I withdrew, and wrote to the Captain to the following effect--'I desired
that he would be so good as to acquaint his dear friend that we entirely
acquiesced with what he had proposed; and had already properly cautioned
the gentlewomen of the house, and their servants, as well as our own: and
to tell him, That if he would in person give me the blessing of his dear
niece's hand, it would crown the wishes of both. In this case, I
consented, that his own day, as I presumed it would be a short one,
should be ours: that by this means the secret would be with fewer
persons: that I myself, as well as he, thought the ceremony could not be
too privately performed; and this not only for the sake of the wise end
he had proposed to answer by it, but because I would not have Lord M.
think himself slighted; since that nobleman, as I had told him [the
Captain] had once intended to be our nuptial-father; and actually made
the offer; but that we had declined to accept of it, and that for no
other reason than to avoid a public wedding; which his beloved niece
would not come into, while she was in disgrace with her friends. But
that if he chose not to do us this honour, I wished that Captain
Tomlinson might be the trusty person whom he would have be present on the
happy occasion.'

I showed this letter to my fair-one. She was not displeased with it.
So, Jack, we cannot now move too fast, as to settlements and license: the
day is her uncle's day, or Captain Tomlinson's, perhaps, as shall best
suit the occasion. Miss Howe's smuggling scheme is now surely provided
against in all events.

But I will not by anticipation make thee a judge of all the benefits that
may flow from this my elaborate contrivance. Why will these girls put me
upon my master-strokes?