University of Virginia Library

I mean to make this bulletin short: the agony is
over with me; my resolutions have suffered a complete
Waterloo defeat. I am caught at last. I have
determined to become Benedict the married man.
Like him, I mean to laugh at all those who laugh at

me. Congratulate me, my friend—Miss Atherton
has consented to draw closer, and make indissoluble
the bonds of relationship already existing between us.

“Your letter of the day before yesterday informed
me that you would be here next Monday; on the following
Wednesday, I propose to lead my fair cousin
to the altar, and I expect you to do me the honor of
officiating as my groomsman. When we bachelors
are caught, we speed the hours to make up for lost
time. As you see, I shall be married before you, and
I wont tell you what a happy man I am, for fear that
your remembrances of our former conversations
might make you smile; yet I might do so, for we
could then both smile with and at each other.

“My fair cousin sends her warmest regards. The
mistress of your heart I have not seen for some days;
I heard yesterday that she was somewhat indisposed.
You hear, doubtless, of each minute as she counts it.
But I tell you this, that love and friendship may both
combine their power to hasten your speed to our city,
and to the greetings of