Ah! these are the notions that ruin half the young fellows of this age.--_Accidental likings_--_First love_,--and the devil knows what, runs away with half the old family estates.--Why, the least thing men ought to expect, even if they marry for _love_, is six-pence for a shilling.--Once for all, my Lord, I must tell you, your _interest_ is to be consulted before your _inclinations_. _Don't_ be ruffled, Sir James; _don't_ let us talk warmly of a matter which perhaps is at a great distance. I wish it may be at a _great distance_, my Lord.--_If what I conjecture is true_--Here he paus'd, and look'd so sternly, that I expected all would out. What do you _conjecture_, Sir?--Yes, I ask'd him what.-- Your Lordship must excuse my answering that question. _I hope_ I am wrong;--_I hope_ such a thing never enter'd your thoughts:--if it has--and he mutter'd something I could not understand; only I heard distinctly the words _unlucky_,--_imprudent_,--_unforeseen_.--I knew enough of their meaning to silence me.--Shaking him by the hand, I said, Well, Sir James, if you please, we will drop this subject for the present.--On which the conversation ended. What a deal of patience and philosophy am I master of, to be here at my pen, whilst two old men are sucking in the honey which I should lay up for a winter's store?--Like Time, nothing can stand before her:--she mows down all ages.--Even Morgan, that man who us'd to look on a fine woman with more indifference than a horse or dog,--is now new-moulded;--not one oath in the space where I have known twenty escape him:--instead of following his dogs the whole morning, he is eternally with the ladies. If he rides out with my angel, for he's determin'd, he says, to make her a complete horsewoman, I must not presume to give the least direction, or _even_ touch the bridle. I honour him for the tender regard he shews her:--yes, I go further; _he_ and _Mr. Watson_ may _love_ her;--they do _love_ her, and glory in declaring it.--I _love_ them in return;--but they are the only two, of all the race of batchelors within my knowledge, that should make _such_ a declaration with impunity. Let me see: I shall be in London Saturday evening;--Sunday, no post;--Monday, _then_ I determine to write to Sir James;--Wednesday, I may have an answer;--_Thursday_,--who knows but _Thursday!_--nothing is impossible; who knows but _Thursday_ I may return to all my hopes?--How much I resemble a shuttlecock! how am I thrown from side to side by hope and fear; now up, now down; no sooner mounted by one hand than lower'd by another! This moment a gleam of comfort steals sweetly through my heart;--but it is gone even before I could bid it welcome.--Why so fast!--to what spot is it fled?--Can there be a wretch more in need, who calls louder for its charitable ray than DARCEY. LETTER XXII. Miss WARLEY to Lady MARY SUTTON _From Mr. Jenkings's_