You shall receive in your own house (if it can be so soon furnished as I wish) the compliments of all my relations.  Charlotte shall visit you in the interim:  and if it take up time, you shall choose whom you will honour with your company, first, second, or third, in the summer months; and on your return you shall find all that was wanting in your new habitation supplied, and pleasures in a constant round shall attend us.  O my angel, take me to you, instead of banishing me from you, and make me your’s for ever.

You see, my dear, that here was no day pressed for.  I was not uneasy about that, and the sooner recovered myself, as there was not.  But, however, I gave him no reason to upbraid me for refusing his offer of going in search of a house.

He is accordingly gone out for this purpose.  But I find that he intends to take up his lodging here tonight; and if to-night, no doubt on other nights, while he is in town.  As the doors and windows of my apartment have good fastenings; as he has not, in all this time, given me cause for apprehension; as he has the pretence of my brother’s schemes to plead; as the people below are very courteous and obliging, Miss Horton especially, who seems to have taken a great liking to me, and to be of a gentler temper and manners than Miss Martin; and as we are now in a tolerable way; I imagine it would look particular to them all, and bring me into a debate with a man, who (let him be set upon what he will) has always a great deal to say for himself, if I were to insist upon his promise:  on all these accounts, I think, I will take no notice of his lodging here, if he don’t.—­Let me know, my dear, your thoughts of every thing.

You may believe I gave him back his bank note the moment I saw him.

FRIDAY EVENING.

Mr. Lovelace has seen two or three houses, but none to his mind.  But he has heard of one which looks promising, he says, and which he is to inquire about in the morning.

SATURDAY MORNING.

He has made his inquiries, and actually seen the house he was told of last night.  The owner of it is a young widow lady, who is inconsolable for the death of her husband; Fretchville her name.  It is furnished quite in taste, every thing being new within these six months.  He believes, if I like not the furniture, the use of it may be agreed for, with the house, for a time certain:  but, if I like it, he will endeavour to take the one, and purchase the other, directly.

The lady sees nobody; nor are the best apartments above-stairs to be viewed, till she is either absent, or gone into the country; which she talks of doing in a fortnight, or three weeks, at farthest, and to live there retired.

What Mr. Lovelace saw of the house (which were the saloon and two parlours) was perfectly elegant; and he was assured all is of a piece.  The offices are also very convenient; coach-house and stables at hand.