I have come at the letter brought her from Miss Howe to-day.  Plot, conjuration, sorcery, witchcraft, all going forward!  I shall not be able to see this Miss Harlowe with patience.  As the nymphs below ask, so do I, Why is night necessary?  And Sally and Polly upbraidingly remind me of my first attempts upon themselves.  Yet force answers not my end—­and yet it may, if there be truth in that part of the libertine’s creed, That once subdued, is always subdued!  And what woman answers affirmatively to the question?

***

She is returned:  But refuses to admit me:  and insists upon having the day to herself.  Dorcas tells me, that she believes her denial is from motives of piety.—­Oons, Jack, is there impiety in seeing me?—­Would it not be the highest act of piety to reclaim me?  And is this to be done by her refusing to see me when she is in a devouter frame than usual?—­But I hate her, hate her heartily!  She is old, ugly, and deformed.—­But O the blasphemy! yet she is a Harlowe:  and I do and can hate her for that.

But since I must not see her, [she will be mistress of her own will, and of her time, truly!] let me fill up my time, by telling thee what I have come at.

The first letter the women met with, is dated April 27.* Where can she have put the preceding ones!—­It mentions Mr. Hickman as a busy fellow between them.  Hickman had best take care of himself.  She says in it, ’I hope you have no cause to repent returning my Norris—­it is forthcoming on demand.’  Now, what the devil can this mean!—­Her Norris forthcoming on demand!—­the devil take me, if I am out-Norris’d!—­If such innocents can allow themselves to plot (to Norris), well may I.

* See Vol.  IV.  Letter II.

She is sorry, that ’her Hannah can’t be with her.’—­And what if she could?—­What could Hannah do for her in such a house as this?

‘The women in the house are to be found out in one breakfasting.’  The women are enraged at both the correspondents for this; and more than ever make a point of my subduing her.  I had a good mind to give Miss Howe to them in full property.  Say but the word, Jack, and it shall be done.

’She is glad that Miss Harlowe had thoughts of taking me at my word.  She wondered I did not offer again.’  Advises her, if I don’t soon, ’not to stay with me.’  Cautions her, ’to keep me at a distance; not to permit the least familiarity.’—­See, Jack! see Belford!—­Exactly as I thought!—­ Her vigilance all owing to a cool friend; who can sit down quietly, and give that advice, which in her own case she could not take.  What an encouragement to me to proceed in my devices, when I have reason to think that my beloved’s reserves are owing more to Miss Howe’s cautions than to her own inclinations!  But ‘it is my interest to be honest,’ Miss Howe tells her.—­Interest, fools!—­I thought these girls knew, that my interest was ever subservient to my pleasure.