ble?

'Tis very easy to say that, if I durst--if I might not offend you--if it
were not to break conditions that shall be inviolable with me.

Say then, Sir, what you would say. I can approve or disapprove, as I
think fit.

Had not the man a fine opportunity here to speak out?--He had. And thus
he used it.

To wave, Madam, what I would say till I have more courage to speak
out [More courage,--Mr. Lovelace more courage, my dear!]--I will only
propose what I think will be most agreeable to you--suppose, if you
choose not to go to Lady Betty's, that you take a turn cross the country
to Windsor?

Why to Windsor?

Because it is a pleasant place: because it lies in the way either to
Berkshire, to Oxford, or to London: Berkshire, where Lord M. is at
present: Oxford, in the neighbourhood of which lives Lady Betty: London,
whither you may retire at your pleasure: or, if you will have it so,
whither I may go, you staying at Windsor; and yet be within an easy
distance of you, if any thing should happen, or if your friends should
change their new-taken resolution.

This proposal, however, displeased me not. But I said, my only objection
was, the distance of Windsor from Miss Howe, of whom I should be glad to
be always within two or three hours reach of by messenger, if possible.

If I had thoughts of any other place than Windsor, or nearer to
Miss Howe, he wanted but my commands, and would seek for proper
accommodations: but, fix as I pleased, farther or nearer, he had
servants, and they had nothing else to do but to obey me.

A grateful thing then he named to me--To send for my Hannah, as soon as
I shall be fixed;* unless I would choose one of the young gentlewomen
here to attend me; both of whom, as I had acknowledged, were very
obliging; and he knew I had generosity enough to make it worth their
while.

* See his reasons for proposing Windsor, Letter XXV.--and her Hannah,
Letter XXVI.

This of Hannah, he might see, I took very well. I said I had thoughts
of sending for her, as soon as I got to more convenient lodgings. As to
these young gentlewomen, it were pity to break in upon that usefulness
which the whole family were of to each other; each having her proper
part, and performing it with an agreeable alacrity: insomuch, that I
liked them all so well, that I could even pass my days among them, were
he to leave me; by which means the lodgings would be more convenient to
me than now they were.

He need