plain dealing, make yourself enemies. You are in the real world now you
know.

I am glad you had thoughts of taking him at his offer, if he had re-urged
it. I wonder he did not. But if he do not soon, and in such a way as
you can accept of it, don't think of staying with him.

Depend upon it, my dear, he will not leave you, either night or day, if
he can help it, now he has got footing.

I should have abhorred him for his report of your marriage, had he not
made it with such circumstances as leave it still in your power to keep
him at distance. If once he offer at the least familiarity--but this is
needless to say to you. He can have, I think, no other design but what
he professes; because he must needs think, that his report of being
married to you must increase your vigilance.

You may depend upon my looking narrowly into the sealings of your
letters. If, as you say, he be base in that point, he will be so in
every thing. But to a person of your merit, of your fortune, of your
virtue, he cannot be base. The man is no fool. It is his interest, as
well with regard to his expectations from his own friends, as from you,
to be honest. Would to Heaven, however, you were really married! This
is now the predominant wish of

Your
ANNA HOWE.