especially, when you come to consider, that the very faults you find in
Mr. Hickman, admirably fit him to make you happy: that is to say, if it
be necessary to your happiness, that you should have your own will in
every thing.

But let me add one thing: and that is this:--You have such a sprightly
turn, that, with your admirable talents, you would make any man in the
world, who loved you, look like a fool, except he were such a one as
Lovelace.

Forgive me, my dear, for my frankness: and forgive me, also, for so soon
returning to subject so immediately relative to myself, as those I now
must touch upon.

You again insist (strengthened by Mr. Lovelace's opinion) upon my
assuming my own estate [I cannot call it resuming, having never been in
possession of it]: and I have given you room to expect, that I will
consider this subject more closely than I have done before. I must
however own, that the reasons which I had to offer against taking your
advice were so obvious, that I thought you would have seen them yourself,
and been determined by them, against your own hastier counsel.--But since
this has not been so, and that both you and Mr. Lovelace call upon me to
assume my own estate, I will enter briefly into the subject.

In the first place, let me ask you, my dear, supposing I were inclined to
follow your advice, Whom have I to support me in my demand? My uncle
Harlowe is one of my trustees--he is against me. My cousin Morden is the
other--he is in Italy, and very probably may be set against me too. My
brother has declared, that they are resolved to carry their points before
he arrives: so that, as they drive on, all will probably be decided