ted
by the articles of her marriage-vow.

This explanation produced such a violent effect upon her admirer, that
he was for some minutes deprived of the faculty of speech; which he no
sooner recovered, than he gave vent to the most unbridled transports of
passion. He taxed her with barbarity and indifference; told her, that
she had robbed him of his reason and internal peace; that he would
follow her to the ends of the earth, and cease to live sooner than cease
to love her; that he would sacrifice the innocent fool who had been the
occasion of all this disquiet, and murder every man whom he considered
as an obstruction to his views. In a word, his passions, which had
continued so long in a state of the highest fermentation, together with
the want of that repose which calms and quiets the perturbation of the
spirits, had wrought him up to a pitch of real distraction. While he
uttered these delirious expressions, the tears ran down his cheeks; and
he underwent such agitation that the tender heart of the fair Fleming
was affected with his condition: and, while her own face was bedewed
with the streams of sympathy, she begged him, for Heaven's sake, to be
composed; and promised, for his satisfaction, to abate somewhat of the
rigour of her purpose. Consoled by this kind declaration, he recollected
himself; and, taking out his pencil, gave her his address, when she had
assured him, that he should hear from her in four-and-twenty hours, at
farthest, after their separation.

Thus soothed, he regained the empire of himself, and, by degrees,
recovered his serenity. But this was not the case with his Amanda, who,
from this sample of his disposition, dreaded the impetuosity of his
youth, and was effectually deterred from entering into any engagements
that might subject her peace and reputation to the rash effects of
such a violent spirit. Though she was captivated by his person and
accomplishments, she had reflection enough to foresee, that the longer
she countenanced his passion, her own heart would be more and more
irretrievably engaged, and the quiet of her life the more exposed to
continual interruption. She therefore profited by these considerations,
and a sense of religious honour, which helped her to withstand the
suggestions of inclination; and resolved to amuse her lover with
false hopes, until she should have it in her power to relinquish his
conversation, without running any risk of suffering by the inconsiderate
salli