murder of the husband. These women, Jack, have been the occasion
of all manner of mischief from the beginning! Now, when David, full of
indignation, swore [King David would swear, Jack: But how shouldst thou
know who King David was?--The story is in the Bible,] that the rich man
should surely die; Nathan, which was the prophet's name, and a good
ingenious fellow, cried out, (which were the words of the text,) Thou art
the man! By my soul I thought the parson looked directly at me; and at
that moment I cast my eye full on my ewe-lamb.--But I must tell thee too,
that, that I thought a good deal of my Rosebud.--A better man than King
David, in that point, however, thought I!

When we came home we talked upon the subject; and I showed my charmer my
attention to the discourse, by letting her know where the Doctor made the
most of his subject, and where it might have been touched to greater
advantage: for it is really a very affecting story, and has as pretty a
contrivance in it as ever I read. And this I did in such a grave way,
that she seemed more and more pleased with me; and I have no doubt, that
I shall get her to favour me to-morrow night with her company at my
collation.

SUNDAY EVENING.

We all dined together in Mrs. Sinclair's parlour:--All excessively right!
The two nieces have topped their parts--Mrs. Sinclair her's. Never was
so easy as now!--'She really thought a little oddly of these people at
first, she said! Mrs. Sinclair seemed very forbidding! Her nieces were
persons with whom she could not wish to be acquainted. But really we
should not be too hasty in our censures. Some people improve upon us.
The widow seems tolerable.' She went no farther than tolerable.--'Miss
Martin and Miss Horton are young people of good sense, and have read a
great deal. What Miss Martin particularly said of marriage, and of her
humble servant, was very solid. She believes with such notions she
cannot make a bad wife.' I have said Sally's humble servant is a woolen-
draper of great reputation; and she is soon to be married.

I have been letting her into thy character, and into the characters of my
other three esquires, in hopes to excite her curiosity to see you
to-morrow night. I have told her some of the worst, as well as best
parts of your characters, in order to exalt myself, and to obviate any
sudden surprizes, as well as to teach her what sort of men she may expect
to see, if she will oblige me with her co