 my person was
commended, and my talent in dancing met with universal applause. No wonder then,
that every thing appeared joyous to a young creature, who was so void of
experience and dissimulation, that she believed every body's heart as sincere as
her own, and every object such as it appeared to be.
    Among the swains who sighed, or pretended to sigh for me, were two that bore
a pretty equal share of my favour; (it was too superficial to deserve the name
of love.) One of these was a forward youth of sixteen, extremely handsome,
lively, and impudent, who attended in quality of page upon the princess Amelia,
who spent that season at the Bath; the other was a Scotch nobleman turned of
thirty, who was graced with a red ribbon, and danced particularly well, two
qualifications of great weight with a girl of my age, whose heart was not deeply
interested in the cause. Nevertheless, the page prevailed over this formidable
rival; though our amour went no farther than a little flirting, and ceased
intirely when I left the place.
    Next year, however, I revisited this agreeable scene, and passed my time in
the same circle of amusements; in which, indeed, each season at Bath is exactly
resembled by that which succeeds, allowing for the difference of company, which
is continually varying. There I met with the same incense, and again had my
favourite, who was a North Briton, and captain of foot, near forty years of age,
and a little lame, an impediment which I did not discover, until it was pointed
out by some of my companions, who rallied me upon my choice. He was always
chearful, and very amorous, had a good countenance and an excellent
understanding, possessed a great deal of art, and would have persuaded me to
marry him, had I not been restrained by the authority of my father, whose
consent was not to be obtained in favour of a man of his fortune.
    At the same time, many proposals of marriage were made to my parents; but,
as they came from people whom I did not like, I rejected them all, being
determined to refuse every man who did not make his addresses to myself in
person, because I had no notion of marrying for any thing but love.
    Among these formal proposers was a Scottish earl, whose pretensions were
broke off by some difference about settlements; and the son of an English baron,
with whom my father was in treaty, when he carried me to town, on a visit to a
young lady
