, required
from a heart susceptible of grateful impressions to one involved by his
means in unhappy circumstances.

It is now wickedness in him (a wickedness which discredits all his
professions) to say, that this last cruel and ungrateful insult was not
a premeditated one--But what need I say more of this insult, when it was
of such a nature, and that it has changed that bias in his favour, and
make me choose to forego all the inviting prospects he talks of, and to
run all hazards, to free myself from his power?

O my dearest creature! how happy for us both, had I been able to discover
that bias, as you condescend to call it, through such reserves as man
never encountered with!

He did discover it, Capt. Tomlinson. He brought me, more than once, to
own it; the more needlessly brought me to own it, as I dare say his own
vanity gave him no cause to doubt it; and as I had apparently no other
motive in not being forward to own it, than my too-justly-founded
apprehensions of his want of generosity. In a word, Captain Tomlinson,
(and now, that I am determined upon my measures, I the less scruple to
say,) I should have despised myself, had I found myself capable of
affectation or tyranny to the man I intended to marry. I have always
blamed the dearest friend I have in the world for a fault of this nature.
In a word--

Lovel. And had my angel really and indeed the favour for me she is
pleased to own?--Dearest creature, forgive me. Restore me to your good
opinion. Surely I have not sinned beyond forgiveness. You say that I
extorted from you the promise you made me. But I could not have presumed
to make that promise the condition of my obedience, had I not thought
there was room to expect forgiveness. Permit, I beseech you, the
prospects to take place, that were opening so agreeably before us. I
will go to town, and bring the license. All difficulties to the
obtaining of it are surmounted. Captain Tomlinson shall be witness to
the deeds. He will be present at the ceremony on the part of your uncle.
Indeed he gave me hope that your uncle himself--

Capt. I did, Mr. Lovelace: and I will tell you my grounds for the hope
I gave. I promised to my dear friend, (your uncle, Madam,) that he
should give out that he would take a turn with me to my little farm-house,
as I call it, near Northampton, for a week or so.--Poor gentleman!
he has of late been very little abroad!--Too visibly declining!--Change
of air, it mi