him so much wages, as to complain to him of the crowd she was to pass through.  He had his wits and resolution enough about him to take her hand, and say, he would attend her to her coach.  All the way thither, my good young man stammered at every word, and stumbled at every step.  His mistress, wonderfully pleased with her triumph, put him to a thousand questions, to make a man of his natural wit speak with hesitation, and let drop her fan, to see him recover it awkwardly.  This is the whole foundation of Cynthio’s recovery to the sprightly air he appears with at present.  I grew mighty curious to know something more of that lady’s affairs, as being amazed how she could dally with an offer of one of his merit and fortune.  I sent Pacolet to her lodgings; he immediately brought me back the following letter to her friend and confidante Amanda in the country, wherein she has opened her heart and all its folds.

“DEAR AMANDA,

The town grows so empty, that you must expect my letter so too, except you will allow me to talk of myself instead of others:  you cannot imagine what pain it is, after a whole day spent in public, to want your company, and the ease which friendship allows in being vain to each other, and speaking all our minds.  An account of the slaughter which these unhappy eyes have made within ten days last past, would make me appear too great a tyrant to be allowed in a Christian country.  I shall therefore confine myself to my principal conquests, which are the hearts of Beau Frisk, and Jack Freeland, besides Cynthio, who, you know, wore my fetters before you went out of town.  Shall I tell you my weakness?  I begin to love Frisk:  it is the best-humoured impertinent thing in the world:  he is always too in waiting, and will certainly carry me off one time or other.  Freeland’s father and mine have been upon treaty without consulting me; and Cynthio has been eternally watching my eyes, without approaching me, my friends, my maid, or any one about me:  he hopes to get me, I believe, as they say the rattlesnake does the squirrel, by staring at me till I drop into his mouth.  Freeland demands me for a jointure which he thinks deserves me; Cynthio thinks nothing high enough to be my value:  Freeland therefore will take it for no obligation to have me; and Cynthio’s idea of me, is what will vanish by knowing me better.  Familiarity will equally turn the veneration of the one, and the indifference of the other, into contempt.  I will stick therefore to my old maxim, to have that sort of man, who can have no greater views than what are in my power to give him possession of.  The utmost of my dear Frisk’s ambition is, to be thought a man of fashion; and therefore has been so much in mode, as to resolve upon me, because the whole town likes me.  Thus I choose rather a man who loves me because others do, than one who approves me on his own judgment.  He that judges for himself in love, will often change his opinion; but he that