aked innocence and
armed guilt. In every thing else, as thou ownest, her talents greatly
superior to thine!--What a fate will her's be, if thou art not at last
overcome by thy reiterated remorses!

At first, indeed, when I was admitted into her presence,* (and till I
observed her meaning air, and heard her speak,) I supposed that she had
no very uncommon judgment to boast of: for I made, as I thought, but just
allowances for her blossoming youth, and for that loveliness of person,
and for that ease and elegance in her dress, which I imagined must have
taken up half her time and study to cultivate; and yet I had been
prepared by thee to entertain a very high opinion of her sense and her
reading. Her choice of this gay fellow, upon such hazardous terms,
(thought I,) is a confirmation that her wit wants that maturity which
only years and experience can give it. Her knowledge (argued I to
myself) must be all theory; and the complaisance ever consorting with an
age so green and so gay, will make so inexperienced a lady at least
forbear to show herself disgusted at freedoms of discourse in which those
present of her own sex, and some of ours, (so learned, so well read, and
so travelled,) allow themselves.

* See Vol. IV. Letter VII.

In this presumption I ran on; and having the advantage, as I conceited,
of all the company but you, and being desirous to appear in her eyes a
mighty clever fellow, I thought I showed away, when I said any foolish
things that had more sound than sense in them; and when I made silly
jests, which attracted the smiles of thy Sinclair, and the specious
Partington: and that Miss Harlowe did not smile too, I thought was owing
to her youth or affectation, or to a mixture of both, perhaps to a
greater command of her features.--Little dreamt I, that I was incurring
her contempt all the time.

But when, as I said, I heard her speak, which she did not till she had
fathomed us all; when I heard her sentiments on two or three subjects,
and took notice of the searching eye, darting into the very inmost cells
of our frothy brains; by my faith, it made me look about me; and I began
to recollect, and be ashamed of all I had said before; in short, was
resolved to sit silent, till every one had talked round, to keep my folly
in countenance. And then I raised the subjects that she could join in,
and which she did join in, so much to the confusion and surprise of every
one of us!--For even thou, Lovelace,