"I beg pardon--I thought you had spoken to me." Another pause
ensued--I made another effort, and, though my voice faltered very much
at the beginning, made shift to express myself in this manner: "I say,
madam, it is very surprising that love should act so inconsistently with
itself, as to deprive its votaries of the use of their faculties, when
they have most need of them. Since the happy occasion of being alone
with you presented itself, I have made many unsuccessful attempts to
declare a passion for the loveliest of her sex--a passion which took
possession of my soul, while my cruel fate compelled me to wear a
servile disguise so unsuitable to my birth, sentiments, and let me
add, my deserts; yet favourable in one respect, as it furnished me with
opportunities of seeing and adoring your perfections. Yes, madam, it was
then your dear idea entered my bosom, where it has lived unimpaired
in the midst of numberless cares, and animated me against a thousand
dangers and calamities!"

While I spoke thus, she concealed her face with her fan, and when I
ceased speaking, recovering herself from the most beautiful confusion,
told me she thought herself very much obliged by my favourable opinion
of her, and that she was very sorry to hear I had been unfortunate.
Encouraged by this gentle reply, I proceeded, owned myself sufficiently
recompensed by her kind compassion for what I had undergone, and
declared the future happiness of my life depended solely upon her.
"Sir," said she, "I should be very ungrateful, if after the signal
protection you once afforded me, I should refuse to contribute towards
your happiness in any reasonable condescension." Transported at this
acknowledgment I threw myself at her feet, and begged she would regard
my passion with a favourable eye. She was alarmed at my behaviour,
entreated me to rise lest her brother should discover me in that
posture, and to spare her for the present upon a subject for which she
was altogether unprepared. In consequence of this remonstrance, I rose,
assuring her I would rather die than disobey her: but in the meantime
begged her to consider how precious the minutes of this opportunity
were, and what restraint I put upon my inclinations, in sacrificing them
to her desire. She smiled with unspeakable sweetness, and said there
would be no want of opportunities, provided I could maintain the good
opinion her brother had conceived of me, and I, enchanted by her charms,
seized h