LETTER IV

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
SAT. EVENING.


I had a charming airing. No return of my malady. My heart was perfectly
easy, how could my stomach be otherwise?

But when I came home, I found that my sweet soul had been alarmed by a
new incident--The inquiry after us both, in a very suspicious manner, and
that by description of our persons, and not by names, by a servant in a
blue livery turn'd up and trimm'd with yellow.

Dorcas was called to him, as the upper servant; and she refusing to
answer any of the fellow's questions, unless he told his business, and
from whom he came, the fellow (as short as she) said, that if she would
not answer him, perhaps she might answer somebody else; and went away out
of humour.

Dorcas hurried up to her Lady, and alarmed her, not only with the fact,
but with her own conjectures; adding, that he was an ill-looking fellow,
and she was sure could come for no good.

The livery and the features of the servant were particularly inquired
after, and as particularly described--Lord bless her! no end of her
alarms, she thought! And then did her apprehensions anticipate every
evil that could happen.

She wished Mr. Lovelace would come in.