say) he might inspire me with a
familiarity that should improve my confidence in him, when he was told,
that a footman of Sir Charles Hargrave had been here, to let him know,
that his master, and two other gentlemen, were on the road to take a
dinner with him, in their way to Nottingham.

He was heartily vexed at this, and said to me, He should have been
glad of their companies at any other time; but that it was a barbarous
intrusion now; and he wished they had been told he would not be at home
at dinner: And besides, said he, they are horrid drinkers; and I shan't
be able to get them away to-night, perhaps; for they have nothing to do,
but to travel round the country, and beat up their friends' quarters all
the way; and it is all one to them, whether they stay a night or a month
at a place. But, added he, I'll find some way, if I can, to turn them
off, after dinner.--Confound them, said he, in a violent pet, that they
should come this day, of all the days in the year!

We had hardly alighted, and got in, before they came: Three mad rakes
they seemed to be, as I looked through the window, setting up a hunting
note, as soon as they came to the gate, that made the court-yard echo
again; and smacking their whips in concert.

So I went up to my chamber, and saw (what made my heart throb) Mrs.
Jewkes's officious pains to put the room in order for a guest, that,
however welcome, as now my duty teaches me to say, is yet dreadful to me
to think of. So I took refuge in my closet, and had recourse to pen and
ink, for my amusement, and to divert my anxiety of mind.--If one's
heart is so sad, and one's apprehension so great, where one so extremely
loves, and is so extremely obliged; what must be the case of those poor
maidens, who are forced, for sordid views, by their tyrannical parents
or guardians, to marry the man they almost hate, and, perhaps, to the
loss of the man they most love! O that is a sad thing, indeed!--And what
have not such cruel parents to answer for! And what do not such poor
innocent victims suffer!--But, blessed be God, this lot is far from
being mine!

My good master (for I cannot yet have the presumption to call him by a
more tender name) came up to me, and said, Well, I just come to ask my
dear bride (O the charming, charming word!) how she does? I see you are
writing, my dear, said he. These confounded rakes are half mad, I think,
and will make me so! However, said he, I have ordered my chariot to be