Nay, the farmer was so prepossessed with the contents of his
letter, that he began to praise his care and concern for me, and to
advise me against entertaining addresses without my friends' advice and
consent; and made me the subject of a lesson for his daughter's
improvement. So I was glad to shut up this discourse; for I saw I was
not likely to be believed.
I sent, however, to tell my driver, that I was so fatigued, I could not
get out so soon the next morning. But he insisted upon it, and said, It
would make my day's journey the lighter; and I found he was a more
faithful servant to his master, notwithstanding what he wrote of his
reluctance, than I could have wished: I saw still more and more, that all
was deep dissimulation, and contrivance worse and worse.
Indeed I might have shewn them his letter to me, as a full confutation of
his to them; but I saw no probability of engaging them in my behalf: and
so thought it signified little, as I was to go away so soon, to enter
more particularly into the matter with them; and besides, I saw they were
not inclinable to let me stay longer, for fear of disobliging him so I
went to bed, but had very little rest: and they would make their servant-
maid bear me company in the chariot five miles, early in the morning, and
she was to walk hack.
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