w Bevis, in particular, put out one lip, tossed up her head,
wrinkled her forehead, and made such motions with her now lifted-up, now
cast-down eyes, as showed that she thought there was a great deal of
perverseness and affectation in the lady. Now-and-then she changed her
censuring looks to looks of pity of me--but (as she said) she loved not
to aggravate!--A poor business, God help's! shrugging up her shoulders,
to make such a rout about! And then her eyes laughed heartily--
Indulgence was a good thing! Love was a good thing!--but too much was
too much!

Miss Rawlins, however, declared, after she had called the widow Bevis,
with a prudish simper, a comical gentlewoman! that there must be
something in our story, which she could not fathom; and went from us into
a corner, and sat down, seemingly vexed that she could not.

LETTER XXXV

MR. LOVELACE
[IN CONTINUATION.]

The lady staid longer above than we wished; and I hoping that (lady-like)
she only waited for an invitation to return to us, desired the widow
Bevis, in the Captain's name, (who wanted to go to town,) to request the
favour of her company.

I cared not to send up either Miss Rawlins or Mrs. Moore on the errand,
lest my beloved should be in a communicative disposition; especially as
she had hinted at an appeal to Miss Rawlins; who, besides, has such an
unbounded curiosity.

Mrs. Bevis presently returned with an answer (winking and pinking at me)
that the lady would follow her down.

Miss Rawlins could not but offer to retire, as the others did. Her eyes,
however, intimated that she had rather stay. But they not being answered
as she seemed to wish, she went with the rest, but with slower feet; and
had hardly left the parlour, when the lady entered it by the other door;
a melancholy dignity in her person and air.

She sat down. Pray, Mr. Tomlinson, be seated.

He took his chair over against her. I stood behind her's that I might
give him agreed-upon signals, should there be occasion for them.

As thus--a wink of the left eye was to signify push that point, Captain.

A wink of the right, and a nod, was to indicate approbation of what he
had said.

My fore-finger held up, and biting my lip, get off of that, as fast as
possible.

A right-forward nod, and a frown, swear to it, Captain.

My whole spread hand, to take care not to say too much on that particular
subject.

A scowling brow, and a positive nod, was to bid him rise in tem