16. The Remise. Door. Calais

C'EST bien comique, 't is very droll, said the lady smiling, from the reflection that this was the second time we had been left together by a parcel of nonsensical contingencies-c' est bien comique, said she.-

-There wants nothing, said I, to make it so, but the comic use which the gallantry of a Frenchman would put it to-to make love the first moment, and an offer of his person the second.

'T is their fort, replied the lady.

It is supposed so at least-and how it has come to pass, continued I, I know not: but they have certainly got the credit of understanding more of love, and making it better than any other nation upon earth; but for my own part, I think them errant bunglers, and in truth the worst set of marksmen that ever tried Cupid's patience.

-To think of making love by sentiments!

I should as soon think of making a genteel suit of clothes out of remnants:-and to do it-pop-at first sight by declaration-is submitting the offer and themselves with it, to be sifted with all their pours and contres, by an unheated mind.

The lady attended as if she expected I should go on.

Consider then, Madam, continued I, laying my hand upon hers-

That grave people hate Love for the name's sake-

That selfish people hate it for their own-

Hypocrites for heaven's-

And that all of us, both old and young, being ten times worse frighten'd than hurt by the very report-What a want of knowledge in this branch of commerce a man betrays, who ever lets the word come out of his lips, till an hour or two at least after the time that his silence upon it becomes tormenting. A course of small, quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm-nor so vague as to be misunderstood-with now and then a look of kindness, and little or nothing said upon it-leaves Nature for your mistress, and she fashions it to her mind-

Then I solemnly declare, said the lady, blushing-you have been making love to me all this while.