If little M.but lay nere at hande, in ye graive to wich I fele I must soone be carrid, I beleive I shou'd be happyer.

Reproove me for this folley if you plese.

I am getting olde, and Sattan temts me with seche fooleish thorts.

Wot dose it matter to my sole wear my vile bodie is laid?
and yet I have a fonde fooleish desier to be berrid with littel M." And in these latest letters there is ample evidence of that yearning on Matthew's part to reveal a secret which Rebecca's own correspondence betrays.
"We tawked of manny things, and she was more than ordinnary kind and gentel.

I had a mind to tell her about M, and aske her frendship for C; but she seemed not to cair to here my sekrets, and I think wou'd be offended if she new the trooth.