e must conquer,] never press her;
so when they meet, all is civility on both sides. Even married people, I
believe, Jack, prevent abundance of quarrels, by seeing one another but
seldom.

But how stands it between thyself and the lady, methinks thou askest,
since her abrupt departure from thee, and undutiful repulse of Wednesday
morning?

Why, pretty well in the main. Nay, very well. For why? the dear saucy-
face knows not how to help herself. Can fly to no other protection. And
has, besides, overheard a conversation [who would have thought she had
been so near?] which passed between Mrs. Sinclair, Miss Martin, and
myself, that very Wednesday afternoon; which has set her heart at ease
with respect to several doubtful points.

Such as, particularly, 'Mrs. Fretchville's unhappy state of mind--most
humanely pitied by Miss Martin, who knows her very well--the husband she
has lost, and herself, (as Sally says,) lovers from their cradles. Pity
from one begets pity from another, be the occasion for it either strong
or weak; and so many circumstances were given to poor Mrs. Fretchville's
distress, that it was impossible but my beloved must extremely pity her
whom the less tender-hearted Miss Martin greatly pitied.

'My Lord M.'s gout his only hindrance from visiting my spouse. Lady
Betty and Miss Montague soon expected in town.

'My earnest desire signified to have my spouse receive those ladies in
her own hose, if Mrs. Fretchville would but know her own mind; and I
pathetically lamented the delay occasioned by her not knowing it.

'My intention to stay at Mrs. Sinclair's, as I said I had told them
before, while my spouse resides in her own hose, (when Mrs. Fretchville
could be brought to quit it,) in order to gratify her utmost punctilio.

'My passion for my beloved (which, as I told them in a high and fervent
accent, was the truest that man could have for woman) I boasted of. It
was, in short, I said, of the true platonic kind; or I had no notion of
what platonic love was.'

So it is, Jack; and must end as platonic love generally does end.

'Sally and Mrs. Sinclair next praised, but not grossly, my beloved.
Sally particularly admired her purity; called it exemplary; yet (to avoid
suspicion) expressed her thoughts that she was rather over-nice, if she
might presume to say so before me. But nevertheless she applauded me for
the strict observation I made of my vow.

'I more freely blamed her reserves to me; c