at their Tea-Tables, and was very severely
censured by the most part; especially by Lindamira, a Lady whose discreet and
starch Carriage, together with a constant Attendance at Church three times a
day, had utterly defeated many malicious Attacks on her own Reputation: for such
was the Envy that Lindamira's Virtue had attracted, that notwithstanding her own
strict Behaviour and strict Enquiry into the Lives of others, she had not been
able to escape being the Mark of some Arrows herself, which however did her no
Injury; a Blessing perhaps owed by her to the Clergy, who were her chief male
Companions, and with two or three of whom she had been barbarously and unjustly
calumniated.
    »Not so unjustly neither perhaps,« says Slipslop, »for the Clergy are Men as
well as other Folks.«
    The extreme Delicacy of Lindamira's Virtue was cruelly hurt by these
Freedoms which Leonora allowed herself; she said, »it was an Affront to her Sex,
that she did not imagine it consistent with any Woman's Honour to speak to the
Creature, or to be seen in her Company; and that, for her part, she should
always refused to dance at an Assembly with her, for fear of Contamination, by
taking her by the Hand.«
    But to return to my Story: As soon as Bellarmine was recovered, which was
somewhat within a Month from his receiving the Wound, he set out, according to
Agreement, for Leonora's Father's, in order to propose the Match and settle all
Matters with him touching Settlements, and the like.
    A little before his Arrival, the old Gentleman had received an Intimation of
the Affair by the following Letter; which I can repeat verbatim, and which they
say was written neither by Leonora nor her Aunt, tho' it was in a Woman's Hand.
The Letter was in these Words:
 
        »Sir,
            I am sorry to acquaint you that your Daughter Leonora hath acted one
        of the basest, as well as most simple Parts with a young Gentleman to
        whom she had engaged herself, and whom she hath (pardon the Word) jilted
        for another of inferiour Fortune, notwithstanding his superiour Figure.
        You may take what Measures you please on this Occasion; I have performed
        what I thought my Duty, as I have, tho' unknown to you, a very great
        Respect for your Family.«
 
The old Gentleman did not give himself the trouble to answer this kind Epistle,
nor did he take any notice of it after he had read it, 'till he saw Bellarmine.
He was