recovered in a short whisper.
The Coast being again cleared, he took heart and bore up, and, striking
sail, repeated his Ceremony to the Lady; who, having Obligingly returned
it, he accosted her in these or the like words:

'If I do not usurp a priviledge reserved for some one more happy in your
acquaintance, may I presume, Madam, to entreat (for a while) the favour
of your Conversation, at least till the arrival of whom you expect,
provided you are not tired of me before; for then upon the least
intimation of uneasiness, I will not fail of doing my self the violence
to withdraw for your release. The Lady made him answer, she did not
expect any body; by which he might imagine her Conversation not of value
to be bespoke, and to afford it him, were but farther to convince him to
her own cost. He reply'd, 'She had already said enough to convince him
of something he heartily wished might not be to his cost in the end. She
pretended not to understand him; but told him, 'If he already found
himself grieved with her Conversation, he would have sufficient reason to
repent the rashness of his first Demand before they had ended: for that
now she intended to hold discourse with him, on purpose to punish his
unadvisedness, in presuming upon a Person whose dress and mien might not
(may be) be disagreeable to have wit. 'I must confess (reply'd Aurelian)
my self guilty of a Presumption, and willingly submit to the punishment
you intend: and though it be an aggravation of a Crime to persevere in
its justification, yet I cannot help defending an Opinion in which now I
am more confirm'd, that probable conjectures may be made of the ingenious
Disposition of the Mind, from the fancy and choice of Apparel. The
humour I grant ye (said the Lady) or constitution of the Person whether
melancholick or brisk; but I should hardly pass my censure upon so slight
an indication of wit: for there is your brisk fool as well as your brisk
man of sense, and so of the melancholick. I confess 'tis possible a fool
may reveal himself by his Dress, in wearing something extravagantly
singular and ridiculous, or in preposterous suiting of colours; but a
decency of Habit (which is all that Men of best sense pretend to) may be
acquired by custom and example, without putting the Person to a
superfluous expence of wit for the contrivance; and though there should
be occasion for it, few are so unfortunate in their Relations and
Acquaintance not to have some Frie