As for her defect, I can easily forgive that.  She is very likely and genteel—­too genteel indeed, I think, for a servant.  But what I like least of all in her, she has a strange sly eye.  I never saw such an eye; half-confident, I think.  But indeed Mrs. Sinclair herself, (for that is the widow’s name,) has an odd winking eye; and her respectfulness seems too much studied, methinks, for the London ease and freedom.  But people can’t help their looks, you know; and after all she is extremely civil and obliging,—­and as for the young woman, (Dorcas is her name,) she will not be long with me.

I accepted her:  How could I do otherwise, (if I had had a mind to make objections, which, in my present situation, I had not,) her aunt present, and the young woman also present; and Mr. Lovelace officious in his introducing them, to oblige me?  But, upon their leaving me, I told him, (who seemed inclinable to begin a conversation with me,) that I desired that this apartment might be considered as my retirement:  that when I saw him it might be in the dining-room, (which is up a few stairs; for this back-house, being once two, the rooms do not all of them very conveniently communicate with each other,) and that I might be as little broken in upon as possible, when I am here.  He withdrew very respectfully to the door, but there stopt; and asked for my company then in the dining-room.  If he were about setting out for other lodgings, I would go with him now, I told him; but, if he did not just then go, I would first finish my letter to Miss Howe.

I see he has no mind to leave me if he can help it.  My brother’s scheme may give him a pretence to try to engage me to dispense with his promise.  But if I now do I must acquit him of it entirely.

My approbation of his tender behaviour in the midst of my grief, has given him a right, as he seems to think, of addressing me with all the freedom of an approved lover.  I see by this man, that when once a woman embarks with this sex, there is no receding.  One concession is but the prelude to another with them.  He has been ever since Sunday last continually complaining of the distance I keep him at; and thinks himself entitled now to call in question my value for him; strengthening his doubts by my former declared readiness to give him up to a reconciliation with my friends; and yet has himself fallen off from that obsequious tenderness, if I may couple the words, which drew from me the concessions he builds upon.

While we were talking at the door, my new servant came up with an invitation to us both to tea.  I said he might accept of it, if he pleased:  but I must pursue my writing; and not choosing either tea or supper, I desired him to make my excuses below, as to both; and inform them of my choice to be retired as much as possible; yet to promise for me my attendance on the widow and her nieces at breakfast in the morning.

He objected particularly in the eye of strangers as to avoiding supper.