She is much altered, Madam;—­is grown old and peevish;—­her health is bad;—­she cannot live long.

Mrs. Smith can never be peevish, Sir;—­and as to her age, I thought it pretty near your own.

No, no, Madam, you are quite mistaken; I am at least five years younger.

Five years, Sir! what are five years at your time of life!

Come, come, Miss Warley, laying his huge paw on my hand, and in a tone of voice that shew’d him heartily nettled;—­even at my time of life I can admire a beautiful young Lady.—­If my wife should die,—­old as I am—­men older than myself, with half my estate, have married some of the finest women in the kingdom.

Very likely, Sir;—­but then it is to be suppos’d the characters of such men have been particularly amiable,—­No man or woman of honour can esteem another whose principles are doubtful.

This was a pretty home-thrust; it put him more on his guard for the present; but had he behav’d like an angel, I must have hated him.  He was very respectful, very ceremonious, and very thoughtful, ’till we arrived at the inn where we were to stop the night; and had so much art not to seem displeas’d, that I refus’d giving him my company at supper, under pretence of indisposition.—­Indeed, I was far from well:  a child which I had seen a few hours before fresh in the small-pox, a good deal disconcerted me.—­After fixing on my room, not to appear suspicious, I went down at his request, to eat a bit of cake and drink a glass of wine, before I retired for the night.—­I had scarce swallow’d it when he left me, as he said, to speak to the drivers.  I wished him a good night as he went out, and took an opportunity a few moments after to go to my chamber.—­When there I lock’d the door, and sat myself down to undress; but I began to be greatly alarm’d by something that mov’d under the bed.—­Judge my surprize,—­judge my horror,—­on taking the candle and examining, to see there a man!—­But how was that surprize,—­that horror increased, on discovering, him to be the vile Smith!—­I gave a loud scream, and ran towards the door; but had not power to turn the key, before he caught me in his arms.—­

Be calm, Miss Warley, cried the monster;—­hear what I have to say.—­Suffer me to tell you, that I love you to distraction;—­that I adore you.

Adore me, vile man! said I, breaking from him:—­leave me this instant—­begone:—­leave me, I say, instantly.—­Again I scream’d.

No, by heaven! he reply’d, I will not go ’till you have heard and pardon’d me.—­Here I stand determin’d to be heard:—­hear me, or this moment is my last.—­With that he drew out a pistol, and held it to his breast.