ay.--Yet
he is less to blame for his perseverance, than those of your own family,
whom most you reverence for theirs.

It is well, as I have often said, that I have not such provocations
and trials; I should perhaps long ago have taken your cousin Dolly's
advice--yet dare I not to touch that key.--I shall always love the good
girl for her tenderness to you.

I know not what to say of Lovelace; nor what to think of his promises,
nor of his proposals to you. 'Tis certain that you are highly esteemed
by all his family. The ladies are persons of unblemished honour. My Lord
M. is also (as men and peers go) a man of honour. I could tell what to
advise any other person in the world to do but you. So much expected
from you!--Such a shining light!--Your quitting your father's house, and
throwing yourself into the protection of a family, however honourable,
that has a man in it, whose person, parts, declarations, and
pretensions, will be thought to have engaged your warmest
esteem;--methinks I am rather for advising that you should get privately
to London; and not to let either him, or any body else but me, know
where you are, till your cousin Morden comes.

As to going to your uncle's, that you must not do, if you can help
it. Nor must you have Solmes, that's certain: Not only because of his
unworthiness in every respect, but because of the aversion you have so
openly avowed to him; which every body knows and talks of; as they do
of your approbation of the other. For your reputation sake therefore,
as well as to prevent mischief, you must either live single, or have
Lovelace.

If you think of going to London, let me know; and I hope you will have
time to allow me a further concert as to the manner of your getting
away, and thither, and how to procure proper lodgings for you.

To obtain this time, you must palliate a little, and come into some
seeming compromise, if you cannot do otherwise. Driven as you are
driven, it will be strange if you are not obliged to part with a few of
your admirable punctilio's.

You will observe from what I have written, that I have not succeeded
with my mother.

I am extremely mortified and disappointed. We have had very strong
debates upon it. But, besides the narrow argument of embroiling
ourselves with other people's affairs, as above-mentioned, she will have
it, that it is your duty to comply. She says, she was always of opinion
that daughters should implicitly submit to the will of thei