man in the world, much more this, that could
hate me! 'Tis evident, villain as she thinks me, that I should not be an
odious villain, if I could but at last in one instance cease to be a
villain! She could not hold it, determined as she had thought herself, I
saw by her eyes, the moment I endeavoured to dissipate her apprehensions,
on my too-ready knees, as she calls them. The moment the rough covering
my teasing behaviour has thrown over her affections is quite removed, I
doubt not to find all silk and silver at the bottom, all soft, bright,
and charming.

I was however too much vexed, disconcerted, mortified, to hinder her from
retiring. And yet she had not gone, if Dorcas had not coughed.

The wench came in, as soon as her lady had retired, and gave me the copy
she had taken. And what should it be but of the answer the truly
admirable creature had intended to give to my written proposals in
relation to settlements?

I have but just dipt my pen into this affecting paper. Were I to read it
attentively, not a wink should I sleep this night. To-morrow it shall
obtain my serious consideration.

LETTER XLVIII

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 23.

The dear creature desires to be excused seeing me till evening. She is
not very well, as Dorcas tells me.

Read here, if thou wilt, the paper transcribed by Dorcas. It is
impossible that I should proceed with my projects against this admirable
woman, were it not that I am resolved, after a few trials more, if as
nobly sustained as those she has passed through, to make her (if she
really hate me not) legally mine.

TO MR. LOVELACE

'When a woman is married, that supreme earthly obligation requires, that
in all instances, where her husband's real honour is concerned, she
should yield her own will to his. But, beforehand, I could be glad,
conformably to what I have always signified, to have the most explicit
assurances, that every possible way should be tried to avoid litigation
with my father. Time and patience will subdue all things. My prospects
of happiness are extremely contracted. A husband's right will be always
the same. In my lifetime I could wish nothing to be done of this sort.
Your circumstances, Sir, will not oblige you to extort violently from him
what is in his hands. All that depends upon me, either with regard to my
person, to my diversions, or to the economy that no married woman, of
whatever rank or qualit