if you have any
value for me, permit me to withdraw.

'Night, mid-night, is necessary, Belford. Surprise, terror, must be
necessary to the ultimate trial of this charming creature, say the women
below what they will. I could not hold my purposes. This was not the
first time that I had intended to try if she could forgive.

'I kissed her hand with a fervour, as if I would have left my lips upon
it.--Withdraw, then, dearest, and ever-dear creature. Indeed I entered
in a very ill humour. I cannot bear the distance at which you so
causelessly keep me. Withdraw, Madam, since it is your will to withdraw;
and judge me generously; judge me but as I deserve to be judged; and let
me hope to meet you to-morrow morning early in such a temper as becomes
our present situation, and my future hopes.

'And so saying, I conducted her to the door, and left her there. But,
instead of going down to the women, I went into my own chamber, and
locked myself in; ashamed of being awed by her majestic loveliness, and
apprehensive virtue, into so great a change of purpose, notwithstanding I
had such just provocations from the letters of her saucy friend, formed
on her own representations of facts and situations between herself and
me.

***

[The Lady (dated Sunday night) thus describes her terrors, and Mr.
Lovelace's behaviour, on the occasion.]

On my entering the dining-room, he took my hand in his, in such a humour,
I saw plainly he was resolved to quarrel with me--And for what?--What had
I done to him?--I never in my life beheld in any body such wild, such
angry, such impatient airs. I was terrified; and instead of being as
angry as I intended to be, I was forced to be all mildness. I can hardly
remember what were his first words, I was so frighted. But you hate me,
Madam! you hate me, Madam! were some of them--with such a fierceness--I
wished myself a thousand miles distant from him. I hate nobody, said I:
I thank God I hate nobody--You terrify me, Mr. Lovelace--let me leave
you.--The man, my dear, looked quite ugly--I never saw a man look so ugly
as passion made him look--and for what?--And so he grasped my hands!--
fierce creature;--he so grasped my hands! In short, he seemed by his
looks, and by his words (once putting his arms about me) to wish me to
provoke him. So that I had nothing to do but to beg of him (which I did
repeatedly) to permit me to withdraw: and to promise to meet him at his
own time in the mor