-gown over my
waistcoat, and in a doze: and, when I opened my eyes, who should I see,
but the parson kneeling on one side the bed; Lord M. on the other; Mrs.
Greme, who had been sent for to tend me, as they call it, at the feet!
God be thanked, my Lord, said I in an ecstasy!--Where's Miss?--for I
supposed they were going to marry me.

They thought me delirious at first; and prayed louder and louder.

This roused me: off the bed I started; slid my feet into my slippers;
put my hand in my waistcoat pocket, and pulled out thy letter with my
beloved's meditation in it! My Lord, Dr. Wright, Mrs. Greme, you have
thought me a very wicked fellow: but, see! I can read you as good as you
can read me.

They stared at one another. I gaped, and read, Poor mo--or--tals the
cau--o--ause of their own--their own mi--ser--ry.

It is as suitable to my case, as to the lady's, as thou'lt observe, if
thou readest it again.* At the passage where it is said, That when a man
is chastened for sin, his beauty consumes away, I stept to the glass: A
poor figure, by Jupiter, cried I!--And they all praised and admired me;
lifted up their hands and their eyes; and the doctor said, he always
thought it impossible, that a man of my sense could be so wild as the
world said I was. My Lord chuckled for joy; congratulated me; and, thank
my dear Miss Harlowe, I got high reputation among good, bad, and
indifferent. In short, I have established myself for ever with all here.
--But, O Belford, even this will not do--I must leave off again.

* See Vol. VII. Letter LXXXI.

***

A visit from the Montague sisters, led in by the hobbling Peer, to
congratulate my amendment and reformation both in one. What a lucky
event this illness with this meditation in my pocket; for we were all to
pieces before! Thus, when a boy, have I joined with a crowd coming out
of church, and have been thought to have been there myself.

I am incensed at the insolence of the young Levite. Thou wilt highly
oblige me, if thou'lt find him out, and send me his ears in the next
letter.

My beloved mistakes me, if she thinks I proposed her writing to me as an
alternative that should dispense with my attendance upon her. That it
shall not do, nor did I intend it should, unless she pleased me better in
the contents of her letter than she has done. Bid her read again. I
gave no such hopes. I would have been with her in spite of you both, by
to-morrow, at farthest, had I