thless, than, generally
considered, their system of life is: they ought to treat the men as
their tyrants, indeed! were they to condemn them to it.

But though, amongst the kept mistresses (and I was now acquainted with
a good many, besides some useful matrons, who live by their connexions
with them), I hardly knew one that did not perfectly detest their
keepers, and, of course, made little or no scruple of any infidelity
they could safely accomplish, I had still no notion of wronging mine:
for, besides that no mark of jealousy on his side started me the hint,
or gave me the provocation to play him a trick of that sort, and that
his constant generosity, politeness, and tender attention to please me,
forced a regard to him, that, without affecting my heart, insured him my
fidelity, no object had yet presented that could overcome the habitual
liking I had contracted for him and I was on the eve of obtaining, from
the movements of his own voluntary generosity, a modest provision for
life, when an accident happened which broke all the measures he had
resolved upon in my favour.

I had now lived near seven months with Mr. H.... when one day returning
to my lodgings, from a visit in the neighbourhood, where I used to stay
longer, I found the street door open, and the maid of the house standing
at it, talking with some of her acquaintance, so that I came in without
knocking and, as I passed by, she told me Mr. H.... was above. I slept
up stairs into my own bed-chamber, with no other thought than of pulling
off my hat etc., and then to wait upon him in the dining room, into
which my bed-chamber had a door, as is common enough. Whilst I was
untying my hat strings, I fancied I heard my maid Hannah's voice and a
sort of tustle, which raised my curiosity; I stole softly to the door,
where a knot in the wood had been slipped out, and afforded a very
commanding peep-hole to the scene then in agitation, the actors of which
had been to earnestly employed to hear my opening my own door, from the
landing place of the stairs, into my bedchamber.

The first sight that struck me was Mr. H.... pulling and hauling this
coarse country strammel towards a couch that stood in a corner of the
dining-room; to which the girl made only a sort of awkward holdening
resistance, crying out so loud, that I, who listened at the door, could
scarce hear her: "Pray Sir, don't.., let me alone... I am not for your
turn... You cannot, sure, demean yourself wit