ust never expect any Return; she had
gather'd from her Sister's Discourse, that she was her Rival; a Rival,
who had the Precedency in Age, as the Advantage in Wit, and Intreague,
which want of Speech render'd her uncapable of; these Reflections, as
they drew her farther from the dear Object, brought her nearer Despair;
her Sister was gone that Morning with her Unkle, the Admiral, about two
Miles from _Venice_, to drink some Mineral Waters, and _Maria_ finding
nothing to divert her, goes down to her Father's Library, to ease her
Melancholy by reading. She was in the same loose Habit in which she
appeared at the Window, her Distraction of Thought not permitting her
any Care in dressing herself; she enter'd whilst _Dangerfield's_
Thoughts were bent by a full Contemplation of her Idea, insomuch that
his Surprize represented her as a Phantom only, created by the Strength
of his Fancy; her depth of Thought had cast down her Eyes in a fix'd
Posture so low, that she discover'd not _Dangerfield_, till she stood
close where he sat, but then so sudden an Appearance of what she so
lov'd, struck so violently on her Spirits, that she fell in a Swoon, and
fell directly into _Dangerfield's_ Arms; this soon wakened him from his
Dream of Happiness, to a Reality of Bliss, he found his Phantom turn'd
into the most charming Piece of Flesh and Blood that ever was, he found
her, whom just now he despair'd of seeing; he found her with all her
Beauties flowing loose in his Arms, the Greatness of the Pleasure rais'd
by the two heightning Circumstances of Unexpectancy and Surprize, was
too large for the Capacity of his Soul, he found himself beyond
Expression happy, but could not digest the Surfeit; he had no sooner
Leisure to consider on his Joy, but he must reflect on the Danger of her
that caus'd it, which forced him to suspend his Happiness to administer
some Relief to her expiring Senses: He had a Bottle of excellent Spirits
in his Pocket, which holding to her Nose, soon recover'd her; she
finding herself in the Arms of a Man, and in so loose a Dress, blush'd
now more red, than she look'd lately pale; and disengaging herself in a
Confusion, wou'd have flung from him; but he gently detaining her by a
precarious Hold, threw himself on his Knees, and with the greatest
Fervency of Passion cry'd out: 'For Heavens sake, dearest Creature, be
not offended at the accidental Blessing which Fortune, not Design, hath
cast upon me; (She wou'd have rais'd h