ht not to have slipped. As
to settlements, if they come not in naturally, e'en leave them to his own
justice, and to the justice of his family, And there's an end of the
matter.

This is my advice: mend it as circumstances offer, and follow your own.
But indeed, my dear, this, or something like it, would I do. And let him
tell me afterwards, if he dared or would, that he humbled down to his
shoe-buckles the person it would have been his glory to exalt.

Support yourself, mean time, with reflections worthy of yourself. Though
tricked into this man's power, you are not meanly subjugated to it. All
his reverence you command, or rather, as I may say, inspire; since it was
never known, that he had any reverence for aught that was good, till you
was with him: and he professes now and then to be so awed and charmed by
your example, as that the force of it shall reclaim him.

I believe you will have a difficult task to keep him to it; but the more
will be your honour, if you effect his reformation: and it is my belief,
that if you can reclaim this great, this specious deceiver, who has,
morally speaking, such a number of years before him, you will save from
ruin a multitude of innocents; for those seem to me to have been the prey
for which he has spread his wicked snares. And who knows but, for this
very purpose, principally, a person may have been permitted to swerve,
whose heart or will never was in her error, and who has so much remorse
upon her for having, as she thinks, erred at all? Adieu, my dearest
friend.

ANNA HOWE.

ENCLOSED IN THE ABOVE.

I must trouble you with my concerns, though you own are so heavy upon
you. A piece of news I have to tell you. Your uncle Antony is disposed
to marry. With whom, think you? with my mother. True indeed. Your
family knows it. All is laid with redoubled malice at your door. And
there the old soul himself lays it.

Take no notice of this intelligence, not so much as in your letters to
me, for fear of accidents.

I think it can't do. But were I to provoke my mother, that might afford
a pretence. Else, I should have been with you before now, I fancy.

The first likelihood that appears to me of encouragement, I dismiss
Hickman, that's certain. If my mother disoblige me in so important an
article, I shan't think of obliging her in such another. It is
impossible, surely, that the desire of popping me off to that honest man
can be with such a view.

I repeat,