ut she might have been quite easy on that head; and yet, perhaps, would
not, had she known that the worthy Captain Tomlinson, (who will be in
town before her messenger,) will leave there the important letter, which
I hope will help to pacify her, and reconcile her to me.

O Jack, Jack! thinkest thou that I will take all this roguish pains, and
be so often called villain for nothing?

But yet, is it not taking pains to come at the finest creature in the
world, not for a transitory moment only, but for one of our lives! The
struggle only, Whether I am to have her in my own way, or in her's?

But now I know thou wilt be frightened out of thy wits for me--What,
Lovelace! wouldest thou let her have a letter that will inevitably blow
thee up; and blow up the mother, and all her nymphs!--yet not intend to
reform, nor intend to marry?

Patience, puppy!--Canst thou not trust thy master?

LETTER XXX

MR. LOVELACE
[IN CONTINUATION.]

I went up to my new-taken apartment, and fell to writing in character, as
usual. I thought I had made good my quarters, but the cruel creature,
understanding that I intended to take up my lodgings there, declared with
so much violence against it, that I was obliged to submit, and to accept
of another lodging, about twelve doors off, which Mrs. Moore recommended.
And all the advantage I could obtain was, that Will., unknown to my
spouse, and for fear of a freak, should lie in the house.

Mrs. Moore, indeed, was unwilling to disoblige either of us. But Miss
Rawlins was of opinion, that nothing more ought to be allowed me: and yet
Mrs. Moore owned, that the refusal was a strange piece of tyranny to a
husband, if I were a husband.

I had a good mind to make Miss Rawlins smart for it. Come and see Miss
Rawlins, Jack.--If thou likest her, I'll get her for thee with a
wet-finger, as the saying is!

The widow Bevis indeed stickled hard for me. [An innocent, or injured
man, will have friends every where.] She said, that to bear much with
some wives, was to be obliged to bear more; and I reflected, with a sigh,
that tame spirits must always be imposed upon. And then, in my heart, I
renewed my vows of revenge upon this haughty and perverse beauty.

The second fellow came back from town about nine o'clock, with Miss
Howe's letter of Wednesday last. 'Collins, it seems, when he left it,
had desired, that it might be safely and speedily delivered into Miss
Laetitia Beaumont's own hands. B