he actually come,
I could have done well enough with. What do I keep fellows idling in the
country for, but to fall in love, and even to marry those whom I would
have them marry? Nor, upon second thoughts, would the presence of her
Norton, or of her aunt, or even of her mother, have saved the dear
creature, had I decreed her fall.

How unequal is a modest woman to the adventure, when she throws herself
into the power of a rake! Punctilio will, at any time, stand for reason
with such an one. She cannot break through a well-tested modesty. None
but the impudent little rogues, who can name the parson and the church
before you think of either, and undress and go to bed before you the
next hour, should think of running away with a man.

*****

I am in the right train now. Every hour, I doubt not, will give me an
increasing interest in the affections of this proud beauty. I have just
carried unpoliteness far enough to make her afraid of me; and to shew
her, that I am no whiner. Every instance of politeness, now, will give
me double credit with her. My next point will be to make her acknowledge
a lambent flame, a preference of me to all other men, at least: and
then my happy hour is not far off. An acknowledged reciprocality in love
sanctifies every little freedom: and little freedoms beget greater.
And if she call me ungenerous, I can call her cruel. The sex love to be
called cruel. Many a time have I complained of cruelty, even in the act
of yielding, because I knew it gratified the fair one's pride.

Mentioning that he had only hinted at Mr. Belford's lodgings as an instance to confirm what he had told her, that he knew of none in
London fit for her, he says,

I had a mind to alarm her with something furthest from my purpose; for
(as much as she disliked my motion) I intend nothing by it: Mrs. Osgood
is too pious a woman; and would have been more her friend than mine.

I had a view, moreover, to give her an high opinion of her own sagacity.
I love, when I dig a put, to have my prey tumble in with secure feet,
and open eyes: then a man can look down upon her, with an O-ho, charmer,
how came you there?

MONDAY, APRIL 17.

I have just now received a fresh piece of intelligence from my agent,
honest Joseph Leman. Thou knowest the history of poor Miss Betterton of
Nottingham. James Harlowe is plotting to revive the resentments of her
family against me. The Harlowes took great pains, some time ago, to
endeav