
forbid that, and told me he would see me safe Home, which I was not very well
pleased with, supposing he might do that to know where I liv'd, and enquire into
my Character, and Circumstances: However, I ventur'd that, for all the People
there knew of me, was to my Advantage; and all the Character he had of me, was,
that I was a Woman of Fortune, and that I was a very modest sober Body; which
whether true or not in the Main, yet you may see how necessary it is, for all
Women who expect any thing in the World, to preserve the Character of their
Virtue, even when perhaps they may have sacrifiz'd the Thing itself.
    I found, and was not a little pleas'd with it, that he had provided a Supper
for me: I found also he liv'd very handsomely, and had a House very handsomely
furnish'd, and which I was rejoic'd at indeed, for I look'd upon it all as my
own.
    We had now a second Conference upon the Subject Matter of the last: He laid
his Business very Home indeed; he protested his Affection to me, and indeed I
had no room to doubt it; he declared that it began from the first Moment I
talk'd with him, and long before I had mentioned leaving my Effects with him;
'tis no matter when it began, thought I, if it will but hold, 'twill be well
enough: He then told me, how much the Offer I had made of trusting him with my
Effects had engag'd him; so I intended it should, thought I, but then I thought
you had been a single Man too: After we had Supp'd, I observ'd he press'd me
very hard to drink two or three Glasses of Wine, which however I declin'd, but
drank one Glass or two: He then told me he had a Proposal to make to me, which I
should promise him I would not take ill, if I should not grant it: I told him I
hop'd he would make no dishonourable Proposal to me, especially in his own
House, and that if it was such, I desir'd he would not mention it, that I might
not be obliged to offer any Resentment to him that did not become the Respect I
profess'd for him, and the Trust I had plac'd in him, in coming to this House;
and beg
