He read it, smil’d, and kiss’d it, and then proceeded to examine his Sisters, which held a great many Expressions of a tender Affection, and withal gave him Notice, that there was a mighty Spark lately come from Town into those Parts, that made his Court to the young Lady Constance; desiring him therefore to be as sudden in his Visit, if he intended any, as Possibility would permit. This startled and stung him: Wherefore, taking the Opportunity of his Father’s Retirement, to write to the young Lady and his Sister; he dispatch’d a Letter to Lucretia, wherein he thank’d her for her Intelligence and Caution, and promis’d to be with her the next Night at farthest, if alive; and, at the same Time, writ to this Purpose to Diana:
Thou only Blessing for which I wish to live,
How delightfully do you punish my seeming Neglect! I acknowledge I have not sent to you ’till now, but it was because it was utterly impossible, my Father continually keeping so strict a Guard over me himself, that not even Mercury could evade or illude his Vigilance. Alas! my Soul, he is now no Stranger to my Passion for you, which he pretends, at least, is highly offensive to him, for what Reasons I blush to think. But what signifies an Offence to him of so generous a Nature as my Love! I am assured I was born for you, or none other of your fair Sex, though attended with all the Advantages of Birth and Fortune. I will therefore proceed in this Affair, as if we were already united by the outward Ceremonies of the Church, and forsake him and all the World for you, my better Part! Be certain, therefore, that to-Morrow Night, e’er you sleep, you shall see (my Life, my Soul, my All)
Your most sincere, and
Most passionate Lover,
Hardyman.
This, with the Letter to his Sister, he convey’d into the Servant’s Hand that came from ’em, undiscover’d of his Father; who likewise dismiss’d the Messenger with his grave Epistle, full of musty Morals, to the two young gay Ladies. But he had an unlucky Thought, that he was overseen in giving his Son the Opportunity of retiring from him, whilst he was writing to his Daughter and t’other fair Creature, having a Jealousy that young Hardyman might have made Use of that very Article of Time to the same End. This made him very uneasy and restless. On t’other Side, the young Gentleman though he was extreamly satisfy’d with those endearing Expressions of Love which he found in Diana’s Letter, yet he was all on Fire with the Apprehension of a Rival, and the Desire to see him, that he might dispute with him for the glorious Prize.
The next Day, at Four in the Afternoon, they went to Bowls about a Mile off; where, after several Ends, the Knight and his Party lay all nearest about [the Jack] for the Game, ’till young Hardyman put in a bold Cast, that beat all his Adversaries from [the Block], and carry’d two of his Seconds close to it, his own Bowl lying partly upon it, which made them up. Ha! (cry’d a young Gentleman of his Side) bravely done, Miles, thou hast carry’d the Day, and kiss’d the Mistress. I hope I shall before ’tis dark yet, (return’d he.) Sir Henry overhearing him, said, (his Face all glowing red with Passion) How dare you, Sir, express your self so freely in my Hearing? There, (persu’d he, and struck him a Blow on the Ear) I first salute you thus: Do you know where you are, and who I am? Yes, you are my Father, Sir, (reply’d young Hardyman, bowing.) If you see her to Night, (said the passionate Father) resolve to see me no more. By Heaven, and all my Hopes, no more I will, after this Minute, (return’d the Son, being retreated some Distance from him, out of his Hearing.) So taking his Leave of the Company, with the usual Ceremony, he went directly Home, where immediately he order’d his Servant Goodlad to saddle their Horses, whilst he himself went up to his Chamber, and took all the Rings and Jewels that his Mother had left him, and the Money that he had then in his Possession, which altogether amounted to near twelve hundred Pounds; and packing up some Linnen in his Portmanteau, he quickly mounted with his Servant, and made his Way towards the Lady Constance’s.
’Twas near seven a Clock e’er they got within Sight of his Mistress’s, when our Lover perceiv’d a Gentleman and his Servant mounted at some Distance on t’other Side of the House, as coming from London: This unfortunately happen’d to be Lewis Constance, just return’d from his Travels, whom young Hardyman had never seen before, and therefore could not know him at that Time: Observing therefore that they made to the same Place for which he was design’d, he halted a little, taking Covert under a large Elm-Tree, within a hundred Paces of the House, where he had the unlucky Opportunity to see his Mistress and Sister come out; whom Lewis perceiving at the same Time, alighted, and ran eagerly to embrace her, who receiv’d him with Arms expanded, crying, O my Dear, dearest Brother; but that last Word was stifled with Kisses. Do I once more hold thee in my Arms! O come in, and let me give my Joys a Loose! I am surpriz’d, and rave with extream Hapiness! O! thou art all to me that is valuable on Earth! (return’d he.) At these Words she, in a Manner, hal’d him in. This Sight was certainly the greatest Mortification to her Lover that ever Man surviv’d! He presently and positively concluded it could be none but that Rival, of whom his Sister had given him Advice in her Letter. What to do he could by no Means determine; sometimes he was for going in, and affronting him before his Mistress; a second Thought advis’d him to expect his coming out near that Place; upon another Consideration he was going to send him a Challenge, but by whom he knew not, for his Servant was as well known there as himself. At last he resolv’d to ride farther out of the Road, to see for some convenient Retreat that Night, where he might be undiscover’d: Such a Place he found about two Miles thence, at a good substantial Farmer’s, who made him heartily welcome that Night, with the best Beer he had in his Cellar, so that he slept much better than he could have expected his Jealousy would have permitted: But the Morning renew’d and redoubled his Torture: But this jolly Landlord, hugely pleas’d with his good Company the Night past, visited him as he got out of his Bed, which was near two Hours after he wak’d; in which Time he had laid his Design how to proceed, in order to take Satisfaction of this Rival. He suffer’d himself, therefore, to be manag’d by the good Man of the House, who wou’d fain have made a Conquest of him; but he found that the young Gentleman could bear as much in his Head as he could on his Shoulders, which gave Hardyman the Opportunity of keeping a Stowage yet for a good Dinner: After which they fell to bumping it about, ’till the Farmer fell asleep; when young Hardyman retir’d into his Chamber, where, after a Turn or two, he writ as follows to his Mistress’s Brother, whose Name he knew not; and therefore the Billet is not superscrib’d.
SIR,
You have done me an unpardonable Injury; and if you are a Gentleman, as you seem, you will give me Satisfaction within this Hour at the Place whither this Messenger shall lead you. Bring nothing with you but your Sword and your Servant, as I with mine, to take Care of him that falls.—’Till I see you, I am your Servant, &c.
An Hour before Supper, his kind Host wak’d, and they eat heartily together that Night, but did not drink so plentifully as they had since their first Meeting; young Hardyman telling him, that he was oblig’d to be mounted at the fore-mention’d Morning, in order to persue his Journey; and that, in the mean Time, he desir’d the Favour of him to let one of his Servants carry a Letter from him, to one that was then at the young Lady Constance’s: To which t’other readily agreed. The young Gentleman then made him a Present of a Tobacco-Box, with the Head of King Charles the First on the Lid, and his Arms on the Bottom in Silver; which was very acceptable to him, for he was a great Loyalist, tho’ it was in the Height of Oliver’s Usurpation. About four a-Clock in the Morning, as our jealous Lover had order’d him, one of the Servants came to him for the Letter; with which he receiv’d these Instructions, that he should deliver that Note into the Gentleman’s own Hand, who came to the Lady Constance’s the Night before the last. That he should shew that Gentleman to the Field where young Hardyman, should deliver the Note to the Servant, which was just a Mile from either House; or that he should bring an Answer to the Note from that Gentleman. The Fellow was a good Scholar, tho’ he could neither read nor write. For he learn’d his Lesson perfectly well, and repeated it punctually to Lewis Constance; who was strangely surpriz’d at what he found in the Billet. He ask’d the Messenger if he knew his Name that sent it; or if he were a Gentleman? Nay (Mass, quoth the Fellow) I warrant he’s a Gentleman; for he has given me nine good Shillings here, for coming but hither to you; but for his Name, you may e’en name it as well as I—He has got one to wait a top of him almost as fine as himself, zure. The surpriz’d Traveller jump’d out of his Bed, slipt on his Gown, and call’d up his Servant: Thence he went to his Sister’s Chamber, with whom Lucretia lay: They both happen’d to be awake, and talking, as he came to the Door, which his Sister permitted him to unlock, and ask’d him the Reason of his so early Rising? Who reply’d, That since he could not sleep, he would take the Air a little. But first, Sister (continu’d he) I will refresh my self at your Lips: And now, Madam, (added he to Lucretia) I would beg a Cordial from you. For that (said his Sister) you shall be oblig’d to me this once; saying so, she gently turn’d Lucretia’s Face towards him, and he had his Wish. Ten to one, but he had rather continu’d with Lucretia, than have gone to her Brother, had he known him; for he lov’d her truly and passionately: But being a Man of true Courage and Honour, he took his Leave of ’em, presently dress’d, and tripp’d away with the Messenger, who made more than ordinary Haste, because of his Success, which was rewarded with another piece of Money; and he danc’d Home to the Sound of the Money in his Pocket.