Belinda then relates how her marriage with the deserving Worthly was postponed by her father's death.

In the interim the captivating Sir Thomas Courtal has occasion to render her a slight service at the overturn of her coach, and fires her with a passion which her mild esteem for Worthly is too weak to overcome.

Courtal perceives and encourages her fondness, though he poses as Worthly's friend.

In the duel that ensues Worthly falls, Courtal flees, and a little later Belinda goes to London in hopes of seeing him.

Worthly, meanwhile, has recovered from his wound and weds Belinda's sister.

Most curious of all is the fact that the composer of the four letters, who signs herself J.B., refers en passant to Belinda's inconstancy to Sir Thomas Worthly, an allusion to the story of the second part of "The British Recluse."