might have known, that to attempt a robbery, and put
a person in bodily fear, is as punishable as if the robbery had been
actually committed.

But not to see her for a week!--Dear, pretty soul! how she anticipates me
in every thing! The counsellor will have finished the writings to-day or
to-morrow, at furthest: the license with the parson, or the parson
without the license, must also be procured within the next four-and-
twenty hours; Prtichard is as good as ready with his indentures
tripartite: Tomlinson is at hand with a favourable answer from her uncle
--yet not to see her for a week!----Dear sweet soul;--her good angel is
gone a journey: is truanting at least. But nevertheless, in thy week's
time, or in much less, my charmer, I doubt not to complete my triumph!

But what vexes me of all things is, that such an excellent creature
should break her word:--Fie, fie, upon her!--But nobody is absolutely
perfect! 'Tis human to err, but not to persevere--I hope my charmer
cannot be inhuman!

LETTER XVIII

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
KING'S ARMS, PALL-MALL, THURSDAY, TWO O'CLOCK.

Several billets passed between us before I went out, by the
internuncioship of Dorcas: for which reason mine are superscribed by her
married name.--She would not open her door to receive them; lest I should
be near it, I suppose: so Dorcas was forced to put them under the door
(after copying them for thee); and thence to take the answers. Read
them, if thou wilt, at this place.

***

TO MRS. LOVELACE

Indeed, my dearest life, you carry this matter too far. What will the
people below, who suppose us one as to the ceremony, think of so great a
niceness? Liberties so innocent! the occasion so accidental!--You will
expose yourself as well as me.--Hitherto they know nothing of what has
passed. And what indeed has passed to occasion all this resentment?--I
am sure you will not, by a breach of your word of honour, give me reason
to conclude that, had I not obeyed you, I could have fared no worse.

Most sincerely do I repent the offence given to your delicacy--But must
I, for so accidental an occurrence, be branded by such shocking names?--
Vilest of men, and most detestable of plotters, are hard words!--From the
pen of such a lady too.

If you step up another pair of stairs, you will be convinced, that,
however detestable I may be to you, I am no plotter in this affair.

I must insist upon seeing you, in order to ta