Behaviour of her Friend and Patroness.  Thus it is that very many of our unmarried Women of Distinction, are to all Intents and Purposes married, except the Consideration of different Sexes.  They are directly under the Conduct of their Whisperer; and think they are in a State of Freedom, while they can prate with one of these Attendants of all Men in general, and still avoid the Man they most like.  You do not see one Heiress in a hundred whose Fate does not turn upon this Circumstance of choosing a Confident.  Thus it is that the Lady is addressed to, presented and flattered, only by Proxy, in her Woman.  In my Case, how is it possible that ...

Sir RODGER was proceeding in his Harangue, when we heard the Voice of one speaking very importunately, and repeating these Words, ’What, not one Smile?’ We followed the Sound till we came to a close Thicket, on the other side of which we saw a young Woman sitting as it were in a personated Sullenness just over a transparent Fountain.  Opposite to her stood Mr. William, Sir Roger’s Master of the Game.  The Knight whispered me, ‘Hist, these are Lovers.’  The Huntsman looking earnestly at the Shadow of the young Maiden in the Stream,

’Oh thou dear Picture, if thou couldst remain there in the Absence of that fair Creature whom you represent in the Water, how willingly could I stand here satisfied for ever, without troubling my dear Betty herself with any Mention of her unfortunate William, whom she is angry with:  But alas! when she pleases to be gone, thou wilt also vanish—­Yet let me talk to thee while thou dost stay.  Tell my dearest Betty thou dost not more depend upon her, than does her William?  Her Absence will make away with me as well as thee.  If she offers to remove thee, I’ll jump into these Waves to lay hold on thee; her self, her own dear Person, I must never embrace again—­Still do you hear me without one Smile—­It is too much to bear—­’

He had no sooner spoke these Words, but he made an Offer of throwing himself into the Water:  At which his Mistress started up, and at the next Instant he jumped across the Fountain and met her in an Embrace.  She half recovering from her Fright, said in the most charming Voice imaginable, and with a Tone of Complaint,

  ’I thought how well you would drown yourself.  No, no, you won’t drown
  yourself till you have taken your leave of Susan Holliday.’

The Huntsman, with a Tenderness that spoke the most passionate Love, and with his Cheek close to hers, whispered the softest Vows of Fidelity in her Ear, and cried,

  ’Don’t, my Dear, believe a Word Kate Willow says; she is spiteful
  and makes Stories, because she loves to hear me talk to her self for
  your sake.’