ions he makes
upon the sermon.]

I am willing, says she, to have hopes of him: but am so unable to know
how to depend upon his seriousness for an hour together, that all my
favourable accounts of him in this respect must be taken with allowance.

Being very much pressed, I could not tell how to refuse dining with the
widow and her nieces this day. I am better pleased with them than I ever
thought I should be. I cannot help blaming myself for my readiness to
give severe censures where reputation is concerned. People's ways,
humours, constitutions, education, and opportunities allowed for, my
dear, many persons, as far as I know, may appear blameless, whom others,
of different humours and educations, are too apt to blame; and who, from
the same fault, may be as ready to blame them. I will therefore make it
a rule to myself for the future--Never to judge peremptorily on first
appearances: but yet I must observe that these are not people I should
choose to be intimate with, or whose ways I can like: although, for the
stations they are in, they may go through the world with tolerable
credit.

Mr. Lovelace's behaviour has been such as makes me call this, so far as
it is passed, an agreeable day. Yet, when easiest as to him, my
situation with my friends takes place in my thoughts, and causes me many
a tear.

I am the more pleased with the people of the house, because of the
persons of rank they are acquainted with, and who visits them.

SUNDAY EVENING.

I am still well pleased with Mr. Lovelace's behaviour. We have had a
good deal of serious discourse together. The man has really just and
good notions. He confesses how much he is pleased with this day, and
hopes for many such. Nevertheless, he ingenuously warned me, that his
unlucky vivacity might return: but, he doubted not, that he should be
fixed at last by my example and conversation.

He has given me an entertaining account of the four gentlemen he is to
meet to-morrow night.--Entertaining, I mean for his humourous description
of their persons, manners, &c. but such a description as is far from
being to their praise. Yet he seemed rather to design to divert my
melancholy by it than to degrade them. I think at bottom, my dear, that
he must be a good-natured man; but that he was spoiled young, for want
of check or controul.

I cannot but call this, my circumstances considered, an happy day to the
end of it. Indeed, my dear, I think I could prefer