impossible for me to be happy if you are not so; but if they could be divided I am certain I should.  And though you reproached me with unkindness for advising you not to refuse a good offer, yet I shall not be discouraged from doing it again when there is occasion, for I am resolved to be your friend whether you will or no.  And, for example, though I know you do not need my counsel, yet I cannot but tell you that I think ’twere very well that you took some care to make my Lady B. your friend, and oblige her by your civilities to believe that you were sensible of the favour was offered you, though you had not the grace to make good use on’t.  In very good earnest now, she is a woman (by all that I have heard of her) that one would not lose; besides that, ’twill become you to make some satisfaction for downright refusing a young lady—­’twas unmercifully done.

Would to God you would leave that trick of making excuses!  Can you think it necessary to me, or believe that your letters can be so long as to make them unpleasing to me?  Are mine so to you?  If they are not, yours never will be so to me.  You see I say anything to you, out of a belief that, though my letters were more impertinent than they are, you would not be without them nor wish them shorter.  Why should you be less kind?  If your fellow-servant has been with you, she has told you I part with her but for her advantage.  That I shall always be willing to do; but whensoever she shall think fit to serve again, and is not provided of a better mistress, she knows where to find me.

I have sent you the rest of Cleopatre, pray keep them all in your hands, and the next week I will send you a letter and directions where you shall deliver that and the books for my lady.  Is it possible that she can be indifferent to anybody?  Take heed of telling me such stories; if all those excellences she is rich in cannot keep warm a passion without the sunshine of her eyes, what are poor people to expect; and were it not a strange vanity in me to believe yours can be long-lived?  It would be very pardonable in you to change, but, sure, in him ’tis a mark of so great inconstancy as shows him of an humour that nothing can fix.  When you go into the Exchange, pray call at the great shop above, “The Flower Pott.”  I spoke to Heams, the man of the shop, when I was in town, for a quart of orange-flower water; he had none that was good then, but promised to get me some.  Pray put him in mind of it, and let him show it you before he sends it me, for I will not altogether trust to his honesty; you see I make no scruple of giving you little idle commissions, ’tis a freedom you allow me, and that I should be glad you would take.  The Frenchman that set my seals lives between Salisbury House and the Exchange, at a house that was not finished when I was there, and the master of the shop, his name is Walker, he made me pay 50s. for three, but ’twas too dear.  You will meet with a story in these parts of Cleopatre