ad not thrown
me into this safe and agreeable refuge."

Here Louisa ended; and these little histories having brought the time
for the girls to retire, and to prepare for the revels of the evening, I
staid with Mrs. Cole, till Emily came, and told us the company was met,
and waited for us.

Mrs. Cole on this, taking me by the hand, with a smile of encouragement,
led me up stairs, preceded by Louisa, who was come to hasten us, and
lighted us with two candles, one in each hand.

On the landing-place of the first pair of stairs, we were met by a young
gentleman, extremely well dressed, and a very pretty figure, to whom I
was to be indebted for the first essay of the pleasures of the house.
He saluted me with great gallantry, and handed me into the drawing room,
the floor of which was overspread with a Turkey carpet, and all its
furniture voluptuously adapted to every demand of the most studied
luxury; now too it was, by means of a profuse illumination, enlivened
by a light scarce inferior, and perhaps more favourable to joy, more
tenderly pleasing, than that of broad sunshine.

On my entrance into the room, I had the satisfaction! to hear a buzz of
approbation run through the whole company, which now consisted of four
gentlemen, including my particular (this was the cant term of the
house for one's gallant for the time), the three young-women, in a
neat flowing dishabille, the mistress of the academy, and myself. I was
welcomed and saluted by a kiss all round, in which, however, it was easy
to-discover, in the superior warmth of that of the men, the distinction
of the sexes.

Awed, and confounded as I was, at seeing myself surrounded, caressed,
and made court to by so many strangers, I could not immediately
familiarize myself to all that air of gaiety and joy, which dictated
their compliments, and animated their caresses.

They assured me that I was so perfectly to their taste, as to have but
one fault against me, which I might easily be cured of, and that was
my modesty: this, they observed, might pass for a beauty the more with
those who wanted it for a heigh tener; but their maxim was, that it was
an impertinent mixture, and dashed the cup so as to spoil the sincere
draught of pleasure; they considered it accordingly as their mortal
enemy, and gave it no quarter wherever they met with it. This was a
prologue not unworthy of the revels that ensued.

In the midst of all the frolic and wantonness, which this joyous