yself

Your not unhoping and ever-obliged friend and servant, CL. HARLOWE.

LETTER XXXIX

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ. THURSDAY, APRIL 20.

He begins with communicating to him the letter he wrote to
Mr. Doleman, to procure suitable lodgings in town, and which
he sent away by the Lady's approbation: and then gives him a
copy of the answer to it (see p. 218): upon which he thus
expresses himself:

Thou knowest the widow; thou knowest her nieces; thou knowest the
lodgings: and didst thou ever read a letter more artfully couched
than this of Tom Doleman? Every possible objection anticipated! Every
accident provided against! Every tittle of it plot-proof!

Who could forbear smiling, to see my charmer, like a farcical dean and
chapter, choose what was before chosen for her; and sagaciously (as they
go in form to prayers, that Heaven would direct their choice) pondering
upon the different proposals, as if she would make me believe she had
a mind for some other? The dear sly rogue looking upon me, too, with a
view to discover some emotion in me. Emotions I had; but I can tell
her that they lay deeper than her eye could reach, though it had been a
sun-beam.

No confidence in me, fair one! None at all, 'tis plain. Thou wilt
not, if I were inclined to change my views, encourage me by a generous
reliance on my honour!--And shall it be said that I, a master of arts in
love, shall be overmatched by so unpractised a novice?

But to see the charmer so far satisfied with my contrivance as to borrow
my friend's letter, in order to satisfy Miss Howe likewise--!

Silly little rogues! to walk out into bye-paths on the strength of their
own judgment!--When nothing but experience can enable them to disappoint
us, and teach them grandmother-wisdom! When they have it indeed, then
may they sit down, like so many Cassandras, and preach caution to
others; who will as little mind them as they did their instructresses,
whenever a fine handsome confidant young fellow, such a one as thou
knowest who, comes across them.

But, Belford, didst thou not mind that sly rogue Doleman's naming
Dover-street for the widow's place of abode?--What dost thou think
could be meant by that?--'Tis impossible thou shouldst guess, so, not
to puzzle thee about it, suppose the Widow Sinclair's in Dover-street
should be inquired after by some officious person, in order to come at
characters [Miss Howe is as sly as the devi