display the humourous talent
he was noted for.

At their alighting at the inn at St. Alban's on Monday
night, thus he writes:

The people who came about us, as we alighted, seemed by their jaw-fallen
faces, and goggling eyes, to wonder at beholding a charming young lady,
majesty in her air and aspect, so composedly dressed, yet with features
so discomposed, come off a journey which made the cattle smoke, and the
servants sweat. I read their curiosity in their faces, and my beloved's
uneasiness in her's. She cast a conscious glance, as she alighted, upon
her habit, which was no habit; and repulsively, as I may say, quitting
my assisting hand, hurried into the house.*****

Ovid was not a greater master of metamorphoses than thy friend. To the
mistress of the house I instantly changed her into a sister, brought off
by surprise from a near relation's, (where she had wintered,) to prevent
her marrying a confounded rake, [I love always to go as near the truth
as I can,] whom her father and mother, her elder sister, and all her
loving uncles, aunts, and cousins abhorred. This accounted for my
charmer's expected sullens; for her displeasure when she was to join me
again, were it to hold; for her unsuitable dress upon the road; and,
at the same time, gave her a proper and seasonable assurance of my
honourable views.

Upon the debate between the lady and him, and particularly upon that
part where she upbraids him with putting a young creature upon making a
sacrifice of her duty and conscience, he write:

All these, and still more mortifying things, she said.

I heard her in silence. But when it came to my turn, I pleaded, I
argued, I answered her, as well as I could.--And when humility would
not do, I raised my voice, and suffered my eyes to sparkle with anger;
hoping to take advantage of that sweet cowardice which is so amiable in
the sex, and to which my victory over this proud beauty is principally
owing.

She was not intimidated, however, and was going to rise upon me in her
temper; and would have broken in upon my defence. But when a man talks
to a woman upon such subjects, let her be ever so much in alt, 'tis
strange, if he cannot throw out a tub to the whale;--that is to say, if
he cannot divert her from resenting one bold thing, by uttering two or
three full as bold; but for which more favourable interpretations will
lie.

To that part, where she tells him of the difficulty she m