e of reading, a good deal of nonsense.

Capt. You were pleased to tell me, Sir, that you only proposed to try
her virtue; and that you believed you should actually marry her.

Lovel. So I shall, and cannot help it. I have no doubt but I shall.
And as to trying her, is she not now in the height of her trial? Have I
not reason to think that she is coming about? Is she not now yielding up
her resentment for an attempt which she thinks she ought not to forgive?
And if she do, may she not forgive the last attempt?--Can she, in a word,
resent that more than she does this? Women often, for their own sakes,
will keep the last secret; but will ostentatiously din the ears of gods
and men with their clamours upon a successless offer. It was my folly,
my weakness, that I gave her not more cause for this her unsparing
violence!

Capt. O Sir, you will never be able to subdue this lady without force.

Lovel. Well, then, puppy, must I not endeavour to find a proper time
and place--

Capt. Forgive me, Sir! but can you think of force to such a fine
creature?

Lovel. Force, indeed, I abhor the thought of; and for what, thinkest
thou, have I taken all the pains I have taken, and engaged so many
persons in my cause, but to avoid the necessity of violent compulsion?
But yet, imaginest thou that I expect direct consent from such a lover of
forms as this lady is known to be! Let me tell thee, M'Donald, that thy
master, Belford, has urged on thy side of the question all that thou
canst urge. Must I have every sorry fellow's conscience to pacify, as
well as my own?--By my soul, Patrick, she has a friend here, [clapping my
hand on my breast,] that pleads for her with greater and more
irresistible eloquence than all the men in the world can plead for her.
And had she not escaped me--And yet how have I answered my first design
of trying her,* and in her the virtue of the most virtuous of the sex?--
Perseverance, man!--Perseverance!--What! wouldst thou have me decline a
trial that they make for the honour of a sex we all so dearly love?

* See Vol. III. Letter XVIII.

Then, Sir, you have no thoughts--no thoughts--[looking still more
sorrowfully,] of marrying this wonderful lady?

Yes, yes, Patrick, but I have. But let me, first, to gratify my pride,
bring down her's. Let me see, that she loves me well enough to forgive
me for my own sake. Has she not heretofore lamented that she staid not
in her father's house, th