mine. It goes against me
too, to make him so useful to me. He looks already so proud upon it!
I shall have him [Who knows?] give himself airs--He had best consider,
that the favour he has been long aiming at, may put him into a
very dangerous, a very ticklish situation. He that can oblige, may
disoblige--Happy for some people not to have it in their power to
offend!

I will have patience, if I can, for a while, to see if these bustlings
in my mother will subside--but upon my word, I will not long bear this
usage.

Sometimes I am ready to think, that my mother carries it thus on purpose
to tire me out, and to make me the sooner marry. If I find it to be so,
and that Hickman, in order to make a merit with me, is in the low plot,
I will never bear him in my sight.

Plotting wretch, as I doubt your man is, I wish to heaven that you
were married, that you might brave them all, and not be forced to hide
yourself, and be hurried from one inconvenient place to another. I
charge you, omit not to lay hold on any handsome opportunity that may
offer for that purpose.

Here again comes my mother--

*****

We look mighty glum upon each other, I can tell you. She had not best
Harlowe me at this rate--I won't bear it.

I have a vast deal to write. I know not what to write first. Yet my mind
is full, and ready to run over.

I am got into a private corner of the garden, to be out of her
way.--Lord help these mothers!--Do they think they can prevent a
daughter's writing, or doing any thing she has a mind to do, by
suspicion, watchfulness, and scolding?--They had better place a
confidence in one by half--A generous mind scorns to abuse a generous
confidence.

You have a nice, a very nice part to act with this wretch--who yet has,
I think, but one plain path before him. I pity you--but you must
make the best of the lot you have been forced to draw. Yet I see your
difficulties.--But, if he do not offer to abuse your confidence, I would
have you seem at least to place some in him.

If you think not of marrying soon, I approve of your resolution to fix
somewhere out of his reach. And if he know not where to find you, so
much the better. Yet I verily believe, they would force you back, could
they but come at you, if they were not afraid of him.

I think, by all means, you should demand of both your trustees to be put
in possession of your own estate. Mean time I have sixty guineas at your
service. I beg you will command them