ate friend. 'Tis true, I was in honour obliged to keep
the secret. But I never saw the turtles bill afterwards, but I thought
of number two to the same female; and in my heart thanked the fond
husband for the lesson he had taught his wife.

From what I have said, thou wilt see, that I approve of my beloved's
exception to public loves. That, I hope, is all the charming icicle
means by marriage-purity, but to return.

From the whole of what I have mentioned to have passed between my beloved
and me, thou wilt gather, that I have not been a mere dangler, a Hickman,
in the passed days, though not absolutely active, and a Lovelace.

The dear creature now considers herself as my wife-elect. The unsaddened
heart, no longer prudish, will not now, I hope, give the sable turn to
every address of the man she dislikes not. And yet she must keep up so
much reserve, as will justify past inflexibilities. 'Many and many a
pretty soul would yield, were she not afraid that the man she favoured
would think the worse of her for it.' That is also a part of the rake's
creed. But should she resent ever so strongly, she cannot now break with
me; since, if she does, there will be an end of the family
reconciliation; and that in a way highly discreditable to herself.

SATURDAY, JUNE 3.

Just returned from Doctors Commons. I have been endeavouring to get a
license. Very true, Jack. I have the mortification to find a
difficulty, as the lady is of rank and fortune, and as there is no
consent of father or next friend, in obtaining this all-fettering
instrument.

I made report of this difficulty. 'It is very right,' she says, 'that
such difficulties should be made.'--But not to a man of my known fortune,
surely, Jack, though the woman were the daughter of a duke.

I asked, if she approved of the settlements? She said, she had compared
them with my mother's, and had no objection to them. She had written to
Miss Howe upon the subject, she owned; and to inform her of our present
situation.*

* As this letter of the Lady to Miss Howe contains no new matter, but
what may be collected from one of those of Mr. Lovelace, it is omitted.

***

Just now, in high good humour, my beloved returned me the draughts of the
settlements: a copy of which I have sent to Captain Tomlinson. She
complimented me, 'that she never had any doubt of my honour in cases of
this nature.'

In matters between man and man nobody ever had, thou knowest