to be courted to come to me?
Sir, said I, and crossed the walk to attend him, I did not know but I
should interrupt you in your meditations this good day.

Was that the case, said he, truly, and from your heart? Why, sir, said
I, I don't doubt but you have very good thoughts sometimes, though not
towards me. I wish, said he, I could avoid thinking so well of you as
I do. But where are the papers?--I dare say you had them about you
yesterday; for you say in those I have, that you will bury your writings
in the garden, for fear you should be searched, if you did not escape.
This, added he, gave me a glorious pretence to search you; and I have
been vexing myself all night, that I did not strip you garment by
garment, till I had found them. O fie, sir, said I; let me not be
scared, with hearing that you had such a thought in earnest.

Well, said he, I hope you have not now the papers to give me; for I had
rather find them myself, I'll assure you.

I did not like this way of talk at all; and thinking it best not to
dwell upon it, said, Well, but, sir, you will excuse me, I hope, giving
up my papers.

Don't trifle with me, said he; Where are they?--I think I was very good
to you last night, to humour you as I did. If you have either added
or diminished, and have not strictly kept your promise, woe be to you!
Indeed, sir, said I, I have neither added nor diminished. But there is
the parcel that goes on with my sad attempt to escape, and the terrible
consequences it had like to have been followed with. And it goes down to
the naughty articles you sent me. And as you know all that has happened
since, I hope these will satisfy you.

He was going to speak; but I said, to drive him from thinking of any
more, And I must beg you, sir, to read the matter favourably, if I have
exceeded in any liberties of my pen.

I think, said he, half-smiling, you may wonder at my patience, that I
can be so easy to read myself abused as I am by such a saucy slut.--Sir,
said I, I have wondered you should be so desirous to see my bold stuff;
and, for that very reason, I have thought it a very good, or a very bad
sign. What, said he, is your good sign?--That it may have an effect upon
your temper, at last, in my favour, when you see me so sincere. Your
bad sign? Why, that if you can read my reflections and observations upon
your treatment of me, with tranquillity, and not be moved, it is a sign
of a very cruel and determined heart. Now, pray, sir,