?
_Husb._--Nothing.
_Wife_ .-- Nay, don't put me off with an answer that signifies nothing; tell me what is the matter, for I am sure something extraordinary is the case--tell me, I say, do tell me.

[_Then she kisses him._] _Husb._--Prithee, don't trouble me.
_Wife_ .-- I will know what is the matter _Husb._--I tell you nothing is the matter--what should be the matter?
_Wife_ .-- Come, my dear, I must not be put off so; I am sure, if it be any thing ill, I must have my share of it; and why should I not be worthy to know it, whatever it is, before it comes upon me.
_Husb._--Poor woman! [_He kisses her_.] _Wife_ .-- Well, but let me know what it is; come, don't distract yourself alone; let me bear a share of your grief, as well as I have shared in your joy.
_Husb._--My dear, let me alone, you trouble me now, indeed.
_[Still he keeps her off_.] _Wife_ .-- Then you will not trust your wife with knowing what touches you so sensibly?
_Husb._--I tell you, it is nothing, it is a trifle, it is not worth talking of.
_Wife_ .-- Don't put me off with such stuff as that; I tell you, it is not for nothing that you have been so concerned, and that so long too; I have seen it plain enough; why, you have drooped upon it for this fortnight past, and above.
_Husb._--Ay, this twelvemonth, and more.
_Wife_ .-- Very well, and yet it is nothing.
_Husb._--It is nothing that you can help me in.
_Wife_ .-- Well, but how do you know that?
Let me see, and judge whether I can, or no.
_Husb._--I tell you, you cannot.
_Wife_ .-- Sure it is some terrible thing then.

Why must not I know it?
What! are you going to break?
Come, tell me the worst of it.
_Husb._--Break! no, no, I hope not--Break! no, I'll never break.
_Wife_ .-- As good as you have broke; don't presume; no man in trade can say he won't break.
_Husb._--Yes, yes; I can say I won't break.
_Wife_ .-- I am glad to hear it; I hope you have a knack, then, beyond other tradesmen.
_Husb._--No, I have not neither; any man may say so as well as I; and no man need break, if he will act the part of an honest man.
_Wife_ .-- How is that, pray?
_Husb._--Why, give up all faithfully to his creditors, as soon as he finds there is a deficiency in his stock, and yet that there is enough left to pay them.
_Wife_ .-- Well, I don't understand those things, but I desire you would tell me what it is troubles you now; and if it be any thing of that kind, yet I think you should let me know it.
_Husb._--Why should I trouble you with it?
_Wife_ .-- It would be very unkind to let me know nothing till it comes and swallows you up and me too, all on a sudden; I must know it, then; pray tell it me now.
_Husb._--Why, then, I will tell you; indeed, I am not going to break, and I hope I am in no danger of it, at least not yet.
_Wife_ .-- I thank you, my dear, for that; but still, though it is some satisfaction to me to be assured of so much, yet I find there is something in it; and your way of speaking is ambiguous and doubtful.

I entreat you, be plain and free with me.