od temporal mother was, however, so kind as to use all the
arguments she could imagine to dissuade me: but, as I found they only
turned on a motive of tenderness to me, I persisted in my resolution,
and thereby acquitted my offer of any suspicion of its not having been
sincerely made, or out of compliment only. Acquiescing then thankfully
in it, Mrs. Cole assured me "that bating the pain I should be put to,
she had no scruple to engage me to this party, which she assured me I
should be liberally paid for, and which, the secrecy of the transaction
preserved safe from the ridicule that otherwise vulgarly attended it;
that for her part, she considered pleasure, of one sort or other, as the
universal port of destination, and every wind that blew thither a good
one, provided it blew nobody any harm; that she rather compassionated,
than blamed those unhappy persons, who are under a subjection they
cannot shake off, to those arbitrary tastes that rule their appetites
of pleasures with an unaccountable control: tastes too, as infinitely
diversified, as superior to, and independent of all reasoning as the
different relishes or palates of mankind in their viands, some
delicate stomach nauseating plain meats, and finding no savour but in
highseasoned, luxurious dishes, whilst others again pique themselves
upon detesting them."

I stood now in no need of this preamble of encouragement, or
justification: my word was given, and I was determined to fulfill my
engagements. Accordingly the night was set, and I had all the necessary
previous instructions how to act and conduct myself. The dining room was
duly prepared and lighted up, and the young; gentleman posted there in
waiting, for my introduction to him.

I was then, by Mrs. Cole, brought in, and presented to him, in a loose
dishabille fitted, by her direction, to the exercise I was to go
through, all in the finest linen and a thorough white uniform:
gown, petticoat, stocking, and satin slippers, like a victim led to
sacrifice; whilst my dark auburn hair, falling in drop-curls over my
neck, created a pleasing distinction of colour from the rest of my
dress.

As soon as Mr. Barville saw me, he got up, with a visible air of
pleasure and surprise, and saluting me, asked Mrs. Cole, if so fine
and delicate a creature would voluntarily submit to such sufferings
and rigours, as were the subject of his assignation. She answered him
properly, and now, reading in his eyes that she could n