owned. And indeed I heard some part of what passed,
though they both talked lower than I wished; for, from the nature of
their conversation, there was no room for altitudes.

THEM, and BOTH, and THEY!--How it goes against me to include this angel
of a creature, and any man on earth but myself, in one world!

Capt. Who can forbear being affected?--But, Madam, you can be no other
man's.

Cl. Nor would I be. But he is so sunk with me!--To fire the house!--An
artifice so vile!--contrived for the worst of purposes!--Would you have a
daughter of your's--But what would I say?--Yet you see that I have nobody
in whom I can confide!--Mr. Lovelace is a vindictive man!--He could not
love the creature whom he could insult as he has insulted me!

She paused. And then resuming--in short, I never, never can forgive him,
nor he me.--Do you think, Sir, I never would have gone so far as I have
gone, if I had intended ever to draw with him in one yoke?--I left behind
me such a letter--

You know, Madam, he has acknowledged the justice of your resentment--

O Sir, he can acknowledge, and he can retract, fifty times a day--but do
not think I am trifling with myself and you, and want to be persuaded to
forgive him, and to be his. There is not a creature of my sex, who would
have been more explicit, and more frank, than I would have been, from the
moment I intended to be his, had I a heart like my own to deal with. I
was always above reserve, Sir, I will presume to say, where I had no
cause of doubt. Mr. Lovelace's conduct has made me appear, perhaps,
over-nice, when my heart wanted to be encouraged and assured! and when,
if it had been so, my whole behaviour would have been governed by it.

She stopt; her handkerchief at her eyes.

I inquired after the minutest part of her behaviour, as well as after her
words. I love, thou knowest, to trace human nature, and more
particularly female nature, through its most secret recesses.

The pitiful fellow was lost in silent admiration of her. And thus the
noble creature proceeded.

It is the fate in unequal unions, that tolerable creatures, through them,
frequently incur censure, when more happily yoked they might be entitled
to praise. And shall I not shun a union with a man, that might lead into
errors a creature who flatters herself that she is blest with an
inclination to be good; and who wishes to make every one happy with whom
she has any connection, even to her very servan