atter, Mrs. Moore said, as we were married, and madam was
so odd--every gentleman would not--and stopt there Mrs. Moore.

'To suppose I should have recourse to such a poor contrivance, said I,
when I saw the dear creature every hour.'--Was not this a bold put, Jack?

A most extraordinary case, truly, cried the maiden; fanning, yet coming
in with her Well-but's!--and her sifting Pray, Sir's!--and her
restraining Enough, Sir's.--flying from the question to the question--her
seat now-and-then uneasy, for fear my want of delicacy should hurt her
abundant modesty; and yet it was difficult to satisfy her super-abundant
curiosity.

'My beloved's jealousy, [and jealousy of itself, to female minds,
accounts for a thousand unaccountablenesses,] and the imputation of her
half-phrensy, brought upon her by her father's wicked curse, and by the
previous persecutions she had undergone from all her family, were what I
dwelt upon, in order to provide against what might happen.'

In short, 'I owned against myself most of the offences which I did not
doubt but she would charge me with in their hearing; and as every cause
has a black and white side, I gave the worst parts of our story the
gentlest turn. And when I had done, acquainted them with some of the
contents of that letter of Captain Tomlinson which I left with the lady.
I concluded with James Harlowe, and of Captain Singleton, or of any
sailor-looking men.'

This thou wilt see, from the letter itself, was necessary to be done.
Here, therefore, thou mayest read it. And a charming letter to my
purpose wilt thou find it to be, if thou givest the least attention to
its contents.

TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.
WEDN. JUNE 7.

DEAR SIR,

Although I am obliged to be in town to-morrow, or next day at farthest,
yet I would not dispense with writing to you, by one of my servants,
(whom I send up before upon a particular occasion,) in order to advertise
you, that it is probable you will hear from some of your own relations on
your [supposed*] nuptials. One of the persons, (Mr. Lilburne by name,)
to whom I hinted my belief of your marriage, happens to be acquainted
with Mr. Spurrier, Lady Betty Lawrance's steward, and (not being under
any restriction) mentioned it to Mr. Spurrier, and he to Lady Betty, as a
thing certain; and this, (though I have not the honour to be personally
known to her Ladyship,) brought on an inquiry from her Ladyship to me by
her gentleman; who coming to me in