ws are as starched as the old
bachelors. She would not see him in a dishabille for the world--What can
she mean by it?

His errand was to set her against you, and to shew her their determined
rage on your going away. The issue proved too evidently that this was
the principal end of his visit.

The odd creature desired to speak with her alone. I am not used to such
exceptions whenever any visits are made to my mother.

When she was primed out, down she came to him. They locked themselves
in. The two positive heads were put together--close together I suppose;
for I listened, but could hear nothing distinctly, though they both
seemed full of their subject.

I had a good mind, once or twice, to have made them open the door.
Could I have been sure of keeping but tolerably my temper, I would have
demanded admittance. But I was afraid, if I had obtained it, that I
should have forgot it was my mother's house, and been for turning
him out of it. To come to rave against and abuse my dearest, dearest,
faultless friend! and the ravings to be encouraged, and perhaps joined
in, in order to justify themselves; the one for contributing to drive
that dear friend out of her father's house; the other for refusing her
a temporary asylum, till the reconciliation could have been effected,
which her dutiful heart was set upon; and which it would have become
the love which my mother had ever pretended for you, to have mediated
for--Could I have had patience!

The issue, as I said, shewed what the errand was--Its fusty appearance,
after the old fusty fellow was marched off, [you must excuse me, my
dear,] was in a kind of gloomy, Harlowe-like reservedness in my mother;
which upon a few resenting flirts of mine, was followed by a rigorous
prohibition of correspondence.

This put us, you may suppose, upon terms not the most agreeable, I
desired to know, if I were prohibited dreaming of you?--For, my dear,
you have all my sleeping as well as waking hours.

I can easily allow for your correspondence with your wretch at first
(and yet your notions were excellent) by the effect this prohibition has
upon me; since, if possible, it has made me love you better than before;
and I am more desirous than ever of corresponding with you.

But I have nevertheless a much more laudable motive--I should think
myself the unworthiest of creatures, could I be brought to slight a
dear friend, and such a meritorious one, in her distress. I would die
first--An