That they prohibit your corresponding with me, is a wisdom I neither
wonder at, nor blame them for: since it is an evidence to me, that
they know their own folly: And if they do, is it strange that they
should be afraid to trust one another's judgment upon it?

I am glad you have found out a way to correspond with me. I approve
it much. I shall more, if this first trial of it prove successful.
But should it not, and should it fall into their hands, it would not
concern me but for your sake.

We have heard before you wrote, that all was not right between your
relations and you at your coming home: that Mr. Solmes visited you,
and that with a prospect of success. But I concluded the mistake lay
in the person; and that his address was to Miss Arabella. And indeed
had she been as good-natured as your plump ones generally are, I
should have thought her too good for him by half. This must certainly
be the thing, thought I; and my beloved friend is sent for to advise
and assist in her nuptial preparations. Who knows, said I to my
mother, but that when the man has thrown aside his yellow full-buckled
peruke, and his broad-brimmed beaver (both of which I suppose were Sir
Oliver's best of long standing) he may cut a tolerable figure dangling
to church with Miss Bell!--The woman, as she observes, should excel
the man in features: and where can she match so well for a foil?

I indulged this surmise against rumour, because I could not believe
that the absurdest people in England could be so very absurd as to
think of this man for you.