thought of any thing, but to preserve my innocence, much less of love.

But, tell me truly, said she, did you not love him all the time? I had
always, madam, answered I, a great reverence for my master, and thought
all his good actions doubly good and for his naughty ones, though I
abhorred his attempts upon me, yet I could not hate him; and always
wished him well; but I did not know that it was love. Indeed I had not
the presumption.

Sweet girl! said she; that's prettily said: But when he found he could
not gain his ends, and began to be sorry for your sufferings, and to
admire your virtue, and to profess honourable love to you, what did you
think?

Think! Indeed, madam, I did not know what to think! could neither hope
nor believe so great an honour would fall to my lot, and feared more
from his kindness, for some time, than I had done from his unkindness:
And, having had a private intimation, from a kind friend, of a sham
marriage, intended by means of a man who was to personate a minister, it
kept my mind in too much suspense, to be greatly overjoyed at his kind
declaration.

Said she, I think he did make two or three attempts upon you in
Bedfordshire? Yes, madam, said I; he was very naughty, to be sure.

And here he proposed articles to you, I understand? Yes, madam, replied
I; but I abhorred so much the thoughts of being a kept creature, that
I rejected them with great boldness; and was resolved to die before I
would consent to them.

He afterwards attempted you, I think: Did he not? O yes, madam, said I,
a most sad attempt he made! and I had like to have been lost; for
Mrs. Jewkes was not so good as she should have been. And so I told
her ladyship that sad affair, and how I fell into fits; and that they
believing me dying, forbore.--Any attempts after this base one? she
said.

He was not so good as he should have been, returned I, once in the
garden, afterwards; but I was so watchful, and so ready to take the
alarm!

But, said she, did he not threaten you, at times, and put on his stern
airs, every now and then?--Threaten, madam, replied I; yes, I had enough
of that! I thought I should have died for fear several times.--How could
you bear that? said she: for he is a most daring and majestic mortal! He
has none of your puny hearts, but is as courageous as a lion; and, boy
and man, never feared any thing. I myself, said she, have a pretty good
spirit; but, when I have made him truly angry, I have always b