were it thou shouldst be tainted with the office. Write to me, my child,
thy delicious letters. Let them speak the easy carelessness of a heart
that opens itself anyhow, every how. Such, Eliza, I write to thee!" (The
artless rogue, of course he did!) "And so I should ever love thee, most
artlessly, most affectionately, if Providence permitted thy residence in
the same section of the globe: for I am all that honour and affection can
make me 'THY BRAMIN'."

The Bramin continues addressing Mrs. Draper until the departure of the
_Earl of Chatham_, Indiaman, from Deal, on the 2nd of April, 1767. He is
amiably anxious about the fresh paint for Eliza's cabin; he is uncommonly
solicitous about her companions on board: "I fear the best of your
shipmates are only genteel by comparison with the contrasted crew with
which thou beholdest them. So was--you know who--from the same fallacy which
was put upon your judgement when--but I will not mortify you!"

"You know who" was, of course, Daniel Draper, Esq., of Bombay--a gentleman
very much respected in that quarter of the globe, and about whose probable
health our worthy Bramin writes with delightful candour.

"I honour you, Eliza, for keeping secret some things which, if explained,
had been a panegyric on yourself. There is a dignity in venerable
affliction which will not allow it to appeal to the world for pity or
redress. Well have you supported that character, my amiable, my
philosophic friend! And indeed, I begin to think you have as many virtues
as my Uncle Toby's widow. Talking of widows--pray, Eliza, if ever you are
such, do not think of giving yourself to some wealthy Nabob, because I
design to marry you myself. My wife cannot live long, and I know not the
woman I should like so well for her substitute as yourself. 'Tis true I am
ninety-five in constitution, and you but twenty-five; but what I want in
youth, I will make up in wit and good humour. Not Swift so loved his
Stella, Scarron his Maintenon, or Waller his Saccharissa. Tell me, in
answer to this, that you approve and honour the proposal."

Approve and honour the proposal! The coward was writing gay letters to his
friends this while, with sneering allusions to this poor foolish
_Bramine_. Her ship was not out of the Downs, and the charming Sterne was
at the "Mount" Coffee-house, with a sheet of gilt-edged paper before him,
offering that precious treasure his heart to Lady P----, asking whether it
gave her pleasure