band
had presently, and all naturally, run into, an elegant supper was served
in, and we sat down to it, my spark elect placing himself next to me,
and the other couples without order or ceremony. The delicate cheer and
good wine soon banished all reserve; the conversation grew as lively as
could be wished, without taking too loose a turn: these professors of
pleasure knew too well, how to stale impressions of it, or evaporate
the imagination of words, before the time of action. Kisses however were
snatched at times, or where a handkerchief round the neck interposed
its feeble barrier, it was not extremely respected: the hands of the men
went to work with their usual petulance, till the provocation on both
sides rose to such a pitch, that my particulars's proposal for beginning
the country dances was received with instant assent: for, as he
laughingly added, he fancied the instruments were in tune. This was a
signal for preparation, that the complaisant Mrs. Cole, who understood
life, took for her cue of disappearing; no longer so fit for personal
service herself, and content with having settled the order of battle,
she left us the field, to fight it out at discretion.

As soon as she was gone, the table was removed from the middle, and
became a side-board; a couch was brought into its place, of which when I
whisperingly inquired the reason, of my particular, he told me, "that
as it was chiefly on my account that his convention was met, the parties
intended at once to humour their taste of variety in pleasures, and by
an open public enjoyment, to see me broke of any taint of reserve or
modesty, which they looked on as the poison of joy; that though they
occasionally preached pleasure, and lived up to the text, they did not
enthusiastically set up for missionaries, and only indulged themselves
in the delights of a practical instruction of all the pretty women they
liked well enough to bestow it upon, and who fell properly in the way of
it; but that as such a proposal might be too violent, too shocking for a
young beginner, the old standers were to set an example, which he hoped
I would not be averse to follow, since it was to him I was devolved in
favour of the first experiment; but that still I was perfectly at my
liberty to refuse the party, which being in its nature one of pleasure,
supposed an exclusion of all force or constraint."

My countenance expressed, no doubt, my surprise as my silence did my
acquiescence. I