 my new place, she gave me a sketch of my mistress's
character, that I might know better how to regulate my conduct. »Your lady (said
she) is a maiden of forty years, not so remarkable for her beauty as her
learning and taste, which is famous all over the county. - Indeed she is a
perfect female virtuosi, and so eager after the pursuit of knowledge, that she
neglects her person even to a degree of sluttishness; this negligence, together
with her contempt for the male part of the creation, gives her nephew no great
concern, as by that means, he will probably keep her fortune, which is
considerable, in the family. He therefore permits her to live in her own way,
which is something extraordinary, and gratifies her in all her whimsical
desires. - Her apartment is at some distance from the other inhabited parts of
the house; and consists of a dining-room, bed-chamber and study: She keeps a
cook-maid, waiting-woman, and footman of her own, and seldom eats or converses
with any of the family, but her niece, who is a very lovely creature, and
humours her aunt often to the prejudice of her own health, by sitting up with
her whole nights together; for your mistress is too much of a philosopher to be
swayed by the customs of the world, and never sleeps or eats as other people do.
-- Among other odd notions, she professes the principles of Rosicrucius, and
believes the earth, air, and sea are inhabited by invisible beings, with whom it
is possible for the human species to entertain correspondence and intimacy, on
the easy condition of living chaste. - As she hopes one day to be admitted into
an acquaintance of this kind, she no sooner heard of me and my cat, than she
paid me a visit, with a view, as she has since owned, to be introduced to my
familiar; and was greatly mortified to find herself disappointed in her
expectation. Being by this visionary turn of mind, abstracted as it were from
the world, she cannot advert to the common occurrences of life; and therefore is
frequently so absent as to commit very strange mistakes and extravagancies,
which you will do well to rectify and repair, as your prudence shall suggest.«
 

                                 Chapter XXXIX

My reception by that lady -- I become enamoured of Narcissa -- recount the
particulars of my last misfortune -- acquire the good opinion of my mistress --
an account of the young 'Squire - I am made acquainted with more particulars of
