This encouraged my lady, who began to say a thousand pleasant things of _Alexis_, _Dorillus_ his son, and my lover, as your lordship knows, and who is no inconsiderable fortune for a maid, enrich’d only by your lordship’s bounty. My lady, after this, took the letter, and all being resolv’d it should be read, she herself did it, and turned it so prettily into burlesque love by her manner of reading it, that made Madam, the Duchess, laugh extremely; who at the end of it, cried to my lady--’Well, madam, I am satisfied you have not a heart wholly insensible of love, that could so express it for another.’ Thus they rallied on, till careful of my lover’s repose, the Duchess urg’d the letter might be immediately sent away; at which my lady readily folding up the letter, writ ‘_For the Constant_ Alexis’, on the outside: I took it, and begg’d I might have leave to retire to write it over in my own hand; they permitted me, and I carried it, after sealing it, to _Dorillus_, who waited for it, and wondering to find his son’s name on it, cried ‘Mistress, _Melinda_, I doubt you have mistook my present business; I wait for a letter from my lady to my lord, and you give me one from yourself to my son _Alexis_; ‘twill be very welcome to _Alexis_ I confess, but at this time I had rather oblige my lord than my son:’ I laughing replied, he was mistaken, that _Alexis_, at this time, meant no other than my lord, which pleas’d the good man extremely, who thought it a good omen for his son, and so went his way satisfied; as every body was, except the Countess, who fancied something more in it than my lady’s inditing for me; and after Madam the Duchess was gone, she went ruminating and pensive to her chamber, from whence I am confident she will not depart to-night, and will possibly set spies in every corner; at least ‘tis good to fear the worst, that we may prevent all things that would hinder this night’s assignation: as soon as the coast is clear, I’ll wait on your lordship, and be your conductor, and in all things else am ready to shew myself, _My Lord,_ _Your lordship’s most humble and most obedient servant,_ MELINDA. Sylvia _has given orders to wait on your lordship as soon as all is clear._ * * * * * _To_ MELINDA.