I hate cruelty, especially in women; and should have been more concerned for this instance of it Mrs. Howe, had I not had a stronger instance of the same in my beloved to Miss Partington:  For how did she know, since she was so much afraid for herself, whom Dorcas might let in to that innocent and less watchful young lady?  But nevertheless I must needs own, that I am not very sorry for this prohibition, let it originally come from the Harlowes, or from whom it will; because I make no doubt, that it is owing to Miss Howe, in a great measure, that my beloved is so much upon her guard, and thinks so hardly of me.  And who can tell, as characters here are so tender, and some disguises so flimsy, what consequences might follow this undutiful correspondence?—­I say, therefore, I am not sorry for it:  now will she not have any body to compare notes with:  any body to alarm her:  and I may be saved the guilt and disobligation of inspecting into a correspondence that has long made me uneasy.

How every ting works for me!—­Why will this charming creature make such contrivances necessary, as will increase my trouble, and my guilt too, as some will account it?  But why, rather I should ask, will she fight against her stars?

LETTER XV

Mr. Belford, to Robert Lovelace, Esq. 
Edgware, Tuesday night, may 2.

Without staying for the promised letter from you to inform us what the lady says of us, I write to tell you, that we are all of one opinion with regard to her; which is, that there is not of her age a finer woman in the world, as to her understanding.  As for her person, she is at the age of bloom, and an admirable creature; a perfect beauty:  but this poorer praise, a man, who has been honoured with her conversation, can hardly descend to give; and yet she was brought amongst us contrary to her will.

Permit me, dear Lovelace, to be a mean of saving this excellent creature from the dangers she hourly runs from the most plotting heart in the world.  In a former, I pleaded your own family, Lord M.’s wishes particularly; and then I had not seen her:  but now, I join her sake, honour’s sake, motives of justice, generosity, gratitude, and humanity, which are all concerned in the preservation of so fine a woman.  Thou knowest not the anguish I should have had, (whence arising, I cannot devise,) had I not known before I set out this morning, that the incomparable creature had disappointed thee in thy cursed view of getting her to admit the specious Partington for a bed-fellow.

I have done nothing but talk of this lady ever since I saw her.  There is something so awful, and yet so sweet, in her aspect, that were I to have the virtues and the graces all drawn in one piece, they should be taken, every one of them, from different airs and attributes in her.  She was born to adorn the age she was given to, and would be an ornament to the first dignity.  What a piercing, yet gentle eye; every glance I thought mingled with love and fear of you!  What a sweet smile darting through the cloud that overspread her fair face, demonstrating that she had more apprehensions and grief at her heart than she cared to express!