grief, excess of
terror, have made a person's hair stand on end, and even (as we have
read) changed the colour of it. But that it should so stupify, as to
make a person, at times, insensible to those imaginary wrongs, which
would raise others from stupifaction, is very surprising!

But I will leave this subject, least it should make me too grave.

I was yesterday at Hampstead, and discharged all obligations there, with
no small applause. I told them that the lady was now as happy as myself:
and that is no great untruth; for I am not altogether so, when I allow
myself to think.

Mrs. Townsend, with her tars, had not been then there. I told them what
I would have them say to her, if she came.

Well, but, after all [how many after-all's have I?] I could be very
grave, were I to give way to it.--The devil take me for a fool! What's
the matte with me, I wonder!--I must breathe a fresher air for a few
days.

But what shall I do with this admirable creature the while?--Hang me, if
I know!--For, if I stir, the venomous spider of this habitation will want
to set upon the charming fly, whose silken wings are already so entangled
in my enormous web, that she cannot move hand or foot: for so much has
grief stupified her, that she is at present destitute of will, as she
always seemed to be of desire. I must not therefore think of leaving her
yet for two days together.

LETTER XV

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.

I have just now had a specimen of what the resentment of this dear
creature will be when quite recovered: an affecting one!--For entering
her apartment after Dorcas; and endeavouring to soothe and pacify her
disordered mind; in the midst of my blandishments, she held up to Heaven,
in a speechless agony, the innocent license (which she has in her own
power); as the poor distressed Catalans held up their English treaty,
on an occasion that keeps the worst of my actions in countenance.

She seemed about to call down vengeance upon me; when, happily the leaden
god, in pity to her trembling Lovelace, waved over her half-drowned eyes
his somniferous want, and laid asleep the fair exclaimer, before she
could go half through with her intended imprecation.

Thou wilt guess, by what I have written, that some little art has been
made use of: but it was with a generous design (if thou'lt allow me the
word on such an occasion) in order to lessen the too-quick sense she was
likely to have of what she was to suff