He asked if she had any partiklar message?

No: she was so ill she could not write; which was a great grief to her.

Should he call the next day? for he was going to London, now he was so
near; and should stay at a cousin's that night, who lived in a street
called Fetter-Lane.

No: she would write as soon as able, and send by the post.

Well, then, if she had nothing to send by him, mayhap he might stay in
town a day or two; for he had never seen the lions in the Tower, nor
Bedlam, nor the tombs; and he would make a holiday or two, as he had
leave to do, if she had no business or message that required his posting
down next day.

She had not.

She offered him the half-guinea I had given her for him; but he refused
it with great professions of disinterestedness, and love, as he called
it, to Miss Howe; to serve whom, he would ride to the world's-end, or
even to Jericho.

And so the shocking rascal went away: and glad at my heart was I when he
was gone; for I feared nothing so much as that he would have staid till
they came from church.

Thus, Jack, got I my heart's ease, the letter of Miss Howe; ad through
such a train of accidents, as makes me say, that the lady's stars fight
against her. But yet I must attribute a good deal to my own precaution,
in having taken right measures. For had I not secured the widow by my
stories, and the maid by my servant, all would have signified nothing.
And so heartily were they secured, the one by a single guinea, the other
by half a dozen warm kisses, and the aversion they both had to such
wicked creatures as delighted in making mischief between man and wife,
that they promised, that neither Mrs. Moore, Miss Rawlins, Mrs. Lovelace,
nor any body living, should know any thing of the matter.

The widow rejoiced that I had got the mischief-maker's letter. I excused
myself to her, and instantly withdrew with it; and, after I had read it,
fell to my short-hand, to acquaint thee with my good luck: and they not
returning so soon as church was done, (stepping, as it proved, into Miss
Rawlins's, and tarrying there awhile, to bring that busy girl with them
to drink tea,) I wrote thus far to thee, that thou mightest, when thou
camest to this place, rejoice with me upon the occasion.

They are all three just come in.

I hasten to them.

LETTER VII

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.

I have begun another letter to thee, in continuation of my narrative: but
I believe I