sk (one that might tell him) whether he were a cuckold or
not, for fear of being resolved of that which is yet a doubt to him. My
eldest brother is not so inquisitive; he satisfies himself with
persuading me earnestly to marry, and takes no notice of anything that
may hinder me, but a carelessness of my fortune, or perhaps an aversion
to a kind of life that appears to have less of freedom in't than that
which at present I enjoy. But, sure, he gives himself another reason,
for 'tis not very long since he took occasion to inquire for you very
kindly of me; and though I could then give but little account of you, he
smiled as if he did not altogether believe me, and afterwards
maliciously said he wondered you did not marry. And I seemed to do so
too, and said, if I knew any woman that had a great fortune, and were a
person worthy of you, I should wish her you with all my heart. "But,
sister," says he, "would you have him love her?" "Do you doubt it?" did
I say; "he were not happy in't else." He laughed, and said my humour was
pleasant; but he made some question whether it was natural or not. He
cannot be so unjust as to let me lose him, sure, I was kind to him
though I had some reason not to take it very well when he made that a
secret to me which was known to so many that did not know him; but we
shall never fall out, I believe, we are not apt to it, neither of us.

If you are come back from Epsom, I may ask you how you like drinking
water? I have wished it might agree as well with you as it did with me;
and if it were as certain that the same thing would do us good as 'tis
that the same thing would please us, I should not need to doubt it.
Otherwise my wishes do not signify much, but I am forbid complaints, or
to express my fears. And be it so, only you must pardon me if I cannot
agree to give you false hopes; I must be deceived myself before I can
deceive you, and I have so accustomed myself to tell you all that I
think, that I must either say nothing, or that which I believe to be
true.

I cannot say but that I have wanted Jane; but it has been rather to have
somebody to talk with of you, than that I needed anybody to put me in
mind of you, and with all her diligence I should have often prevented
her in that discourse. Were you at Althorp when you saw my Lady
Sunderland and Mr. Smith, or are they in town? I have heard, indeed,
that they are very happy; but withal that, as she is a very
extraordinary person herself, so