roof, her immediate
notions, doubtless, were how she should make the most money of us, by
every means that money might be made, and which, she rightly judged, our
situations and inexperience would soon beget her occasions of.

In this hopeful sanctuary, and under the clutches of this harpy, did
we pitch our residence. It will not be might material to you, or very
pleasant to me, to enter into a detail of all the petty cut-throat ways
and means with which she used to fleece us; all which Charles indolently
chose to bear with, rather than take the trouble of removing, the
difference of expense being scarce attended to by a young gentleman who
had no ideas of stint, or even economy, and a raw country girl who knew
nothing of the matter.

Here, however, under the wings of my sovereignly beloved, did the most
delicious hours of my life flow on; my Charles I had, and, in him,
every thing my fond heart could wish or desire. He carried me to plays,
operas, masquerades, and every diversion of the town; all which pleased
me, indeed, but pleased me infinitely the more for his being with me,
and explaining every thing to me, and enjoying perhaps, the natural
impressions of surprise and admiration, which such sights, at the first,
never fail to excite in a country girl, new to the delights of them; but
to me, they sensibly proved the power and dominion of the sole passion
of my heart over me, a passion in which soul and body were concentered,
and left me no room for any other relish of life but love.

As to the men I saw at those places, or at any other, they suffered so
much in the comparison my eyes made of them with my all-perfect Adonis,
that I had not the infidelity even of one wandering thought to reproach
myself with upon his account. He was the universe to me, and all that
was not him, was nothing to me.

My love, in fine, was so excessive, that is arrived at annihilating
every suggestion or kindling spark of jealousy; for, one idea only,
tending that way, gave me such exquisite torment, that my self-love, and
dread of worse than death, made me for ever renounce and defy it: nor
had I, indeed, occasion; for, were I to enter here on the recital of
several instances wherein Charles sacrificed to me women of much greater
importance than I dare hint (which, considering his form, was no such
wonder), I might, indeed, give you full proof of his unshaken constancy
to me; but would not you accuse me of warming up against a feast,