P.S. ’I forgot to tell you, that the pretty Gentleman is the most complaisant Creature in the World, and is always of my Mind; but the other, forsooth, fancies he hath as much Wit as my self, slights my Lap-Dog, and hath the Insolence to contradict me when he thinks I am not in the Right.  About half an Hour ago, he maintained to my Face, that a Patch always implies a Pimple.’

As I look upon it to be my Duty rather to side with the Parents than the Daughter, I shall propose some Considerations to my Gentle Querist, which may encline her to comply with those, under whose Direction she is:  And at the same time, convince her, that it is not impossible but she may, in time, have a true Affection for him who is, at present, indifferent to her:  Or, to use the old Family Maxim, that If she marries first, Love will come after.

The only Objection, that she seems to insinuate against the Gentleman proposed to her, is his want of Complaisance, which, I perceive, she is very willing to return.  Now, I can discover from this very Circumstance, that she and her Lover, whatever they may think of it, are very good Friends in their Hearts.  It is difficult to determine, whether Love delights more in giving Pleasure or Pain.  Let Miss Fickle ask her own Heart, if she doth not take a Secret Pride in making this Man of good Sense look very silly.  Hath she ever been better pleas’d, than when her Behaviour hath made her Lover ready to hang himself?  Or doth she ever rejoice more, than when she thinks she hath driven him to the very Brink of a purling Stream?  Let her consider, at the same time, that it is not impossible but her Lover may have discovered her Tricks, and hath a Mind to give her as good as she brings.  I remember a handsome young Baggage that treated a hopeful Greek of my Acquaintance, just come from Oxford, as if he had been a Barbarian.  The first Week, after she had fixed him, she took a Pinch of Snuff out of his Rival’s Box, and apparently touched the Enemy’s little Finger.  She became a profest Enemy to the Arts and Sciences, and scarce ever wrote a Letter to him without wilfully mis-spelling his Name.  The young Scholar, to be even with her, railed at Coquettes as soon as he had got the Word; and did not want Parts to turn into Ridicule her Men of Wit and Pleasure of the Town.  After having irritated one another for the Space of five Months, she made an Assignation with him fourscore Miles from London.  But as he was very well acquainted with her Pranks, he took a Journey the quite contrary Way.  Accordingly they met, quarrell’d, and in a few Days were Married.  Their former Hostilities are now the Subject of their Mirth, being content at present with that Part of Love only which bestows Pleasure.