planations with
my landlady, or be impatient till he returned, he dressed and went out,
having left me a purse with two and twenty guineas in it, being all
he had about him, as he express it, to keep my pocket still further
supplied.

As soon as he was gone, I felt the usual consequence of the first launch
into vice (for my love attachment to Charles never appeared to me in
that light). I was instantly borne away down the stream without making
back to the shore. My dreadful necessities, my gratitude, and above all,
to say the plain truth, the dissipation and diversion I began to find
in this new acquaintance, from the black corroding thoughts my heart had
been a prey to, ever since the absence of my dear Charles, concurred to
stun all my contrary reflections. If I now thought of my first, my only
charmer, it was still with the tenderness and regret of the fondest
love, embittered with the consciousness that I was no longer worthy
of him. I could have begged my bread with him all over the world, but
wretch that I was! I had neither the virtue or courage requisite not to
outlive my separation from him.

Yet, had not my heart been thus preengaged, Mr. H... might probably have
been the sole master of it; but the place was full, and the force of
conjectures alone had made him the possessor of my person; the charms
of which had, by the bye, been his sole object and passion, and were, of
course, no foundation for a love either very delicate or very durable.

He did not return till six in the evening', to take me away to my
new lodgings; and my moveables being soon packed, and conveyed into
a hackney coach, it cost me but little regret to take my leave of a
landlady whom I thought I had so much reason not to be over pleased
with; and as for her part, she made no other difference to my staying or
going, but what that of the profit created.

We soon got to the house appointed for me, which was that of a plain
tradesman, who, on the score of interest, was entirely at Mr. H...'s
devotion, and who let him the first floor, very genteelly furnished,
for two guineas a week, of which I was instated mistress, with a maid to
attend me.

He stayed with me that evening, and we had a supper from a neighbouring
tavern, after which, and a gay glass or two, the maid put me to bed. Mr.
H.... soon followed, and notwithstanding the fatigues of the preceding
night, I found no quarter nor remission from him: he piquet himself, as
he told me, o