nestness, though
low--and besides, they love to have their sex, and its favours, appear of
importance to us. They shook their deep heads at each other, and looked
sorrowful: and this moved my tender heart too.

'Tis an unheard-of case, Ladies--had she not preferred me to all
mankind--There I stopped--and that, resumed I, feeling for my
handkerchief, is what staggered Captain Tomlinson when he heard of her
flight; who, the last time he saw us together, saw the most affectionate
couple on earth!--the most affectionate couple on earth!--in the
accent-grievous, repeated I.

Out then I pulled my handkerchief, and putting it to my eyes, arose, and
walked to the window--It makes me weaker than a woman, did I not love
her, as never man loved his wife! [I have no doubt but I do, Jack.]

There again I stopt; and resuming--Charming creature, as you see she is,
I wish I had never beheld her face!--Excuse me, Ladies; traversing the
room, and having rubbed my eyes till I supposed them red, I turned to the
women; and, pulling out my letter-case, I will show you one letter--here
it is--read it, Miss Rawlins, if you please--it will confirm to you how
much all my family are prepared to admire her. I am freely treated in
it;--so I am in the two others: but after what I have told you, nothing
need be a secret to you two.

She took it, with an air of eager curiosity, and looked at the seal,
ostentatiously coroneted; and at the superscription, reading out, To
Robert Lovelace, Esq.--Ay, Madam--Ay, Miss, that's my name, [giving
myself an air, though I had told it to them before,] I am not ashamed of
it. My wife's maiden name--unmarried name, I should rather say--fool
that I am!--and I rubbed my cheek for vexation [Fool enough in
conscience, Jack!] was Harlowe--Clarissa Harlowe--you heard me call her
my Clarissa--

I did--but thought it to be a feigned or love-name, said Miss Rawlins.

I wonder what is Miss Rawlins's love-name, Jack. Most of the fair
romancers have in their early womanhood chosen love-names. No parson
ever gave more real names, than I have given fictitious ones. And to
very good purpose: many a sweet dear has answered me a letter for the
sake of owning a name which her godmother never gave her.

No--it was her real name, I said.

I bid her read out the whole letter. If the spelling be not exact, Miss
Rawlins, said I, you will excuse it; the writer is a lord. But, perhaps,
I may not show it to my spouse; for if