le: looking at her watch, and testifying her
surprise at the negligence of her footman whom she had ordered to have
a chair ready for her at that hour. I repeated my entreaty with all the
eloquence and compliment I was master of; and, in the event, she was
prevailed upon to accept of a proposal I made, to send my servant for
a chair or coach: accordingly, Strap was detached for that purpose, and
returned without success. By this time the playhouse was quite empty,
and we were obliged to retire. As I led her through the passage, I
observed five or six young fellows of fashion standing in a corner,
one of whom, as I thought, tipped my charmer the wink, and when we were
passed, I heard a loud laugh. This note aroused my attention, and I was
resolved to be fully satisfied of this lady's character, before I should
have any nearer connection with her. As no convenience appeared, I
proposed to conduct her to a tavern, where we might stay a few minutes,
until my servant could fetch a coach from the Strand. She seemed
particularly shy of trusting herself in a tavern with a stranger, but
at last yielded to my pathetic remonstrances, rather than endanger
her health by remaining in a cold, damp thoroughfare. Having thus far
succeeded, I begged to know what wine she would be pleased to drink a
glass of; but she professed the greatest aversion to all sorts of strong
liquors, and it was with much difficulty that I could persuade her to
eat a jelly.

In the meantime, I endeavoured to alleviate the uneasiness she
discovered, by saying all the agreeable things I could think of; at
which she would often sigh, and regard me with a languishing look, that
seemed, however, too near akin to the lewd leer of a courtesan. This
discovery added to my former suspicion, while it put me upon my guard
against her arts, divested me of reserve, and enabled me to entertain
her with gaiety and freedom. In the course of our conversation, I
pressed her to allow me the honour of waiting upon her next day at her
lodgings, a request which she, with many apologues, refused, lest it
should give umbrage to Sir John, who was of a disposition apt to be
fretted with trifles. This information, by which I was to understand
that her husband was a knight, did not check my addresses, which became
more and more importunate, and I was even hardy enough to ravish a kiss.
But, O heavens! instead of banqueting on the ambrosial flavour, that her
delicacy of complexion promised