It is not at all surprising, resumed Arabella gravely, that you and I should differ in Opinion upon this Occasion: I don't remember that ever we agreed in any thing; and, I am apt to believe, we never shall.
Ah! don't say so, Lady Bella, interrupted he: What a Prospect of Misery you lay before me! For, if we are always to be opposite to each other, it is necessary you must hate me as much as I admire and love you.
These Words, which he accompanied with a gently Pressure of her Hand, threw the astonished Arabella into such an Excess of Anger and Shame, that, for a few Moments, she was unable to utter a Word.
What a horrid Violation this, of all the Laws of Gallantry and Respect, which decree a Lover to suffer whole Years in Silence before he declares his Flame to the divine Object that causes it; and then with awful Tremblings, and submissive Prostrations at the Feet of the offended Fair!
Arabella could hardly believe her Senses when she heard a Declaration, not only made without the usual Forms, but also, that the presumtuous Criminal waited for her Answer, without seeming to have any Apprehension of the Punishment to which he was to be doomed; and that, instead of deprecating her Wrath, he looked with a smiling Wonder upon her Eyes, as if he did not fear their Lightenings would strike him dead.
Indeed, it was scarce possible for him to help smiling, and wondering too, at the extraordinary Notion of Arabella; for, as soon as he had pro-
