nce, I should be better able, (by
visiting without him,) to direct him what to say or do, as I should find
out the turn of her humour.

I was, however, glad at my heart that Mrs. Moore came up so seasonably
with notice that dinner was ready. The fair fugitive was all in alt.
She had the excuse for withdrawing, I had time to strengthen myself; the
Captain had time to come; and the lady to cool.--Shakspeare advises
well:

Oppose not rage, whilst rage is in its force;
But give it way awhile, and let it waste.
The rising deluge is not stopt with dams;
Those it o'erbears, and drowns the hope of harvest.
But, wisely manag'd, its divided strength
Is sluic'd in channels, and securely drain'd:
And when its force is spent, and unsupply'd,
The residue with mounds may be restrain'd,
And dry-shod we may pass the naked ford.

I went down with the women to dinner. Mrs. Moore sent her fair boarder
up a plate, but she only ate a little bit of bread, and drank a glass of
water. I doubted not but she would keep her word, when it was once gone
out. Is she not an Harlowe? She seems to be enuring herself to
hardships, which at the worst she can never know; since, though she
should ultimately refuse to be obliged to me, or (to express myself more
suitable to my own heart,) to oblige me, every one who sees her must
befriend her.

But let me ask thee, Belford, Art thou not solicitous for me in relation
to the contents of the letter which the angry beauty had written and
dispatched away by man and horse; and for what may be Miss Howe's answer
to it? Art thou not ready to inquire, Whether it be not likely that Miss
Howe, when she knows of her saucy friend's flight, will be concerned
about her letter, which she must know could not be at Wilson's till after
that flight, and so, probably, would fall into my hands?--

All these things, as thou'lt see in the sequel, are provided for with as
much contrivance as human foresight can admit.

I have already told thee that Will. is upon the lookout for old Grimes--
old Grimes is, it seems, a gossiping, sottish rascal; and if Will. can
but light of him, I'll answer for the consequence; For has not Will. been
my servant upwards of seven years?

LETTER XXVII

MR. LOVELACE
[IN CONTINUATION.]

We had at dinner, besides Miss Rawlins, a young widow-niece of Mrs.
Moore, who is come to stay a month with her aunt--Bevis her name; very
fo