The fine weather and the beautiful country did not remain unenjoyed by so lively a company:  water-excursions were frequently arranged, because these are the most sociable of all parties of pleasure.  Yet, whether we were going by water or by land, the individual attracting powers immediately showed themselves; each couple kept together:  and for some men who were not engaged, of whom I was one, there remained either no conversation with the ladies at all, or only such as no one would have chosen for a day of pleasure.  A friend who found himself in this situation, and who might have been in want of a partner chiefly for this reason, that, with, the best humor, he lacked tenderness, and, with much intelligence, that delicate attention, without which connections of this kind are not to be thought of,—­this man, after often humorously and wittily lamenting his condition, promised at the next meeting to make a proposal which would benefit himself and the whole company.  Nor did he fail to perform his promise; for when, after a brilliant trip by water, and a very pleasant walk, reclining on the grass between shady knolls, or sitting on mossy rocks and roots of trees, we had cheerfully and happily consumed a rural meal, and our friend saw us all cheerful and in good spirits, he, with a waggish dignity, commanded us to sit close round him in a semicircle, before which he stepped, and began to make an emphatic peroration as follows:—­

“Most worthy friends of both sexes, paired and unpaired!”—­It was already evident from this address, how necessary it was that a preacher of repentance should arise, and sharpen the conscience of the company.  “One part of my noble friends is paired, and they may find themselves quite happy; another unpaired, and these find themselves in the highest degree miserable, as I can assure you from my own experience:  and although the loving couples are here in the majority, yet I would have them consider whether it is not a social duty to take thought for the whole.  Why do we wish to assemble in such numbers, except to take a mutual interest in each other? and how can that be done when so many little secessions are to be seen in our circle?  Far be it from me to insinuate any thing against such sweet connections, or even to wish to disturb them; but ’there is a time for all things,’—­an excellent great saying, of which, indeed, nobody thinks when his own amusement is sufficiently provided for.”

He then went on with constantly increasing liveliness and gayety to compare the social virtues with the tender sentiments.  “The latter,” said he, “can never fail us; we always carry them about with us, and every one becomes a master in them without practice:  but we must go in quest of the former, we must take some trouble about them; and, though we progress in them as much as we will, we have never done learning them.”  Now he went into particulars.  Many felt hit off, and they could not help casting glances at each other:  yet our friend had this privilege, that nothing he did was taken ill; and so he could proceed without interruption.