n order to have been prepared to receive a
gentleman of his condition.--'No,' said Natura, 'I chose to come upon
you unawares, not only to prevent you from giving yourself any
superfluous trouble on my account, but also because I would use a
freedom, which should authorize you to treat me with the same;--we are
neighbours,' continued he, 'and neighbours should be friends, and love
one another.'

Some other little chat on trivial affairs passed away the short time
between the coming of Natura, and dinner being brought in; on which,
the yeoman intreated him to sit down, and partake of such homely food
as he found there.--'That I shall gladly do,' answered Natura, 'but I
waited for your fair daughter; I hope we shall have her company. I do
not know,' said the yeoman, 'I think they told me she was not very
well, had got the head-ach, or some such ailment;--go, however,'
pursued he, to a servant, 'and see if Laetitia can come down.'--'But,
sir,' cried he, perceiving his guest discovered no inclination to
place himself at the table, 'do not let us wait for her.'

Natura on this sat down, and they both began to eat, when the person
who had been sent to call Laetitia returned, and said, she begged to be
excused, being very much indisposed, and unfit to be seen.--The old
man seemed to take no notice, but pressed Natura to eat, and somewhat
embarrassed him with the many apologies he made for the coarseness of
his entertainment; to all which he gave but short answers, till the
cloth was taken away, and they were alone.--Then, 'I could not wish to
dine more to my satisfaction,' said he, 'if the sweetness of your meat
had not been imbittered by your daughter's absence';--'to be plain,'
continued he, 'I fear I am the disease which occasions her
retirement.'--'You, sir!' cried the father, affecting a surprize,
which he was not so well skilled in the art of dissimulation, to make
appear so natural, but that Natura easily saw into the feint, and told
him with a smile, that he found the _country_ had its arts as well as
the _court:_--'but let us deal sincerely with each other,' pursued he,
'I am very certain, it is from no other motive, than my being here,
that your daughter refused to come to table; and I also faithfully
believe you are no stranger to that motive:--be therefore free with
me; and to encourage you to be so, I shall acquaint you, that I have
made some overtures to Mrs. Laetitia,--that I like her, and that my
frequent vis