story of a pope, who, (once a poor fisherman,)
through every preferment he rose to, even to that of the cardinalate,
hung up in view of all his guests his net, as a token of humility. But,
when he arrived at the pontificate, he took it down, saying, that there
was no need of the net, when he had caught the fish.

Thou hast a mind, perhaps, to make an exception for these two ladies.--
With all my heart. My Clarissa has, if woman has, a soul capable of
friendship. Her flame is bright and steady. But Miss Howe's, were it
not kept up by her mother's opposition, is too vehement to endure. How
often have I known opposition not only cement friendship, but create
love? I doubt not but poor Hickman would fare the better with this
vixen, if her mother were as heartily against him, as she is for him.

Thus much, indeed, as to these two ladies, I will grant thee, that the
active spirit of the one, and the meek disposition of the other, may make
their friendship more durable than it would otherwise be; for this is
certain, that in every friendship, whether male or female, there must be
a man and a woman spirit, (that is to say, one of them must be a
forbearing one,) to make it permanent.

But this I pronounce, as a truth, which all experience confirms, that
friendship between women never holds to the sacrifice of capital
gratifications, or to the endangering of life, limb, or estate, as it
often does in our nobler sex.

Well, but next comes an indictment against poor beauty! What has beauty
done that Miss Howe should be offended at it?--Miss Howe, Jack, is a
charming girl. She has no reason to quarrel with beauty!--Didst ever see
her?--Too much fire and spirit in her eye, indeed, for a girl!--But
that's no fault with a man that can lower that fire and spirit at
pleasure; and I know I am the man that can.

For my own part, when I was first introduced to this lady, which was by
my goddess when she herself was a visiter at Mrs. Howe's, I had not been
half an hour with her, but I even hungered and thirsted after a romping
'bout with the lively rogue; and, in the second or third visit, was more
deterred by the delicacy of her friend, than by what I apprehended from
her own. This charming creature's presence, thought I, awes us both.
And I wished her absence, though any other woman were present, that I
might try the differences in Miss Howe's behaviour before her friend's
face, or behind her back.

Delicate women make de