is intended goodness to me
on an occasion the most solemn of my life. That the admirable Lady, whom
he so justly praised, thought his Lordship's proposals in her favour too
high. That she chose not to make a public appearance, if, without
disobliging my friends, she could avoid it, till a reconciliation with
her own could be effected. That although she expressed a grateful sense
of his Lordship's consent to give her to me with his own hand; yet,
presuming that the motive to this kind intention was rather to do her
honour, than it otherwise would have been his own choice, (especially as
travelling would be at this time so inconvenient to him,) she thought it
advisable to save his Lordship trouble on this occasion; and hoped he
would take as meant her declining the favour.

'That The Lawn will be most acceptable to us both to retire to; and the
rather, as it is so to his Lordship.

'But, if he pleases, the jointure may be made from my own estate; leaving
to his Lordship's goodness the alternative.'

I conclude with telling him, 'that I had offered to present the Lady his
Lordship's bill; but on her declining to accept of it (having myself no
present occasion for it) I return it enclosed, with my thanks, &c.'

And is not this going a plaguy length? What a figure should I make in
rakish annals, if at last I should be caught in my own gin?

The sex may say what they will, but a poor innocent fellow had need to
take great care of himself, when he dances upon the edge of the
matrimonial precipice. Many a faint-hearted man, when he began to jest,
or only designed to ape gallantry, has been forced into earnest, by being
over-prompt, and taken at his word, not knowing how to own that he meant
less than the lady supposed he meant. I am the better enabled to judge
that this must have been the case of many a sneaking varlet; because I,
who know the female world as well as any man in it of my standing, am so
frequently in doubt of myself, and know not what to make of the matter.

Then these little sly rogues, how they lie couchant, ready to spring upon
us harmless fellows the moment we are in their reach!--When the ice is
once broken for them, how swiftly can they make to port!--Mean time, the
subject they can least speak to, they most think of. Nor can you talk of
the ceremony, before they have laid out in their minds how it is all to
be. Little saucy-faced designers! how first they draw themselves in,
then us!

But b