pect from her: In order to which, the next Day she acquainted her
fair Daughter with the Golden Advantage she was like to have, if she
would but consent _to lye by the Parchment that convey'd them to her_.
The dear, fair Creature, was so surpriz'd at this Overture made by her
Mother, that her Roses turn'd all into Lillies, and she had like to have
swoon'd away; but having a greater Command of her Passions than usually
our Sex have, and chiefly Persons of her Age, she, after some little
Disorder, which by no Means she could dissemble, she made as dutiful a
Return to her Mother's Proposition, as her Aversion to it would permit;
and, for that Time, got Liberty to retreat, and lament in private the
Misfortune which she partly fore-saw was impending. But her Grief (alas)
was no Cure of her Malady; for the next Day she was again doubly
attack'd by her Father and Mother, with all the Reasons that Interest
and Duty could urge, which she endeavour'd to obviate by all the
Arguments that Nature and Inclination could offer; but she found them
all in vain, since they continu'd their ungrateful Solicitations for
several Days together, at the End of which, they both absolutely
commanded her to prepare her self for her Nuptials with Sir _Robert_; so
that finding her self under a Necessity of complying, or at least of
seeming so, she made 'em hope, that her Duty had overcome her Aversion;
upon which she had a whole Week's Liberty to walk where she would,
unattended, or with what Company she pleas'd, and to make Visits to whom
she had a Mind, either of her Relations or Acquaintance thereabouts;
tho' for three or four Days before, she was strictly confin'd to her
Chamber.

After Dinner, on the third Day of her Enlargement, being Summer Time,
she propos'd to her Mother that she would take a Walk to a Cousin of
hers, who liv'd about four Miles thence, to intreat her to be one of her
Bride-Maids, being then in a careless plain Dress, and having before
discours'd very pleasantly and freely of her Wedding-Day, of what
Friends she would have invited to that Solemnity, and what Hospitality
Sir _Robert_ should keep when she was marry'd to him: All which was
highly agreeable to her Parents, who then could not forbear thanking and
kissing her for it, which she return'd to 'em both with a Shower of
Tears. This did not a little surprize 'em at first, but asking her what
could cause such Signs of Sorrow, after so chearful a Discourse on the
late Subje