'A like application, he told me, had been made to his sister Harlowe, by
a good woman, whom every body respected; who had intimated, that his
niece, if encouraged, would again put herself into the protection of her
friends, and leave you: but if not, that she must unavoidably be your's.'

I hope, Mr. Lovelace, I make no mischief.--You look concerned--you sigh,
Sir.

Proceed, Captain Tomlinson. Pray proceed.--And I sighed still more
profoundly.

Capt. 'They all thought it extremely particular, that a lady should
decline marriage with a man she had so lately gone away with.'

Pray, Captain--pray, Mr. Tomlinson--no more of this subject. My beloved
is an angel. In every thing unblamable. Whatever faults there have
been, have been theirs and mine. What you would further say, is, that
the unforgiving family rejected her application. They did. She and I
had a misunderstanding. The falling out of lovers--you know, Captain.
--We have been happier ever since.

Capt. 'Well, Sir; but Mr. John Harlowe could not but better consider
the matter afterwards. And he desired my advice how to act in it. He
told me that no father ever loved a daughter as he loved this niece of
his; whom, indeed, he used to call his daughter-niece. He said, she had
really been unkindly treated by her brother and sister: and as your
alliance, Sir, was far from being a discredit to their family, he would
do his endeavour to reconcile all parties, if he could be sure that ye
were actually man and wife.'