our, forbade me to cherish the guilty flame.

"When 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; though the greatest grievance which he
pretended to have suffered was my refusing to comply with his desire,
when he entreated 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, though I assured him that
it should never induce me to give up the valuable possession 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. He eagerly embraced the
platonic proposal, because he had sagacity enough to foresee the issue
of such chimerical contracts, and knew me too well to think he could
accomplish his purpose without seeming to acquiesce in my own terms, and
cultivating my tenderness under the specious pretext.

"In consequence of this agreement, we took all opportunities of seeing
each other in private; and these interviews were spent in mutual
protestations of disinterested love. This correspondence, though
dangerous, was, on my side, equally innocent and endearing; and many
happy hours we passed, before my sentiments were discovered. At length
my lover was taken ill, and then my passion burst out beyond the
power of concealment; my grief and anxiety became so conspicuous in my
countenance, and my behaviour was so indiscreet, that everybody in the
house perceived the situation of my thoughts, and blamed my conduct
accordingly.

"Certain it is, I was extremely imprudent, though intentionally
innocent. I have lain whole nights by my lord, who teased and tormented
me for that which neither I could give nor he could take, and ruminated
on the