oor, I threw
myself into an old great chair, and gave way to a violent flood of
tears, which a little relieved me.

Mr. Lovelace, sooner than I wished, sent up the gentlewoman, who pressed
me, in his name, to admit my brother, or to come down to him: for he had
told her I was his sister; and that he had brought me, against my will,
and without warning, from a friend's house, where I had been all the
winter, in order to prevent my marrying against the consent of my
friends; to whom he was now conducting me; and that, having given me no
time for a travelling-dress, I was greatly offended at him.

So, my dear, your frank, your open-hearted friend, was forced to
countenance this tale; which indeed suited me the better, because I was
unable for some time to talk, speak, or look up; and so my dejection,
and grief, and silence, might very well pass before the gentlewoman and
her niece who attended me, as a fit of sullenness.

The room I was in being a bed-chamber, I chose to go down, at his
repeated message, attended by the mistress of the house, to that in
which he was. He approached me with great respect, yet not exceeding
a brotherly politeness, where a brother is polite; and, calling me his
dearest sister, asked after the state of my mind; and hoped I would
forgive him; for never brother half so well loved a sister, as he me.

A wretch! how naturally did he fall into the character, although I was
so much out of mine!

Unthinking creatures have some comfort in the shortness of their views;
in their unapprehensiveness; and that they penetrate not beyond the
present moment: in short that they are unthinking!--But, for a person of
my thoughtful disposition, who has been accustomed to look forward, as
well to the possible, as to the probable, what comfort can I have in my
reflections?

But let me give you the particulars of our conversation a little before
and after our supper-time, joining both in one.

When we were alone, he besought me (I cannot say but with all the tokens
of a passionate and respectful tenderness) to be better reconciled to
myself and to him: he repeated all the vows of honour and inviolable
affection that he ever made me: he promised to be wholly governed by me
in every future step. He asked me to give him leave to propose, whether
I chose to set out next day to either of his aunts?

I was silent. I knew not what to say, nor what to do.

Whether I chose to have private lodgings procured for me in