think, that it may be
sure to be ready against he goes. In earnest consider on't, and take
some course that your health and my letters may be both secured, for the
loss of either would be very sensible to

Your humble.

_Letter 5._--Sir Justinian is the lover here described. He had four
daughters, and it is one of Dorothy's favourite jests to offer Temple a
mother-in-law's good word if he will pay court to one of them when she
has married the "Emperor."

SIR,--Since you are so easy to please, sure I shall not miss it, and if
my idle dreams and thoughts will satisfy you, I am to blame if you want
long letters. To begin this, let me tell you I had not forgot you in
your absence. I always meant you one of my daughters. You should have
had your choice, and, trust me, they say some of them are handsome; but
since things did not succeed, I thought to have said nothing on't, lest
you should imagine I expected thanks for my good intention, or rather
lest you should be too much affected with the thought of what you have
lost by my imprudence. It would have been a good strengthening to my
Party (as you say); but, in earnest, it was not that I aimed at, I only
desired to have it in my power to oblige you; and 'tis certain I had
proved a most excellent mother-in-law. Oh, my conscience! we should all
have joined against him as the common enemy, for those poor young
wenches are as weary of his government as I could have been. He gives
them such precepts, as they say my Lord of Dorchester gives his wife,
and keeps them so much prisoners to a vile house he has in
Northamptonshire, that if but once I had let them loose, they and his
learning would have been sufficient to have made him mad without my
help; but his good fortune would have it otherwise, to which I will
leave him, and proceed to give you some reasons why the other motion was
not accepted on. The truth is, I had not that longing to ask a
mother-in-law's blessing which you say you should have had, for I knew
mine too well to think she could make a good one; besides, I was not so
certain of his nature as not to doubt whether she might not corrupt it,
nor so confident of his kindness as to assure myself that it would last
longer than other people of his age and humour. I am sorry to hear he
looks ill, though I think there is no great danger of him. 'Tis but a
fit of an ague he has got, that the next charm cures, yet he will be apt
to fall into it again upon a new occasio