Periwig.  I got her in my Arms, and defended my Friend:  He making Signs at the same time that it was too much; I beckoning, nodding, and frowning over her Shoulder, that [he] was lost if he did not persist.  In this manner [we] flew round and round the Room in a Moment, till the Lady I spoke of above and Servants entered; upon which she fell on a Couch as breathless.  I still kept up my Friend; but he, with a very silly Air, bid them bring the Coach to the Door, and we went off, I forced to bid the Coachman drive on.  We were no sooner come to my Lodgings, but all his Wife’s Relations came to enquire after him; and Mrs. Freeman’s Mother writ a Note, wherein she thought never to have seen this Day, and so forth.

In a word, Sir, I am afraid we are upon a thing we have no Talents for; and I can observe already, my Friend looks upon me rather as a Man that knows a Weakness of him that he is ashamed of, than one who has rescu’d him from Slavery.  Mr. SPECTATOR, I am but a young Fellow, and if Mr. Freeman submits, I shall be looked upon as an Incendiary, and never get a Wife as long as I breathe.  He has indeed sent Word home he shall lie at Hampstead to-night; but I believe Fear of the first Onset after this Rupture has too great a Place in this Resolution.  Mrs. Freeman has a very pretty Sister; suppose I delivered him up, and articled with the Mother for her for bringing him home.  If he has not Courage to stand it, (you are a great Casuist) is it such an ill thing to bring my self off, as well as I can?  What makes me doubt my Man, is, that I find he thinks it reasonable to expostulate at least with her; and Capt.  SENTREY will tell you, if you let your Orders be disputed, you are no longer a Commander.  I wish you could advise me how to get clear of this Business handsomely.

  Yours,

  Tom Meggot.

T.

[Footnote 1:  See No. 212]

[Footnote 2:  we]

[Footnote 3:  he]

* * * * *

No. 217.  Thursday, Nov. 8, 1711.  Budgell.

 —­Tunc foemina simplex,
  Et pariter toto repetitur clamor ab antro.

  Juv.  Sat. 6.

I shall entertain my Reader to-day with some Letters from my Correspondents.  The first of them is the Description of a Club, whether real or imaginary I cannot determine; but am apt to fancy, that the Writer of it, whoever she is, has formed a kind of Nocturnal Orgie out of her own Fancy:  Whether this be so or not, her Letter may conduce to the Amendment of that kind of Persons who are represented in it, and whose Characters are frequent enough in the World.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,