the superadded apprehension of dividing thy interest in what he shall
leave with a crew of eager-hoping, never-to-be-satisfied relations,
legatees, and the devil knows who, of private gratifiers of passions
laudable and illaudable--in these circumstances, I wonder not that thou
lookest before servants, (as little grieved as thou after heirship,) as
if thou indeed wert grieved; and as if the most wry-fac'd woe had
befallen thee.

Then, as I have often thought, the reflection that must naturally arise
from such mortifying objects, as the death of one with whom we have been
familiar, must afford, when we are obliged to attend it in its slow
approaches, and in its face-twisting pangs, that it will one day be our
own case, goes a great way to credit the appearance of grief.

And that it is this, seriously reflected upon, may temporally give a fine
air of sincerity to the wailings of lively widows, heart-exulting heirs,
and residuary legatees of all denominations; since, by keeping down the
inward joy, those interesting reflections must sadden the aspect, and add
an appearance of real concern to the assumed sables.

Well, but, now thou art come to the reward of all thy watchings,
anxieties, and close attendances, tell me what it is; tell me if it
compensate thy trouble, and answer thy hope?

As to myself, thou seest, by the gravity of my style, how the subject has
helped to mortify me. But the necessity I am under of committing either
speedy matrimony, or a rape, has saddened over my gayer prospects, and,
more than the case itself, contributed to make me sympathize with the
present joyful-sorrow.