her, and hastened down faster than the alarm of fire had made me run
up, in order to satisfy her that all the danger was over.

When I had flown down to her chamber-door, there I beheld the most
charming creature in the world, supporting herself on the arm of the
gasping Dorcas, sighing, trembling, and ready to faint, with nothing on
but an under petticoat, her lovely bosom half open, and her feet just
slipped into her shoes. As soon as she saw me, she painted, and
struggled to speak; but could only say, O Mr. Lovelace! and down was
ready to sink.

I clasped her in my arms with an ardour she never felt before: My dearest
life! fear nothing: I have been up--the danger is over--the fire is got
under--and how, foolish devil, [to Dorcas,] could you thus, by your
hideous yell, alarm and frighten my angel!

O Jack! how her sweet bosom, as I clasped her to mine, heaved and panted!
I could even distinguish her dear heart flutter, flutter, against mine;
and, for a few minutes, I feared she would go into fits.

Lest the half-lifeless charmer should catch cold in this undress, I
lifted her to her bed, and sat down by her upon the side of it,
endeavouring with the utmost tenderness, as well of action as expression,
to dissipate her terrors.

But what did I get by this my generous care of her, and my successful
endeavour to bring her to herself?--Nothing (ungrateful as she was!) but
the most passionate exclamations: for we had both already forgotten the
occasion, dreadful as it was, which had thrown her into my arms: I, from
the joy of encircling the almost disrobed body of the loveliest of her
sex; she, from the greater terrors that arose from finding herself in my
arms, and both seated on the bed, from which she had been so lately
frighted.

And now, Belford, reflect upon the distance at which the watchful charmer
had hitherto kept me: reflect upon my love, and upon my sufferings for
her: reflect upon her vigilance, and how long I had laid in wait to elude
it; the awe I had stood in, because of her frozen virtue and
over-niceness; and that I never before was so happy with her; and then
think how ungovernable must be my transports in those happy moments!--And
yet, in my own account, I was both decent and generous.

But, far from being affected, as I wished, by an address so fervent,
(although from a man from whom she had so lately owned a regard, and with
whom, but an hour or two before, she had parted with so much
satisfa