pulling out my poor monk's little horn box to take a pinch of
snuff, I made them a quiet bow, and wishing them a good passage to
Dover.--They left us alone. -

- Now where would be the harm, said I to myself, if I were to beg
of this distressed lady to accept of half of my chaise?--and what
mighty mischief could ensue?

Every dirty passion, and bad propensity in my nature took the
alarm, as I stated the proposition.--It will oblige you to have a
third horse, said Avarice, which will put twenty livres out of your
pocket;--You know not what she is, said Caution;--or what scrapes
the affair may draw you into, whisper'd Cowardice. -

Depend upon it, Yorick! said Discretion, 'twill be said you went
off with a mistress, and came by assignation to Calais for that
purpose; -

- You can never after, cried Hypocrisy aloud, show your face in the
world;--or rise, quoth Meanness, in the church;--or be any thing in
it, said Pride, but a lousy prebendary.

But 'tis a civil thing, said I;--and as I generally act from the
first impulse, and therefore seldom listen to these cabals, which
serve no purpose, that I know of, but to encompass the heart with
adamant--I turned instantly about to the lady. -

- But she had glided off unperceived, as the cause was pleading,
and had made ten or a dozen paces down the street, by the time I
had made the determination; so I set off after her with a long