lay in the same
direction. Fuseli, as well as Mary, translated for Johnson, and
contributed to the "Analytical Review." He was an intimate friend of
Lavater, whose work on Physiognomy Mary had translated with the liveliest
interest. There was thus a strong bond of sympathy between them, and many
ways in which they could help and consult with each other in their
literary tasks. Mary was devoid of the coquetry which is so strong with
some women that they carry it even into their friendships. She never
attempted to conceal her liking for Fuseli. His sex was no drawback. Why
should it be? It had not interfered with her warm feelings for George
Blood and Mr. Johnson. She was the last person in the world to be
deterred from what she thought was right for the sake of appearances.

However, another construction was given to her friendly demonstrations.
The story told both by Knowles, the biographer of Fuseli, and by Godwin,
is that Mary was in love with the artist; and that the necessity of
suppressing, even if she could not destroy, her passion--hopeless since
its object was a married man--was the immediate reason of her going to
France alone. But they interpret the circumstances very differently. The
incidents, as given by Godwin, are in nowise to Mary's discredit, though
his account of them was later twisted and distorted by Dr. Beloe in his
"Sexagenarian." The latter, however, is so prejudiced a writer that his
words have but little value. Godwin, in his Memoirs, after demonstrating
the strength of the intimacy between Mary and Fuseli, says:--

"Notwithstanding the inequality of their years, Mary was not of a
temper to live upon terms of so much intimacy with a man of merit
and genius without loving him. The delight she enjoyed in his
society, she transferred by association to his person. What she
experienced in this respect was no doubt heightened by the state of
celibacy and restraint in which she had hitherto lived, and to
which the rules of polished society condemn an unmarried woman. She
conceived a personal and ardent affection for him. Mr. Fuseli was a
married man, and his wife the acquaintance of Mary. She readily
perceived the restrictions which this circumstance seemed to impose
upon her; but she made light of any difficulty that might arise out
of them. Not that she was insensible to the value of domestic
endearments between persons of an opposite s