The Aunt's Answer, encouraging him to persevere.

Nephew Robert,

I thought you had been better acquainted with the Art of Love, than to be so easily out of Heart. That such a Lady as Miss Dawley has not forbid your Visits, let me tell you, is Encouragement as much as you ought to expect. She is a Lady of fine Sense, and has had the Advantage of as fine an Education; and you must not expect a Lady of her Prudence and Merit, will be won by general Compliments; or that her Affection will be moved by the Notion of a sudden and precipitate Passion. Her Judgment must be first touch’d; for she views Marriage as a serious Thing: By it her Mother was made happy, and her Sister undone. I injoin the Continuation of your Addresses; for a more deserving Lady than Miss, does not live. And be sure, at least, to be more ambitious of appearing a Man of Sense, than a Lover. When the latter is accepted on account of the former, the Lady does Credit to her Choice. You young Fellows have such Notions of a Nine-days Courtship, that if it were indulged by all Women, none would, in a short time, be thought obliging, who did not make Modesty submit to Passion, and Discretion to Compliment. I desire to hear from you again a Month hence; and am, in the mean time,

Your affectionate Aunt