ot to permit
the least familiarity.'--See, Jack! see Belford!--Exactly as I thought!--
Her vigilance all owing to a cool friend; who can sit down quietly, and
give that advice, which in her own case she could not take. What an
encouragement to me to proceed in my devices, when I have reason to think
that my beloved's reserves are owing more to Miss Howe's cautions than to
her own inclinations! But 'it is my interest to be honest,' Miss Howe
tells her.--INTEREST, fools!--I thought these girls knew, that my
interest was ever subservient to my pleasure.

What would I give to come at the copies of the letters to which those of
Miss Howe are answers!

The next letter is dated May 3.* In this the little termagant expresses
her astonishment, that her mother should write to Miss Harlowe, to forbid
her to correspond with her daughter. Mr. Hickman, she says, is of
opinion, 'that she ought not to obey her mother.' How the creeping
fellow trims between both! I am afraid, that I must punish him, as well
as this virago; and I have a scheme rumbling in my head, that wants but
half an hour's musing to bring into form, that will do my business upon
both. I cannot bear, that the parental authority should be thus
despised, thus trampled under foot. But observe the vixen, ''Tis well he
is of her opinion; for her mother having set her up, she must have
somebody to quarrel with.'--Could a Lovelace have allowed himself a
greater license? This girl's a devilish rake in her heart. Had she been
a man, and one of us, she'd have outdone us all in enterprise and spirit.

* See Vol. IV. Letter X.

'She wants but very little farther provocation,' she says, 'to fly
privately to London. And if she does, she will not leave her till she
sees her either honourably married, or quit of the wretch.' Here, Jack,
the transcriber Sally has added a prayer--'For the Lord's sake, dear Mr.
Lovealce, get this fury to London!'--Her fate, I can tell thee, Jack, if
we had her among us, should not be so long deciding as her friend's.
What a gantelope would she run, when I had done with her, among a dozen
of her own pitiless sex, whom my charmer shall never see!--But more of
this anon.

I find by this letter, that my saucy captive has been drawing the
characters of every varlet of ye. Nor am I spared in it more than you.
'The man's a fool, to be sure, my dear.' Let me perish, if they either
of them find me one!--'A silly fellow, at least.' Cursed