 at the curiosity of some people; that perhaps
persons had already heard some reports of her death, which were far from being
true; that, whatever was the occasion of it, she was glad at being delivered
from a world in which she had no pleasure, and where there was nothing but
nonsense and impertinence; particularly among her own sex, whose loose conduct
she had long been entirely ashamed of.
    The beauteous spirit, perceiving her question gave offence, pursued it no
farther. She had indeed all the sweetness and good-humour which are so extremely
amiable (when found) in that sex which tenderness most exquisitely becomes. Her
countenance displayed all the cheerfulness, the good-nature, and the modesty,
which diffuse such brightness round the beauty of Seraphina,5 awing every
beholder with respect, and, at the same time, ravishing him with admiration. Had
it not been indeed for our conversation on the small-pox, I should have imagined
we had been honoured with her identical presence. This opinion might have been
heightened by the good sense she uttered whenever she spoke, by the delicacy of
her sentiments, and the complacence of her behaviour, together with a certain
dignity which attended every look, word, and gesture; qualities which could not
fail making an impression on a heart6 so capable of receiving it as mine, nor
was she long in raising in me a very violent degree of seraphic love. I do not
intend by this, that sort of love which men are very properly said to make to
women in the lower world, and which seldom lasts any longer than while it is
making. I mean by seraphic love an extreme delicacy and tenderness of
friendship, of which, my worthy reader, if thou hast no conception, as it is
probable thou mayest not, my endeavour to instruct thee would be as fruitless as
it would be to explain the most difficult problems of Sir Isaac Newton to one
ignorant of vulgar arithmetic.
    To return therefore to matters comprehensible by all understandings: the
discourse now turned on the vanity, folly, and misery of the lower world, from
which every passenger in the coach expressed the highest satisfaction in being
delivered; though it was very remarkable that, notwithstanding the joy we
declared at our death, there was not one of us who did not mention the accident
which occasioned it as a thing we would have avoided if we could. Nay, the very
grave lady herself, who was the forwardest in testifying her delight, confessed
inadvertently that she left a physician by her bedside; and the gentleman who
died of honour very liberally cursed both his folly
