dvantage of their folly.
But, for Miss Rawlins, if I can add experience to her theory, what an
accomplished person will she be!--And how much will she be obliged to me;
and not only she, but all those who may be the better for the precepts
she thinks herself already so well qualified to give! Dearly, Jack, do
I love to engage with these precept-givers, and example-setters.

Now, Belford, although there is nothing striking in any of these
characters; yet may we, at a pinch, make a good frolicky half-day with
them, if, after we have softened their wax at table by encouraging
viands, we can set our women and them into dancing: dancing, which all
women love, and all men should therefore promote, for both their sakes.

And thus, when Tourville sings, Belton fiddles, Mowbray makes rough love,
and I smooth; and thou, Jack, wilt be by that time well enough to join in
the chorus; the devil's in't if we don't mould them into what shape we
please--our own women, by their laughing freedoms, encouraging them to
break through all their customary reserves. For women to women, thou
knowest, are great darers and incentives: not one of them loving to be
outdone or outdared, when their hearts are thoroughly warmed.

I know, at first, the difficulty will be the accidental absence of my
dear Mrs. Lovelace, to whom principally they will design their visit: but
if we can exhilarate them, they won't then wish to see her; and I can
form twenty accidents and excuses, from one hour to another, for her
absence, till each shall have a subject to take up all her thoughts.

I am really sick at heart for a frolic, and have no doubt but this will
be an agreeable one. These women already think me a wild fellow; nor do
they like me the less for it, as I can perceive; and I shall take care,
that they shall be treated with so much freedom before one another's
faces, that in policy they shall keep each other's counsel. And won't
this be doing a kind thing by them? since it will knit an indissoluble
band of union and friendship between three women who are neighbours, and
at present have only common obligations to one another: for thou wantest
not to be told, that secrets of love, and secrets of this nature, are
generally the strongest cement of female friendships.

But, after all, if my beloved should be happily restored to her
intellects, we may have scenes arise between us that will be sufficiently
busy to employ all the faculties of thy friend, wit