 she never continued any in her
house, whom, after a due novitiate, she found untractable, or unwilling to
comply with the rules of it. Thus had she insensibly formed a little family of
love, in which the members found so sensibly their account, in a rare alliance
of pleasure with interest, and of a necessary outward decency with unbounded
secret liberty, that Mrs. Cole, who had pick'd them as much for their temper as
their beauty, govern'd them with ease to herself and them too.
    To these pupils then of hers, whom she had prepar'd, she presented me as a
new boarder, and one that was to be immediately admitted to all the intimacies
of the house; upon which these charming girls gave me all the marks of a welcome
reception, and indeed of being perfectly pleased with my figure, that I could
possibly expect from any of my own sex: but they had been effectually brought to
sacrifice all jealousy, or competition of charms, to a common interest, and
consider'd me a partner that was bringing no despicable stock of goods into the
trade of the house. They gathered round me, view'd me on all sides; and as my
admission into this joyous troop made a little holiday, the shew of work was
laid aside; and Mrs. Cole giving me up, with special recommendation, to their
caresses and entertainment, went about her ordinary business of the house.
    The sameness of our sex, age, profession, and views soon created as
unreserv'd a freedom and intimacy as if we had been for years acquainted. They
took and shew'd me the house, their respective apartments, which were furnished
with every article of conveniency and luxury; and above all, a spacious
drawing-room, where a select revelling band usually met, in general parties of
pleasure; the girls supping with their sparks, and acting their wanton pranks
with unbounded licentiousness; whilst a defiance of awe, modesty or jealousy
were their standing rules, by which, according to the principles of their
society, whatever pleasure was lost on the side of sentiment was abundantly made
up to the senses in the poignancy of variety, and the charms of ease and luxury.
The authors and supporters of this secret institution would, in the height of
their humours style themselves the restorers of the golden age and its
simplicity of pleasures, before their innocence became so injustly branded with
the names of guilt and shame.
    As soon then as the evening began, and the shew of a shop was shut, the
academy open'd;
