***

Another agreeable conversation.  The day of days the subject.  As to fixing a particular one, that need not be done, my charmer says, till the settlements are completed.  As to marrying at my Lord’s chapel, the Ladies of my family present, that would be making a public affair of it; and the dear creature observed, with regret, that it seemed to be my Lord’s intention to make it so.

It could not be imagined, I said, but that his Lordship’s setting out in a litter, and coming to town, as well as his taste for glare, and the joy he would take to see me married at last, and to her dear self, would give it as much the air of a public marriage as if the ceremony were performed at his own chapel, all the Ladies present.

I cannot, said she, endure the thoughts of a public day.  It will carry with it an air of insult upon my whole family.  And for my part, if my Lord will not take it amiss, [and perhaps he will not, as the motion came not from himself, but from you, Mr. Lovelace,] I will very willingly dispense with his Lordship’s presence; the rather, as dress and appearance will then be unnecessary; for I cannot bear to think of decking my person while my parents are in tears.

How excellent this!  Yet do not her parents richly deserve to be in tears?

See, Belford, with so charming a niceness, we might have been a long time ago upon the verge of the state, and yet found a great deal to do before we entered into it.

All obedience, all resignation—­no will but her’s.  I withdrew, and wrote directly to my Lord; and she not disapproving of it, I sent it away.  The purport as follows; for I took no copy.

’That I was much obliged to his Lordship for his 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.’