can excel the meanest in the customary visibles only. Such is the
equality of the dispensation, to the prince and the peasant, in this
prime gift WOMAN.

Well, but what was the result of this involuntary impulse on my
part?--Wouldst thou not think; I was taken at my offer?--An offer so
solemnly made, and on one knee too?

No such thing! The pretty trifler let me off as easily as I could have
wished.

Her brother's project; and to find that there were no hopes of a
reconciliation for her; and the apprehension she had of the mischiefs
that might ensue; these, not my offer, nor love of me, were the causes
to which she ascribed all her sweet confusion--an ascription that is
high treason against my sovereign pride,--to make marriage with me but
a second-place refuge; and as good as to tell me that her confusion
was owing to her concern that there were no hopes that my enemies would
accept of her intended offer to renounce a man who had ventured his life
for her, and was still ready to run the same risque in her behalf!

I re-urged her to make me happy, but I was to be postponed to her cousin
Morden's arrival. On him are now placed all her hopes.

I raved; but to no purpose.

Another letter was to be sent, or had been sent, to her aunt Hervey, to
which she hoped an answer.

Yet sometimes I think that fainter and fainter would have been her
procrastinations, had I been a man of courage--but so fearful was I of
offending!

A confounded thing! The man to be so bashful; the woman to want so much
courting!--How shall two such come together--no kind mediatress in the
way?

But I must be contented. 'Tis seldom, however, that a love so ardent as
mine, meets with a spirit so resigned in the same person. But true love,
I am now convinced, only wishes: nor has it any active will but that of
the adored object.

But, O the charming creature, again of herself to mention London! Had
Singleton's plot been of my own contriving, a more happy expedient could
not have been thought of to induce her to resume her purpose of going
thither; nor can I divine what could be her reason for postponing it.

I enclose the letter from Joseph Leman, which I mentioned to thee in
mine of Monday last,* with my answer to it. I cannot resist the vanity
that urges me to the communication. Otherwise, it were better, perhaps,
that I suffer thee to imagine that this lady's stars fight against
her, and dispense the opportunities in my favour, which are o