Soul over all, Belford! She seems sensible of liberties that my passion
made me insensible of having taken, or she could not so deeply resent.

She besought me to give over all thoughts of her. Sometimes, she said,
she thought herself cruelly treated by her nearest and dearest relations;
at such times, a spirit of repining and even of resentment took place;
and the reconciliation, at other times so desirable, was not then so much
the favourite wish of her heart, as was the scheme she had formerly
planned--of taking her good Norton for her directress and guide, and
living upon her own estate in the manner her grandfather had intended she
should live.

This scheme she doubted not that her cousin Morden, who was one of her
trustees for that estate, would enable her, (and that, as she hoped,
without litigation,) to pursue. And if he can, and does, what, Sir, let
me ask you, said she, have I seen in your conduct, that should make me
prefer to it an union of interest, where there is such a disunion in
minds?

So thou seest, Jack, there is reason, as well as resentment, in the
preference she makes against me!--Thou seest, that she presumes to think
that she can be happy without me; and that she must be unhappy with me!

I had besought her, in the conclusion of my re-urged arguments, to write
to Miss Howe before Miss Howe's answer could come, in order to lay before
her the present state of things; and if she would pay a deference to her
judgment, to let her have an opportunity to give it, on the full knowledge
of the case--

So I would, Mr. Lovelace, was the answer, if I were in doubt myself,
which I would prefer--marriage, or the scheme I have mentioned. You
cannot think, Sir, but the latter must be my choice. I wish to part with
you with temper--don't put me upon repeating--

Part with me, Madam! interrupted I--I cannot bear those words!--But let
me beseech you, however, to write to Miss Howe. I hope, if Miss Howe is
not my enemy--

She is not the enemy of your person, Sir;--as you would be convinced, if
you saw her last letter* to me. But were she not an enemy to your
actions, she would not be my friend, nor the friend of virtue. Why will
you provoke from me, Mr. Lovelace, the harshness of expression, which,
however, which, however deserved by you, I am unwilling just now to use,
having suffered enough in the two past days from my own vehemence?

* The lady innocently means Mr. Lovelace's forged one. See