ndon_: This
unfortunately happen'd to be _Lewis Constance_, just return'd from his
Travels, whom young _Hardyman_ had never seen before, and therefore
could not know him at that Time: Observing therefore that they made to
the same Place for which he was design'd, he halted a little, taking
Covert under a large Elm-Tree, within a hundred Paces of the House,
where he had the unlucky Opportunity to see his Mistress and Sister come
out; whom _Lewis_ perceiving at the same Time, alighted, and ran eagerly
to embrace her, who receiv'd him with Arms expanded, crying, O my Dear,
dearest Brother; but that last Word was stifled with Kisses. Do I once
more hold thee in my Arms! O come in, and let me give my Joys a Loose!
I am surpriz'd, and rave with extream Hapiness! O! thou art all to me
that is valuable on Earth! (return'd he.) At these Words she, in a
Manner, hal'd him in. This Sight was certainly the greatest
Mortification to her Lover that ever Man surviv'd! He presently and
positively concluded it could be none but that Rival, of whom his Sister
had given him Advice in her Letter. What to do he could by no Means
determine; sometimes he was for going in, and affronting him before his
Mistress; a second Thought advis'd him to expect his coming out near
that Place; upon another Consideration he was going to send him a
Challenge, but by whom he knew not, for his Servant was as well known
there as himself. At last he resolv'd to ride farther out of the Road,
to see for some convenient Retreat that Night, where he might be
undiscover'd: Such a Place he found about two Miles thence, at a good
substantial Farmer's, who made him heartily welcome that Night, with the
best Beer he had in his Cellar, so that he slept much better than he
could have expected his Jealousy would have permitted: But the Morning
renew'd and redoubled his Torture: But this jolly Landlord, hugely
pleas'd with his good Company the Night past, visited him as he got out
of his Bed, which was near two Hours after he wak'd; in which Time he
had laid his Design how to proceed, in order to take Satisfaction of
this Rival. He suffer'd himself, therefore, to be manag'd by the good
Man of the House, who wou'd fain have made a Conquest of him; but he
found that the young Gentleman could bear as much in his Head as he
could on his Shoulders, which gave _Hardyman_ the Opportunity of keeping
a Stowage yet for a good Dinner: After which they fell to bumping it
about, 'till the