of the Assembly. Aurelian had fixed his eye upon a Lady whom he had
observ'd to have been a considerable time in close whisper with another
Woman; he expected with great impatience the result of that private
Conference, that he might have an opportunity of engaging the Lady whose
Person was so agreeable to him. At last he perceived they were broke
off, and the 'tother Lady seem'd to have taken her leave. He had taken
no small pains in the mean time to put himself in a posture to accost the
Lady, which, no doubt, he had happily performed had he not been
interrupted; but scarce had he acquitted himself of a preliminary bow
(and which, I have heard him say, was the lowest that ever he made) and
had just opened his Lips to deliver himself of a small Complement, which,
nevertheless he was very big with, when he unluckily miscarried, by the
interposal of the same Lady, whose departure, not long before, he had so
zealously pray'd for: but, as Providence would have it, there was only
some very small matter forgot, which was recovered in a short whisper.
The Coast being again cleared, he took heart and bore up, and, striking
sail, repeated his Ceremony to the Lady; who, having Obligingly returned
it, he accosted her in these or the like words:

'If I do not usurp a priviledge reserved for some one more happy in your
acquaintance, may I presume, Madam, to entreat (for a while) the favour
of your Conversation, at least till the arrival of whom you expect,
provided you are not tired of me before; for then upon the least
intimation of uneasiness, I will not fail of doing my self the violence
to withdraw for your release. The Lady made him answer, she did not
expect any body; by which he might imagine her Conversation not of value
to be bespoke, and to afford it him, were but farther to convince him to
her own cost. He reply'd, 'She had already said enough to convince him
of something he heartily wished might not be to his cost in the end. She
pretended not to understand him; but told him, 'If he already found