vel. You lament, sometimes, that you have no friends of your own sex
to consult with. Miss Rawlins, I must confess, is too inquisitive to be
confided in, [I liked not, thou mayest think, her appeal to Miss
Rawlins.] She may mean well. But I never in my life knew a person, who
was fond of prying into the secrets of others, that was fit to be
trusted. The curiosity of such is governed by pride, which is not
gratified but by whispering about a secret till it becomes public, in
order to show either their consequence, or their sagacity. It is so in
every case. What man or woman, who is covetous of power, or of making
a right use of it? But in the ladies of my family you may confide. It
is their ambition to think of you as one of themselves. Renew but your
consent to pass to the world, for the sake of your uncle's expedient, and
for the prevention of mischief, as a lady some time married. Lady Betty
may be acquainted with the naked truth; and you may, (as she hopes you
will,) accompany her to her seat; and, if it must be so, consider me as
in a state of penitence or probation, to be accepted or rejected, as I
may appear to deserve.

The Captain again clapt his hands on his breast, and declared, upon his
honour, that this was a proposal that, were the case that of his own
daughter, and she were not resolved upon immediate marriage, (which yet
he thought by far the more eligible choice,) he should be very much
concerned were she to refuse it.

Cl. Were I with Mr. Lovelace's relations, and to pass as his wife to
the world, I could not have any choice. And how could he be then in a
state of probation?--O Mr. Tomlinson, you are too much his friend to see
into his drift.

Capt. His friend, Madam, as I said before, as I am your's and your
uncle's, for the sake of a general reconciliation, which must begin with
a better understanding between yourselves.

Lovel. Only, my dearest life, resolve to attend the arrival and visit
of Lady Betty; and permit her to arbitrate between us.

Capt. There can be no harm in that, Madam. You can suffer no
inconvenience from that. If Mr. Lovelace's offence be such, that a woman
of Lady Betty's character judges it to be unpardonable, why then--

Cl. [Interrupting; and to me,] If I am not invaded by you, Sir; if I
am, (as I ought to be,) my own mistress, I think to stay here, in this
honest house, [and then had I an eye-beam, as the Captain calls it,
flashed at me,] till I