 from which he knew there was a short and easy transition to love; and by
his penetration choosing proper seasons for the theme, urged it with such
pathetic vows and artful adulation, as well might captivate a young woman of my
complexion and inexperience, and circumstanced as I was, with a husband whom I
had such reason to despise.
    Tho' he thus made an insensible progress in my heart, he did not find my
virtue an easy conquest; and I myself was ignorant of the advantage he had
gained, with regard to my inclinations, until I was convinced of his success by
an alarm of jealousy which I one day felt, at seeing him engaged in conversation
with another lady. I forthwith recognized this symptom of love, with which I had
been formerly acquainted, and trembled at the discovery of my own weakness. I
underwent a strange agitation and mixture of contrary sensations: I was pleased
with the passion, yet ashamed of avowing it even to my own mind. The rights of a
husband (tho' mine was but a nominal one) occurred to my reflexion, and virtue,
modesty and honour forbad me to cherish the guilty flame.
    While I encouraged these laudable scruples, and resolved to sacrifice my
love to duty and reputation, my lord was almost every day employed in riding
post to my father, with complaints of my conduct, which was hitherto
irreproachable; tho' the greatest grievance which he pretended to have suffered,
was my refusing to comply with his desire, when he intreated me to lie a whole
hour every morning, with my neck uncovered, that by gazing he might quiet the
perturbation of his spirits. From this request you may judge of the man, as well
as of the regard I must entertain for his character and disposition.
    During the whole summer I was besieged by my artful undoer, and in the
autumn set out with my lord for Bath, where, by reason of the intimacy that
subsisted between our families, we lived in the same house with my lover and his
sister, who, with another agreeable young lady, accompanied us in this
expedition. By this time Mr. S- had extorted from me a confession of a mutual
flame, tho' I assured him that it should never induce me to give up the valuable
possessions of an unspotted character, and a conscience void of offence. I
offered him all the enjoyment he could reap from an unreserved intercourse of
souls, abstracted from any sensual consideration; and he eagerly embraced the
Platonic proposal, because he had sagacity enough to foresee the issue of such
chimerical contracts, and knew me too well
