Lysetta was so strongly persuaded in her mind, that it was her fate to marry Orsames, that she made not the least attempt to check the growing inclination she had for him, but rather thought it a virtue in her to encourage the most tender sentiments for a person ordain'd by Heaven to be her husband.

I made several visits to her, both in my Visible and Invisible capacity, and seldom went without finding Orsames there, and every time more free and degagee than before. – He made so swift a progress in his courtship, that in less than a fortnight he became the Major-Domo of her family, – commanded all the servants, and behaved as if already their master, as indeed he was in every thing except the name.

To add to all this, Lysetta suffered him to conduct her to all public places; – they took the air together in the Mall, Kensington-Gardens, and Hyde-Park, and sat in the same box at the Play-house; he always dined and supped with her, whatever other company were there: – in a word, they were never asunder but in those hours when decency obliged them to be so.

So strange a revolution in the behaviour of Lysetta made a great deal of noise in town; all her acquaintance were surprized; – all her friends and kindred were very much alarmed at it; especially as the person to whom she shewed these extraordinary favours was altogether unknown in the world, nor could they get the least account of him.

Those, who either through a long conversation or affinity of blood, could take the privilege of discoursing with her on this head, did it in a very free manner; but the answers she gave to their interrogatories were far from being satisfactory to them: – when she told them his history as he had related it to her, they treated it with contempt; – some said, – that he was an impostor; – others more modest, that they wished he was not so; – to both which she returned, – that whatever he were, she was certain it was her fate to marry him, and therefore desired that they would give themselves no farther pain on that occasion.