lips, with a Be quiet only, and an averted face, as if she feared another.

Encouraged by so gentle a repulse, the tenderest things I said; and then, with my other hand, drew aside the handkerchief that concealed the beauty of beauties, and pressed with my burning lips the most charming breast that ever my ravished eyes beheld.

A very contrary passion to that which gave her bosom so delightful a swell, immediately took place. She struggled out of my encircling arms with indignation. I detained her reluctant hand. Let me go, said she. I see there is no keeping terms with you. Base encroacher! Is this the design of your flattering speeches ?-Far as matters have gone, I will for ever renounce you. You have an odious heart. Let me go, I tell you.

I was forced to obey, and she flung from me.

Monday Afternoon.

A letter received from the worthy Captain Tomlinson, has introduced me into the presence of my charmer sooner than perhaps I should otherwise have been admitted.

Sullen her brow, at her first entrance into the diningroom. But I took no notice of what had passed, and her anger of itself subsided.

The Captain, after letting me know, that he chose not to write, till he had the promised draft of the settlements, acquaints me, that his friend Mr. John Harlowe, in their first conference (which was held as soon as he got down) was extremely surprised, and even grieved (as he feared he would be) to hear, that we were not married. The world, he said, who knew my character, would be very censorious, were it owned, that we had lived so long together unmarried in the same lodgings; although our marriage were now to be ever so publicly celebrated.

My beloved was vexed. She pulled out her handkerchief: but was more inclined to blame me, than herself.

Had you kept your word, Mr. Lovelace. and left me when we came to town-And there she stopped; for she knew, that it was her own fault that we were not married before we left the country; and how could I leave her afterwards, while her brother was plotting to carry her off by violence?

I read on to the following effect:

"The Captain then told Uncle John, the reasons that induced me to give out that we were married; and the conditions on which my beloved was brought to countenance it; which had kept us at the most punctilious distance.

"But still Mr. Harlowe objected my character. And went away dissatisfied. And the Captain was also so much concerned, that he cared not to write what the result of his first conference was.

"But in the next, which was held on receipt of the drafts, at the Captain's house (as the former was, for the greater secrecy) when the old gentleman had read them, and had the Captain's opinion, he was much better pleased. And yet he declared, that it would not be easy to persuade any other person of his family to believe so favourably of the matter, as he was now willing to believe, were they to know that we had lived so long together unmarried.

"And then, the Captain says, his dear friend made a proposal:-It was this-That we should marry out of hand, but as privately as possible, as indeed he found we intended (for he could have no objection to the drafts) -But yet, he expected to have present one trusty friend of his own, for his better satisfaction"

Here I stopped, with a design to be angry-But she desiring me to read on, I obeyed.

66

—But that it should pass to every one living, except to that trusty person, to himself, and to the Captain, that we were married from the time that we had lived together

in one house; and that this time should be made to agree with that of Mr. Hickman's application to him from Miss Howe."

Well, my dearest life, what say you to your uncle's expedient? Shall I write to the Captain, and acquaint him, that we have no objection to it?

She was silent for a few minutes. At last, with a sigh, See, Mr. Lovelace, said she, what you have brought me to, by treading after you in such crooked paths!-See what disgrace I have incurred!-Indeed you have not acted like a wise man.

My beloved creature, do you not remember, how earnestly I besought the honour of your hand before we came to town?-Had I been then favoured—

Well, well, sir-There has been much amiss somewhere; that's all I will say at present. And since what's passed cannot be recalled, my uncle must be obeyed, I think.

Charmingly dutiful!-I had nothing then to do, that I might not be behind-hand with the worthy Captain and her uncle, but to press for the day. This I fervently did. But (as I might have expected) she repeated her former answer; to wit, that when the settlements were completed; when the licence was actually obtained; it would be time enough to name the day: and, O Mr. Lovelace, said she, turning from me with a grace inimitably tender, her handkerchief at her eyes, what a happiness, if my dear uncle could be prevailed upon to be personally a father, on this occasion, to the poor fatherless girl!

What's the matter with me!-Whence this dew-drop! A tear! As I hope to be saved, it is a tear, Jack!

:

I withdrew, and wrote to the Captain to the following effect "I desired, that he would be so good as to acquaint his dear friend, that we entirely acquiesced with what he had proposed; and had already properly cautioned the gentlewomen of the house, and their ser

VOL. II.

K

vants, as well as our own and to tell him, that if he would in person give me the blessing of his dear niece's hand, it would crown the wishes of both. In this case, I consented, that his own day, as I presumed it would be a short one, should be ours: that by this means the secret would be with fewer persons: that I myself, as well as he, thought the ceremony could not be too privately performed; and this not only for the sake of the wise end he had proposed to answer by it, but because I would not have Lord M. think himself slighted; since that nobleman, as I had told him (the Captain) had once intended to be our nuptial father; and actually made the offer; but that we had declined to accept of it, and that for no other reason than to avoid a public wedding; which his beloved niece would not come into, while she was in disgrace with her friends-but that, if he chose not to do us this honour, I wished that Captain Tomlinson might be the trusty person whom he would have to be present on the happy occasion."

I showed this letter to my fair one. She was not displeased with it. So, Jack, we cannot now move too fast, as to settlements and licence: the day is her uncle's day, or Captain Tomlinson's perhaps, as shall best suit the occasion. Miss Howe's smuggling scheme is now surely provided against in all events.

And now for a little mine which I am getting ready to spring. The first that I have sprung, and at the rate I go on (now a resolution, and now a remorse) perhaps the last that I shall attempt to spring.

A little mine I call it. But it may be attended with great effects. I shall not, however, absolutely depend upon the success of it, having much more effectual ones in And yet great engines are often moved by small springs. A little spark falling by accident into a powdermagazine, has done more execution in a siege than a hundred cannon.

reserve.

Come the worst, the hymeneal torch, and a white sheet, must be my amende honorable, as the French have it.

MR. LOVELACE TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.

Thursday Morning, Five o' Clock, June 8.

OW is my reformation secured; for I never shall love any other woman!-O she is all variety! She must be ever new to me! Imagination cannot form; much less can the pencil paint; nor can the soul of painting, poetry, describe an angel so exquisitely, so elegantly lovely !—But I will not by anticipation pacify thy impatience. Although the subject is too hallowed for profane contemplation, yet shalt thou have the whole before thee as it passed: and this not from a spirit wantoning in description upon so rich a subject; but with a design to put a bound to thy roving thoughts. It will be iniquity greater than a Lovelace ever was guilty of, to carry them farther than I shall acknowledge.

Thus then, connecting my last with the present, I lead to it.

At a little after two, when the whole house was still, or seemed to be so, and, as it proved, my Clarissa in bed, and fast asleep; I also in a manner undressed (as indeed I was for an hour before) and in my gown and slippers, though, to oblige thee, writing on;-I was alarmed by a trampling noise overhead, and a confused buzz of mixed voices, some louder than others, like scolding, and a little short of screaming. While I was wondering what could be the matter, down stairs ran Dorcas, and at my door, in accent rather frightedly and hoarsely inward, than shrilly clamorous, she cried out Fire! Fire! And this the more alarmed me, as she seemed to endeavour to cry out louder, but could not.

an

My pen (its last scrawl a benediction on my beloved) dropped from my fingers; and up started I; and making