upon which, really, Sir Thomas, we who were his friends, hissed him too.  Old Mrs. Petulant desired both her daughters to mind the moral; then whispered Mrs. Mayoress, ’This is very proper for young people to see.’  Punch at the end of the play made Madam Prudentia a compliment, and was very civil to the whole company, making bows till his buttons touched the ground.  All was carried triumphantly against our party.  In the meantime Florimel went to the tragedy, dressed as fine as hands could make her, in hopes to see Prudentia pine away with envy.  Instead of that, she sat a full hour alone, and at last was entertained with this whole relation from Statira, who wiped her eyes with her tragical-cut handkerchief, and lamented the ignorance of the quality.  Florimel was stung with this affront, and the next day bespoke the puppet-show.  Prudentia, insolent with power, bespoke ‘Alexander.’  The whole company came then to ‘Alexander.’  Madam Petulant desired her daughters to mind the moral, and believe no man’s fair words; ’For you’ll see, children,’ said she, ’these soldiers are never to be depended upon; they are sometimes here, sometimes there—­don’t you see, daughter Betty, Colonel Clod, our next neighbour in the country, pulls off his hat to you?  Courtesy, good child, his estate is just by us.’  Florimel was now mortified down to Prudentia’s humour; and Prudentia exalted into hers.  This was observed:  Florimel invites us to the play a second time, Prudentia to the show.  See the uncertainty of human affairs!  The beaux, the wits, the gamesters, the prues,[212] the coquettes, the valetudinarians, and gallants, all now wait upon Florimel.  Such is the state of things at this present date; and if there happens any new commotions, you shall have immediate advice from,

“Sir,

“Your affectionate Friend

“and Servant.

“Bath, May 11, 1709.”

#"To Castabella.#

“MADAM,

I have the honour of a letter from a friend of yours, relating to an incivility done to you at the opera, by one of your own sex; but I, who was an eye-witness of the accident, can testify to you, that though she pressed before you, she lost her ends in that design; for she was taken notice of for no other reason, but her endeavours to hide a finer woman than herself.  But indeed, I dare not go farther in this matter, than just this bare mention; for though it was taking your place of right, rather than place of precedence, yet it is so tender a point, and on which the very life of female ambition depends, that it is of the last consequence to meddle in it:  all my hopes are from your beautiful sex; and those bright eyes, which are the bane of others, are my only sunshine.  My writings are sacred to you; and I hope I shall always have the good fortune to live under your protection; therefore take this public opportunity to signify to all the world, that I design to forbear anything that may in the least tend to the diminution of your