From a Nephew to his Aunt, on his slow Progress in a Courtship Affair.

Dear Aunt,

I have made my Addresses, in the best manner I can, to Miss Dawley, but have not the least Room to boast of my Success: The Account you gave me of her good Sense, and many uncommon Qualifications, will not permit me to arraign her Conduct; and the good Opinion I have long entertained of myself, makes me very slow in blaming my own. I would have obey’d your Orders to write to you sooner, but knew not what to say; and by waiting till I began to fear you would think me negligent, I am in no better Condition. I first declared my Regard for her in a manner I thought most suitable for that Purpose. She very encouragingly made me no Answer; and when I spoke again upon the Subject, she ask’d how you did, and was glad to hear you were well. Being put out of my Play, I talk’d of indifferent Things a good while, and at last fell again upon the Reason of my attending her. She order’d the Cloth to be laid, and complaisantly hoped I would stay Supper. I had no more Opportunity for that time.

Two Days after, I repeated my Visit. She received me at first politely; but when I began to resume the Subject I came upon, she rung for the Maid, and bad her put on the Tea-kettle. About six Visits passed before I could obtain one Word to my Business: And the first Thing she answer’d upon that Head was, That Length of Time was necessary to the making of an Acquaintance that must not be either blushed at, or repented of: This she spoke with such an Air of Gravity, as put what I would have reply’d, quite out of my Head. Yet next Visit I began again. I told her how happy I should think myself, if I could be encouraged to hope for the smallest Share of her Favour. But she made me such an odd Answer, as plainly demonstrated to me, that I had more of her Contempt than Approbation.