>>> And yet I find it to be true, that Counsellor
     Williams (whom Mr. Hickman knows to be a man
     of eminence in his profession) has actually as good
>>> as finished the settlements:  that two draughts of
     them have been made; one avowedly to be sent to
     one Captain Tomlinson, as the clerk says:—­and I
     find that a license has actually been more than once
     endeavoured to be obtained; and that difficulties
     have hitherto been made, equally to Lovelace’s
>>> vexation and disappointment.  My mother’s proctor,
     who is very intimate with the proctor applied to
     by the wretch, has come at this information in
     confidence; and hints, that, as Mr. Lovelace is a
     man of high fortunes, these difficulties will probably
     be got over.

But here follow the causes of my apprehension of
your danger; which I should not have had a thought
>>> of (since nothing very vile has yet been attempted)
but on finding what a house you are in, and, on that
discovery, laying together and ruminating on past
occurrences.

’You are obliged, from the present favourable
>>> appearances, to give him your company whenever
he requests it.—­You are under a necessity of for-
getting, or seeming to forget, past disobligations;
and to receive his addresses as those of a betrothed
lover.—­You will incur the censure of prudery and
affectation, even perhaps in your own apprehension,
if you keep him at that distance which has hitherto
>>> been your security.—­His sudden (and as suddenly
recovered) illness has given him an opportunity to
find out that you love him. [Alas! my dear, I
knew you loved him!] He is, as you relate, every
>>> hour more and more an encroacher upon it.  He
has seemed to change his nature, and is all love and
>>> gentleness.  The wolf has put on the sheep’s cloth-
ing; yet more than once has shown his teeth, and
his hardly-sheathed claws.  The instance you have
given of his freedom with your person,* which you
could not but resent; and yet, as matters are
cricumstanced between you, could not but pass
over, when Tomlinson’s letter called you into his
>>> company,** show the advantage he has now over
you; and also, that if he can obtain greater, he
will.—­And for this very reason (as I apprehend) it
>>> is, that Tomlinson is introduced; that is to say, to
give you the greater security, and to be a mediator,
if mortal offence be given you by any villanous
attempt.—­The day seems not now to be so much
in your power as it ought to be, since that now
partly depends on your uncle, whose presence, at
your own motion, he has wished on the occasion. 
A wish, were all real, very unlikely, I think, to be
granted.’

* She means the freedom Mr. Lovelace took with her before the fire-plot.  See Vol.  V. Letter XI.  When Miss Howe wrote this letter she could not know of that. ** See Vol.  V. Letter XII.