I am most confoundedly disturbed about it:  for I begin to fear that her intellects are irreparably hurt.

Who the devil could have expected such strange effects from a cause so common and so slight?

But these high-souled and high-sensed girls, who had set up for shining lights and examples to the rest of the sex, are with such difficulty brought down to the common standard, that a wise man, who prefers his peace of mind to his glory, in subduing one of that exalted class, would have nothing to say to them.

I do all in my power to quiet her spirits, when I force myself into her presence.

I go on, begging pardon one minute; and vowing truth and honour another.

I would at first have persuaded her, and offered to call witnesses to the truth of it, that we were actually married.  Though the license was in her hands, I thought the assertion might go down in her disorder; and charming consequences I hoped would follow.  But this would not do.—­

I therefore gave up that hope:  and now I declare to her, that it is my resolution to marry her, the moment her uncle Harlowe informs me that he will grace the ceremony with his presence.

But she believes nothing I say; nor, (whether in her senses, or not) bears me with patience in her sight.

I pity her with all my soul; and I curse myself, when she is in her wailing fits, and when I apprehend that intellects, so charming, are for ever damped.

But more I curse these women, who put me upon such an expedient!  Lord!  Lord! what a hand have I made of it!—­And all for what?

Last night, for the first time since Monday night, she got to her pen and ink; but she pursues her writing with such eagerness and hurry, as show too evidently her discomposure.

I hope, however, that this employment will help to calm her spirits.

***

Just now Dorcas tells me, that what she writes she tears, and throws the paper in fragments under the table, either as not knowing what she does, or disliking it:  then gets up, wrings her hands, weeps, and shifts her seat all round the room:  then returns to her table, sits down, and writes again.

***

One odd letter, as I may call it, Dorcas has this moment given me from her—­Carry this, said she, to the vilest of men.  Dorcas, a toad, brought it, without any further direction to me.  I sat down, intending (though ’tis pretty long) to give thee a copy of it:  but, for my life, I cannot; ’tis so extravagant.  And the original is too much an original to let it go out of my hands.

But some of the scraps and fragments, as either torn through, or flung aside, I will copy, for the novelty of the thing, and to show thee how her mind works now she is in the whimsical way.  Yet I know I am still furnishing thee with new weapons against myself.  But spare thy comments.  My own reflections render them needless.  Dorcas thinks her lady will ask for them:  so wishes to have them to lay again under the table.