, till at last came in of herself
and look'd very wild."

This action of pure maidenly terror elicited sympathy even in the
Judge's match-making heart, and he told the lover he was willing to know
his daughter's mind better. This was on January 10th, 1698. Ten days
later we find wild-eyed Betty going out of her way to avoid drinking
wine with one Captain Turner, much to her father's annoyance. By
September she had refused another suitor.

Her father wrote thus:

"Got home [from Rhode Island] by seven, in good health, though the
day was hot, find my family in health, only disturbed at Betty's
denying Mr. Hirst, and my wife hath a cold. The Lord sanctify
Mercyes and Afflictions."

And again, a month later:

"Mr. Wm. Hirst comes and thanks my wife and me for our kindness to
his Son, in giving him the liberty of our house. Seems to do it in
the way of taking leave. I thank'd him, and for his countenance to
Hannah at the Wedding. Told him that the well wisher's of my
daughter and his son had persuaded him to go to Brantry and visit
her there, &c.; and said if there were hopes would readily do it.
But as things were twould make persons think he was so involved
that he was not fit to go any wether else. He has I suppose taken
his final leave. I gave him Mr. Oakes Sermon, and my Father Hulls
Funeral Sermon."

Two days later, Judge Sewall writes to Betty, who has gone to "Brantry"
on a visit.

BOSTON, October 26, 1699.

"ELIZABETH: Mr. Hirst waits on you once more to see if you can bid
him welcome. It ought to be seriously considered, that your drawing
back from him after all that has passed between you, will be to
your Prejudice; and will tend to discourage persons of worth from
making their Court to you. And you had need well consider whether
you will be able to bear his final leaving of you, howsoever it may
seem grateful to you at present. When persons come toward us we are
apt to look upon their undesirable Circumstances mostly: and
thereupon to shun them. But when persons retire from us for good
and all, we are in danger of looking only on that which is
desirable in them, to our wofull disquiet. Whereas 'tis the
property of a good Ballance to turn where the most weight is,
though there be some also in the other Scale. I do not see