much beneath him but, I dare swear for him, he never will offer you any
force.

You say, said I, that he was sorry for his first offer in the
summer-house. Well, and how long did his sorrow last?--Only till he
found me by myself; and then he was worse than before: and so became
sorry again. And if he has deigned to love me, and you say can't help
it, why, he can't help it neither, if he should have an opportunity,
a third time to distress me. And I have read that many a man has been
ashamed of his wicked attempts, when he has been repulsed, that would
never have been ashamed of them, had he succeeded. Besides, Mrs. Jervis,
if he really intends to offer no force, What does that mean?--While you
say he can't help liking me, for love it cannot be--Does it not imply
that he hopes to ruin me by my own consent? I think, said I, (and hope
I should have grace to do so,) that I should not give way to his
temptations on any account; but it would be very presumptuous in me to
rely upon my own strength against a gentleman of his qualifications and
estate, and who is my waster; and thinks himself entitled to call me
bold-face, and what not? only for standing on my necessary defence: and
that, too, where the good of my soul and body, and my duty to God, and
my parents, are all concerned. How then, Mrs. Jervis, said I, can I ask
or wish to stay?

Well, well, says she; as he seems very desirous you should not stay, I
hope it is from a good motive; for fear he should be tempted to disgrace
himself as well as you. No, no, Mrs. Jervis, said I; I have thought
of that too; for I would be glad to consider him with that duty that
becomes me: but then he would have let me go to Lady Davers, and not
have hindered my preferment: and he would not have said, I should return
to my poverty and distress, when, by his mother's goodness, I had been
lifted out of it; but that he intended to fright me, and punish me, as
he thought, for not complying with his wickedness: And this shews me
well enough what I have to expect from his future goodness, except I
will deserve it at his own dear price.

She was silent; and I added, Well, there's no more to be said; I must
go, that's certain: All my concern will be how to part with you: and,
indeed, after you, with every body; for all my fellow-servants have
loved me, and you and they will cost me a sigh, and a tear too, now and
then, I am sure. And so I fell a crying: I could not help it. For it
is a pleasan