“It seems that you have forgotten me during your absence, so much the more that you had promised me, at setting out, to let me know in detail everything fresh that should happen.  The hope of receiving your news was giving me almost as much delight as your return could have brought me:  you have put it off longer than you promised me.  As for me, although you do not write, I play my part always.  I shall take him to Craigmiller on Monday, and he will spend the whole of Wednesday there.  On that day I shall go to Edinburgh to be bled there, unless you arrange otherwise at least.  He is more cheerful than usual, and he is better than ever.

“He says everything he can to persuade me that he loves me; he has a thousand attentions for me, and he anticipates me in everything:  all that is so pleasant for me, that I never go to him but the pain in my side comes on again, his company weighs on me so much.  If Paris brought me what I asked him, I should be soon cured.  If you have not yet returned when I go you know where, write to me, I beg you, and tell me what you wish me to do; for if you do not manage things prudently, I foresee that the whole burden will fall on me:  look into everything and weigh the affair maturely.  I send you my letter by Beaton, who will set out the day which has been assigned to Balfour.  It only remains for me to beg you to inform me of your journey.

“Glasgow, this Saturday morning.” 
Third letter

“I stayed you know where longer than I should have done, if it had not been to get from him something that the bearer of these presents will tell you it was a good opportunity for covering up our designs:  I have promised him to bring the person you know to-morrow.  Look after the rest, if you think fit.  Alas!  I have failed in our agreement, for you have forbidden me to write to you, or to despatch a messenger to you.  However, I do not intend to offend you:  if you knew with what fears I am agitated, you would not have yourself so many doubts and suspicions.  But I take them in good part, persuaded as I am that they have no other cause than love—­love that I esteem more than anything on earth.

“My feelings and my favours are to me sure warrants for that love, and answer to me for your heart; my trust is entire on this head:  but explain yourself, I entreat you, and open your soul to me; otherwise, I shall fear lest, by the fatality of my star, and by the too fortunate influence of the stars on women less tender and less faithful than I, I may be supplanted in your heart as Medea was in Jason’s; not that I wish to compare you to a lover as unfortunate as Jason, and to parallel myself with a monster like Medea, although you have enough influence over me to force me to resemble her each time our love exacts it, and that it concerns me to keep your heart, which belongs to me, and which belongs to me only.  For I name as belonging to me what I have purchased