independent
settlement, proceeding to heap marks of affection on me, he appointed
me, by an authentic will, his sole heiress and executrix: a disposition
which he did not outlive two months, being taken from me by a violent
cold that he contracted, as he unadvisedly ran to the window, on an
alarm of fire at some streets distant, and stood there naked-breasted,
and exposed to the fatal impressions of a damp night air.

After acquitting myself of the duty towards my deceased benefactor, and
paying him a tribute of un-feigned sorrow, which a little time changed
into a most tender, graceful memory of him, which I shall ever retain, I
grew somewhat comforted by the prospect that now opened to me, if not of
happiness, at least of affluence and independence.

I saw myself then in the full bloom and pride of youth (for I was not
yet nineteen), actually at the head of so large a fortune, as it would
have been even the height of impudence in me to have raised my wishes,
much more my hopes to; and that this unexpected elevation did not turn
my head, I owed to the pains my benefactor had taken to form and
prepare me for it, as I owed his opinion of my management of the vast
possessions he left me, to what he had observed of the prudential
economy I had learned under Mrs. Cole, the reserve of which he saw I had
made, was a proof and encouragement to him.

But, alas! how easily in the enjoyment of the greatest sweets in life,
in present possession, poisoned by the regret of an absent one! But my
regret was a mighty and just one, since it had my only truly beloved
Charles for its object.

Given him up I had, indeed, completely, having never once heard from
him since our separation; which, as I found afterwards, had been my
misfortune, and not his neglect, for he wrote me several letters which
had all miscarried; but forgotten him I never had. And amidst all my
personal infidelities, not one had made a pin's point impression on a
heart impenetrable to the true love passion, but for him.

As soon, however, as I was mistress of this unexpected fortune, I felt
more than ever how dear he was to me, from its insufficiency to make
me happy, whilst he was not to share it with me. My earliest care,
consequently, was to endeavour at getting some account of him; but all
my researches produced me no more light, than that his father had been
dead for some time, not so well as even with the world; and that Charles
had reached his port of desti