he
gentleman, that I shall stay here only for two or three days at most,
till I receive an answer to a letter I have written into the country; and
rather than be your hindrance, I will take up with any apartment a pair
of stairs higher.

Not for the world!--Not for the world, young lady! cried I.--My wife, as
I love her, should lie in a garret, rather than put such a considerate
young lady, as you seem to be, to the least inconveniency.

She opened not the door yet; and I said, but since you have so much
goodness, Madam, if I could but just look into the closet as I stand, I
could tell my wife whether it is large enough to hold a cabinet she much
values, and ill have with her wherever she goes.

Then my charmer opened the door, and blazed upon me, as it were, in a
flood of light, like what one might imagine would strike a man, who, born
blind, had by some propitious power been blessed with his sight, all at
once, in a meridian sun.

Upon my soul, I never was so strangely affected before. I had much ado
to forbear discovering myself that instant: but, hesitatingly, and in
great disorder, I said, looking into the closet and around it, there is
room, I see, for my wife's cabinet; and it has many jewels in it of high
price; but, upon my soul, [for I could not forbear swearing, like a
puppy: habit is a cursed thing, Jack--] nothing so valuable as a lady I
see, can be brought into it.

She started, and looked at me with terror. The truth of the compliment,
as far as I know, had taken dissimulation from my accent.

I saw it was impossible to conceal myself longer from her, any more than
(from the violent impulses of my passion) to forbear manifesting myself.
I unbuttoned therefore my cape, I pulled off my flapt slouched hat; I
threw open my great coat, and, like the devil in Milton [an odd
comparison though!]--

I started up in my own form divine,
Touch'd by the beam of her celestial eye,
More potent than Ithuriel's spear!--

Now, Belford, for a similitude--now for a likeness to illustrate the
surprising scene, and the effect it had upon my charmer, and the
gentlewoman!--But nothing was like it, or equal to it. The plain fact
can only describe it, and set it off--thus then take it.

She no sooner saw who it was, than she gave three violent screams; and,
before I could catch her in my arms, (as I was about to do the moment I
discovered myself,) down she sunk at my feet in a fit; which made me
cu