Some other little chat on trivial affairs passed away the short time between the coming of Natura, and dinner being brought in; on which, the yeoman intreated him to sit down, and partake of such homely food as he found there.—­’That I shall gladly do,’ answered Natura, ’but I waited for your fair daughter; I hope we shall have her company.  I do not know,’ said the yeoman, ’I think they told me she was not very well, had got the head-ach, or some such ailment;—­go, however,’ pursued he, to a servant, ’and see if Laetitia can come down.’—­’But, sir,’ cried he, perceiving his guest discovered no inclination to place himself at the table, ‘do not let us wait for her.’

Natura on this sat down, and they both began to eat, when the person who had been sent to call Laetitia returned, and said, she begged to be excused, being very much indisposed, and unfit to be seen.—­The old man seemed to take no notice, but pressed Natura to eat, and somewhat embarrassed him with the many apologies he made for the coarseness of his entertainment; to all which he gave but short answers, till the cloth was taken away, and they were alone.—­Then, ’I could not wish to dine more to my satisfaction,’ said he, ’if the sweetness of your meat had not been imbittered by your daughter’s absence’;—­’to be plain,’ continued he, ’I fear I am the disease which occasions her retirement.’—­’You, sir!’ cried the father, affecting a surprize, which he was not so well skilled in the art of dissimulation, to make appear so natural, but that Natura easily saw into the feint, and told him with a smile, that he found the country had its arts as well as the court:—­’but let us deal sincerely with each other,’ pursued he, ’I am very certain, it is from no other motive, than my being here, that your daughter refused to come to table; and I also faithfully believe you are no stranger to that motive:—­be therefore free with me; and to encourage you to be so, I shall acquaint you, that I have made some overtures to Mrs. Laetitia,—­that I like her, and that my frequent visits to you have been entirely on her account:—­now, be as sincere with me, and let me know, whether the offers I made her will be approved.’

The yeoman was a little dashed on Natura’s speaking in this manner, and was some moments before he could recollect himself sufficiently to make any reply; and, when at last he had, all he could bring out was, ‘Sir, my girl is honest, and I hope will always continue so.’

‘I am far from doubting her virtue in the least,’ answered Natura hastily, ’but I think I cannot give a greater testimony of the good opinion I have of her, than by offering to make her my wife.’—­’Ah, sir,’ cried the yeoman, interrupting him, ’you must excuse me, if I cannot flatter myself you have any thoughts of doing us that honour.—­I am a mean man, of no parentage, and it is well known have brought up a large family by the sweat of my brow.’—­’Laetitia is a poor country maid;—­it is true, the girl is well enough, but has nothing,—­nothing at all, alas! in her to balance for that vast disparity of birth and fortune between you.’