ess, I was far from being displeased with my conquest, because
his person and qualifications, as well as his manner of address, were
very much to my liking, and recommended him in a particular manner to
my affection. Indeed, he made greater progress in my heart than I myself
suspected; for there was something congenial in our souls, which, from
our first meeting, I believe, had attracted us, unknown to ourselves,
under the notions of friendship and regard, and now disclosed itself in
the most passionate love.

"I listened to his addresses, and we were truly happy. His attachment
was the quintessence of tenderness and sincerity, while his generosity
knew no bounds. Not contented with having paid twelve hundred pounds on
my account, in the space of one fortnight, he would have loaded me
with present after present, had I not absolutely refused to accept
such expensive marks of his munificence. I was even mortified at those
instances of his liberality, which my situation compelled me to receive,
lest, being but little acquainted with my disposition, he should suspect
me of being interested in my love, and judge my conduct by the malicious
reports of common fame, which, he afterwards owned, had at first
obtained such credit with him, that he believed our mutual attachment
would not be of long duration. But, in this particular, he was soon
undeceived. His heart, though naturally adapted for the melting passion,
had hitherto escaped untouched by all the ladies of Italy and France;
and, therefore, the first impressions were the more deeply fixed. As he
was unpractised in the ways of common gallantry and deceit, the striking
simplicity in his character was the more likely to engage the heart of
one who knew the perfidy of the world, and despised all the farce and
bombast of fashionable profession, which I had always considered as the
phrase of vanity and ostentation, rather than the genuine language
of love. Besides, gratitude had a considerable share in augmenting my
affection, which manifested itself in such a warm, cordial, artless
manner, as increased his esteem, and riveted his attachment; for he
could easily perceive, from the whole tenor of my conduct, that my
breast was an utter stranger to craft and dissimulation; yet I was at
first fearful of contracting any engagement with him, because, being
younger than me, he might be more apt to change, and the world might be
malicious enough to suppose I had practised upon his ine