person or his fortune, but was in love with neither, and much out of
love with a thing called marriage; and have since thanked God I was so,
for 'tis not long since one of my brothers writ me word of him that he
was killed in a duel, though since I have heard that 'twas the other
that was killed, and he is fled upon 't, which does not mend the matter
much. Both made me glad I had 'scaped him, and sorry for his misfortune,
which in earnest was the least return his many civilities to me could
deserve.

Presently, after this was at an end, my mother died, and I was left at
liberty to mourn her loss awhile. At length my aunt (with whom I was
when you last saw me) commanded me to wait on her at London; and when I
came, she told me how much I was in her care, how well she loved me for
my mother's sake, and something for my own, and drew out a long set
speech which ended in a good motion (as she call'd it); and truly I saw
no harm in't, for by what I had heard of the gentleman I guessed he
expected a better fortune than mine. And it proved so. Yet he protested
he liked me so well, that he was very angry my father would not be
persuaded to give £1000 more with me; and I him so ill, that I vowed if
I had £1000 less I should have thought it too much for him. And so we
parted. Since, he has made a story with a new mistress that is worth
your knowing, but too long for a letter. I'll keep it for you.

After this, some friends that had observed a gravity in my face which
might become an elderly man's wife (as they term'd it) and a
mother-in-law, proposed a widower to me, that had four daughters, all
old enough to be my sisters; but he had a great estate, was as fine a
gentleman as ever England bred, and the very pattern of wisdom. I that
knew how much I wanted it, thought this the safest place for me to
engage in, and was mightily pleased to think I had met with one at last