Oons, Sir, in a fierce tone, and with an erect mien, stopping short upon him, which made him start back—­’tis next to blasphemy to question this lady’s honour.  She is more pure than a vestal; for vestals have often been warmed by their own fires.  No age, from the first to the present, ever produced, nor will the future, to the end of the world, I dare aver, ever produce, a young blooming lady, tried as she has been tried, who has stood all trials, as she has done.—­Let me tell you, Sir, that you never saw, never knew, never heard of, such another woman as Miss Harlowe.

Sir, Sir, I beg your pardon.  Far be it from me to question the lady.  You have not heard me say a word that could be so construed.  I have the utmost honour for her.  Miss Howe loves her, as she loves her own soul; and that she would not do, if she were not sure she were as virtuous as herself.

As herself, Sir!—­I have a high opinion of Miss Howe, Sir—­but, I dare say—­

What, Sir, dare you say of Miss Howe!—­I hope, Sir, you will not presume to say any thing to the disparagement of Miss Howe.

Presume, Mr. Hickman!—­that is presuming language, let me tell you, Mr. Hickman!

The occasion for it, Mr. Lovelace, if designed, is presuming, if you please.—­I am not a man ready to take offence, Sir—­especially where I am employed as a mediator.  But no man breathing shall say disparaging things of Miss Howe, in my hearing, without observation.

Well said, Mr. Hickman.  I dislike not your spirit, on such a supposed occasion.  But what I was going to say is this.  That there is not, in my opinion, a woman in the world, who ought to compare herself with Miss Clarissa Harlowe till she has stood her trials, and has behaved under them, and after them, as she has done.  You see, Sir, I speak against myself.  You see I do.  For, libertine as I am thought to be, I never will attempt to bring down the measures of right and wrong to the standard of my actions.

Why, Sir, this is very right.  It is very noble, I will say.  But ’tis pity, that the man who can pronounce so fine a sentence, will not square his actions accordingly.

That, Mr. Hickman, is another point.  We all err in some things.  I wish not that Miss Howe should have Miss Harlowe’s trials:  and I rejoice that she is in no danger of any such from so good a man.

(Poor Hickman!—­he looked as if he knew not whether I meant a compliment or a reflection!)

But, proceeded I, since I find that I have excited your curiosity, that you may not go away with a doubt that may be injurious to the most admirable of women, I am enclined to hint to you what I have in the third place to blame her for.

Sir, as you please—­it may not be proper—­

It cannot be very improper, Mr. Hickman—­So let me ask you, What would Miss Howe think, if her friend is the more determined against me, because she thinks (to revenge to me, I verily believe that!) of encouraging another lover?