both
them choose first that had never seen what was in them, and they left me
you. Then I made them choose again for theirs, and my name was left. You
cannot imagine how I was delighted with this little accident, but by
taking notice that I cannot forbear telling you it. I was not half so
pleased with my encounter next morning. I was up early, but with no
design of getting another Valentine, and going out to walk in my
night-cloak and night-gown, I met Mr. Fish going a hunting, I think he
was; but he stayed to tell me I was his Valentine; and I should not have
been rid on him quickly, if he had not thought himself a little too
_negligee_; his hair was not powdered, and his clothes were but
ordinary; to say truth, he looked then methought like other mortal
people. Yet he was as handsome as your Valentine. I'll swear you wanted
one when you took her, and had very ill fortune that nobody met you
before her. Oh, if I had not terrified my little gentleman when he
brought me his own letter, now sure I had had him for my Valentine!

On my conscience, I shall follow your counsel if e'er he comes again,
but I am persuaded he will not. I writ my brother that story for want of
something else, and he says I did very well, there was no other way to
be rid on him; and he makes a remark upon't that I can be severe enough
when I please, and wishes I would practise it somewhere else as well as
there. Can you tell where that is? I never understand anybody that does
not speak plain English, and he never uses that to me of late, but tells
me the finest stories (I may apply them how I please) of people that
have married when they thought there was great kindness, and how
miserably they have found themselves deceived; how despicable they have
made themselves by it, and how sadly they have repented on't. He reckons
more inconveniency than you do that follows good nature, says it makes
one credulous, apt to be abused, betrays one to the cunning of people
that make advantage on't, and a thousand such things which I hear half
asleep and half awake, and take little notice of, unless it be sometimes
to say that with all these faults I would not be without it. No, in
earnest, nor I could not love any person that I thought had it not to a
good degree. 'Twas the first thing I liked in you, and without it I
should never have liked anything. I know 'tis counted simple, but I
cannot imagine why. 'Tis true some people have it that have not wit, but
ther