 I had not sat five minutes 'till the fox-hunter
came in, and by his familiar behaviour, appeared to be intimate with my friend -
I was, at first, under some concern, lest he should recollect my features; but
when I found myself introduced to him as a gentleman from London, without being
discovered, I blessed the opportunity that brought me into his company; hoping,
that in the course of our acquaintance, he would invite me to his house - nor
were my hopes frustrated, for as we spent the evening together, he grew
extremely fond of my conversation, asked a great many childish questions about
France and foreign parts; and seemed so highly entertained with my answers, that
in his cups, he shook me often by the hand, pronounced me an honest fellow, and
in fine, desired our company at dinner next day, in his own house. - My
imagination was so much employed in anticipating the happiness I was to enjoy
the next day, that I slept very little that night; but getting up early in the
morning, went to the place appointed, where I met my she-friend, and imparted to
her my success with the squire - She was very much pleased at the occasion,
which (she said) could not fail of being agreeable to Narcissa, who in spite of
her passion for me, had mentioned some scruples relating to my true situation
and character, which the delicacy of her sentiments suggested, and which she
believed I would find it necessary to remove, though she did not know how. - I
was a good deal startled at this insinuation, because I foresaw the difficulty I
should find in barely doing myself justice; for although it never was my
intention to impose myself upon any woman, much less on Narcissa, as a man of
fortune, I laid claim to the character of a gentleman, by birth, education and
behaviour; and yet (so unlucky had the circumstances of my life fallen out) I
should find it a very hard matter to make good my pretensions even to these,
especially to the last, which was the most essential - Miss Williams was as
sensible as I, of this my disadvantage; but comforted me with observing, that
when once a woman has bestowed her affections on a man, she cannot help judging
of him in all respects, with a partiality easily influenced in his favour; - she
remarked that altho' some situations of my life had been low, yet none of them
had been infamous; that my indigence had been the crime not of me, but of
fortune;
