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indignation. The obliging me in punishment can be bad enough this is but a poor atonement for for such a little villain of a lady. your last night's vile behaviour. But mind, moreover, how plauYou may pass this time in a sibly she accounts by this billet journey to Lord M.'s: and I cannot (supposing she should not find an doubt, if the ladies of your family opportunity of eloping before I are as favourable to me, as you returned) for the resolution of not have assured me they are, but that seeing me for a week; and for the you will have interest enough to bread and butter expedient! prevail with one of them to oblige So childish as we thought it! me with her company. After your The chariot is not come; and if baseness of last night, you will not it were, it is yet too soon for every wonder, that I insist upon this thing but my impatience. And proof of your future honour. as I have already taken all my

If Captain Tomlinson comes measures, and can think of nothing meantime, I can hear what he has but my triumph, I will resume her to say, and send you an account violent letter, in order to strengof it. then my resolutions against her. But in less than a week if you I was before in too gloomy a way see me, it must be owing to a fresh to proceed with it: but now the act of violence, of which you know subject is all alive to me, and my not the consequence. gayer fancy, like the sunbeams, will irradiate it, and turn the solemn deep green into a brighter

Send me the requested line, if ever you expect to have the forgiveness confirmed, the promise of verdure. which you extorted from The unhappy

CL. H.

When I have called upon my charmer to explain some parts of her letter, and to atone for others, will send it, or a copy of it, to thee.

I

Suffice it at present to tell thee, in the first place that she is determined never to be my wife

to be

Now, Belford, what canst thou say in behalf of this sweet rogue of a lady? What canst thou say for her? 'Tis apparent, that she was fully determined upon an sure, there ought to be no compulelopement, when she wrote it: and sion in so material a case. Compulthus would she make me of party sion was her parents' fault, which I against myself, by drawing me in have censured so severely, that I to give her a week's time to com- shall hardly be guilty of the same. plete it: and, more wicked still, I am therefore glad I know her send me upon a fool's errand to mind as to this essential point. bring up one of my cousins: when we came to have the satisfaction of finding her gone off, and me exposed for ever! What

I have ruined her, she says! Now that's a fib, take it in her own way - if I had, she would not perhaps have run away from me.

She is thrown upon the wide world: ture's letter is a collection of inNow I own that Hampstead Heath vectives not very new to me; affords very pretty and very exten- though the occasion for them, no sive prospects; but 'tis not the wide doubt, is new to her. A little world neither: and suppose that to sprinkling of the romantic and be her grievance, I hope soon to contradictory runs through it. She restore her to a narrower. loves, and she hates: she enI am the enemy of her soul as courages me to pursue her, by well as of her honour! Con- telling me I safely may; and yet foundedly severe! Nevertheless, she begs I will not: she apprehends another fib! For I love her soul poverty and want, yet resolves to very well; but think no more of it give away her estate; to gratify in this case than of my own. whom? why in short, those who

She is to be thrown upon have been the cause of her misstrangers! And is not that her fortunes. And finally, though she own fault? much against my resolves never to be mine, yet she will, I am sure. has some regrets at leaving me, because of the opening prospects of a reconciliation with her friends.

But never did morning dawn so tardily as this! neither is the chariot yet come.

* * *

She is cast from a state of independency into one of obligation. She never was in a state of independency; nor is it fit a woman should, of any age, or in any state of life. And as to the state of obligation, there is no such thing as living without being beholden to somebody. Mutual obligation is the very essence and soul Captain Tomlinson, sayest of the social and commercial life: thou? Surely he must have trawhy should she be exempt from velled all night!

A GENTLEMAN to speak with me, Dorcas? Who can want me thus early?

Early riser as it? I am sure the person she I am, how could he think to find raves at, desires not such an ex-me up thus early! emption; has been long depen- Let but the chariot come, and dant upon her; and would rejoice he shall accompany me in it to the to owe further obligations to her than he can boast of hitherto.

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bottom of the hill (though he return to town on foot; for the captain is all obliging goodness) that I may hear all he has to say, and tell him all my mind, and lose no time.

Well, now I am satisfied that this rebellious flight will turn to my advantage, as all crushed rebellions do to the advantage of a sovereign in possession.

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Excuse me, sir, that I salute you from my favourite bard. He that rises with the lark, will sing with the lark. Strange news since I saw you, captain! Poor mistaken lady! But you have too much goodness, I know, to reveal to her uncle Harlowe the errors of this capricious beauty. It will all turn out for the best. You must accompany me part of the way. I know the delight you take in composing differences. But 'tis the task of the prudent to heal the breaches made by the rashness and folly of the imprudent.

* * *

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Mr. Lovelace to John Belford, Esq. Upper Flask, Hampstead, Fri. morn. 7 o'clock. (June 9.) I AM now here, and here have been this hour and half. What an

no

industrious spirit have I; body can say that I eat the bread of idleness. I take true pains for all the pleasure I enjoy. I cannot AND now (all around me so still, but admire myself strangely; for and so silent) the rattling of the certainly, with this active soul, I chariot-wheels at a street's dis- should have made a very great tance do I hear! and to this figure in whatever station I had angel of a woman I fly! filled. But had I been a prince! Reward, O God of love (the To be sure I should have made a cause is thy own) reward thou, as most noble prince! I should have it deserves, my suffering perseve-led up a military dance equal to rance! Succeed my endeavours that of the great Macedonian. I to bring back to thy obedience should have added kingdom to this charming fugitive! make kingdom, and despoiled all my her acknowledge her rashness; neighbour sovereigns, in order to repent her insults; implore my have obtained the name of Robert forgiveness; beg to be reinstated the Great. And I would have gone in my favour, and that I will bury to war with the great Turk, in oblivion the remembrance of the Persian, and Mogholl, for their her heinous offence against thee, seraglios; for not one of those

and

Eastern monarchs should have again, all the accounts of the had a pretty woman to bless him- people of the house, the coachself with, till I had done with her. man's information to Will, and And now I have so much leisure so forth, collected together, stand upon my hands, that, after hav- thus. ing informed myself of all neces- "The Hampstead coach, when sary particulars, I am set to my the dear fugitive came to it, had short-hand writing in order to but two passengers in it. But she keep up with time as well as I made the fellow go off directly, can: for the subject is now become paying for the vacant places. worthy of me; and it is yet too The two passengers directing soon, I doubt, to pay my compli- the coachman to set them down ments to my charmer, after all at the Upper Flask, she bid him her fatigues for two or three days set her down there also. past: and moreover, I have abund- "They took leave of her (very ance of matters preparative to my respectfully no doubt); and she future proceedings to recount, in went into the house, and asked, order to connect and render all if, she could not have a dish of intelligible. tea, and a room to herself for half

I parted with the captain at the an hour. foot of the hill, trebly instructed; "They shewed her up to the that is to say, as to the fact, to the very room where I now am. She probable, and to the possible. If sat at the very table I now write my beloved and I can meet and upon; and, I believe, the chair I make up without the mediation of sit in was hers. O Belford, if this worthy gentleman, it will be thou knowest what love is, thou so much the better. As little wilt be able to account for these foreign aid as possible in my minutia. amorous conflicts has always been "She seemed spiritless and faa rule with me; though here I tigued. The landlady herself have been obliged to call in so chose to attend so genteel and much. And who knows but it may lovely a guest. She asked her, if be the better for the lady the less she would have bread and butter she makes necessary. I can not with her tea? bear that she should sit so indifferent to me as to be in earnest to part with me for ever upon so slight, or even upon any occasion. "The woman stept out for If I find she is but no more some; and returning on a sudden, threatenings till she is in my she observed the sweet fugitive power Thou knowest what I endeavouring to restrain a violent have vowed. burst of grief, to which she had given way in that little interval.

All Will's account from the lady's flight to his finding her

"No. She could not eat.
"They had very good biscuits.
"As she pleased.

"However, when the tea came,

and a

she made the landlady sit down them, stranger as she was, with her, and asked her abun- woman!] being swelled and red, dance of questions about the vil- they were sure there was an elopelages and roads in that neigh- ment in the case, either from bourhood. parents or guardians: for they "The woman took notice to supposed her too young and too her, that she seemed to be troubled maidenly to be a married lady: in mind. and were she married, no husband would let such a fine young creature be unattended and alone; nor give her cause for so much grief as seemed to be settled in her Then, at times,

"Tender spirits, she replied, could not part with dear friends without concern."

She meant me, no doubt. "She made no inquiry about a countenance. lodging, though by the sequel, she seemed to be so bewildered, thou❜lt observe, that she seemed they said, that they were afraid to intend to go no further that she had it in her head to make night than Hampstead. But after away with herself. she had drank two dishes, and "All these things put together, put a biscuit in her pocket excited their curiosity; and they Sweet soul! to serve for her sup- engaged a peery servant, as they per perhaps) she laid down half a called a footman who was drinking crown; and refusing change, sigh- with Kit the ostler at the taping, took leave, saying, she house, to watch all her motions. would proceed towards Hendon; This fellow reported the following the distance to which had been particulars, as they were re-reone of her questions. ported to me.

They offered to send to know, if a Hampstead coach was not to go to Hendon that evening.

"She indeed went towards Hendon, passing by the sign of the Castle on the Heath; then "No matter, she said per- stopping, looked about her, and haps she might meet the chariot." down in the valley before her.

Another of her feints, I sup- Then, turning her face towards pose: for how, or with whom, London, she seemed, by the could any thing of this sort have motion of her handkerchief to her been concerted since yesterday eyes, to weep; repenting [who morning? knows?] the rash step she had "She had, as the people took taken and wishing herself back notice to one another, something again."

so uncommonly noble in her air, Better for her, if she do, Jack, and in her person and behaviour, once more I say! Woe be to the that they were sure she was of girl who could think of marrying quality. And having no servant me, yet be able to run away from with her of either sex, her eyes me, and renounce me for ever! [her fine eyes, the landlady called "Then, continuing on a few

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