And now, Jack, dost thou think she’ll attempt to get from me, do what I will?

’Mrs. Sinclair began to be afraid of mischief in her house—­I was apprehensive that she would over-do the matter, and be out of character.  I therefore winked at her.  She primed; nodded, to show she took me; twanged out a high-ho through her nose, lapped one horse-lip over the other, and was silent.’

Here’s preparation, Belford!—­Dost think I will throw it all away for any thing thou canst say, or Lord M. write?—­No, indeed—­as my charmer says, when she bridles.

***

And what must necessarily be the consequence of all this with regard to my beloved’s behaviour to me?  Canst thou doubt, that it was all complaisance next time she admitted me into her presence?

Thursday we were very happy.  All the morning extremely happy.  I kissed her charming hand.—­I need not describe to thee her hand and arm.  When thou sawest her, I took notice that thy eyes dwelt upon them whenever thou couldst spare them from that beauty spot of wonders, her face—­fifty times kissed her hand, I believe—­once her cheek, intending her lip, but so rapturously, that she could not help seeming angry.

Had she not thus kept me at arms-length; had she not denied me those innocent liberties which our sex, from step to step, aspire to; could I but have gained access to her in her hours of heedlessness and dishabille, [for full dress creates dignity, augments consciousness, and compels distance;] we had familiarized to each other long ago.  But keep her up ever so late, meet her ever so early, by breakfast-time she is dressed for the day, and at her earliest hour, as nice as others dressed.  All her forms thus kept up, wonder not that I have made so little progress in the proposed trial.—­But how must all this distance stimulate!

Thursday morning, as I said, we were extremely happy—­about noon, she numbered the hours she had been with me; all of them to be but as one minute; and desired to be left to herself.  I was loth to comply:  but observing the sun-shine began to shut in, I yielded.

I dined out.  Returning, I talked of the house, and of Mrs. Fretchville—­ had seen Mennell—­had pressed him to get the widow to quit:  she pitied Mrs. Fretchville [another good effect of the overheard conversation]—­had written to Lord M., expected an answer soon from him.  I was admitted to sup with her.  I urged for her approbation or correction of my written terms.  She again promised an answer as soon as she had heard from Miss Howe.

Then I pressed for her company to the play on Saturday night.  She made objections, as I had foreseen:  her brother’s projects, warmth of the weather, &c.  But in such a manner, as if half afraid to disoblige me [another happy effect of the overheard conversation].  I soon got over these, therefore; and she consented to favour me.

Friday passed as the day before.