ngs in
town; but he did not offer to propose them. He knew, I would have more
objections to go to them, than I could to go to Lord M.'s, or to Lady
Betty's.

No doubt of it, I replied, with such an indignation in my manner, as
made him run over with professions, that he was far from proposing them,
or wishing for my acceptance of them. And again he repeated, that my
honour and safety were all he was solicitous about; assuring me, that my
will should be a law to him in every particular.

I was too peevish, and too much afflicted, and indeed too much incensed
against him, to take well any thing he said.

I thought myself, I said, extremely unhappy. I knew not what to
determine upon: my reputation now, no doubt, utterly ruined: destitute
of clothes: unfit to be seen by any body: my very indigence, as I might
call it, proclaiming my folly to every one who saw me; who would suppose
that I had been taken at advantage, or had given an undue one; and had
no power over either my will or my actions: that I could not but think I
had been dealt artfully with: that he had seemed to have taken, what he
might suppose, the just measure of my weakness, founded on my youth and
inexperience: that I could not forgive myself for meeting him: that my
heart bled for the distresses of my father and mother, on this occasion:
that I would give the world, and all my hopes in it, to have been still
in my father's house, whatever had been my usage: that, let him protest
and vow what he would, I saw something low and selfish in his love, that
he could study to put a young creature upon making such a sacrifice of
her duty and conscience: when a person, actuated by a generous love,
must seek to oblige the object of it, in every thing essential to her
honour, and to her peace of mind.

He was very attentive to all I said, never offering to interrupt me
once. His answer to every article, almost methodically, shewed his
memory.

'What I had said, he told me, made him very grave; and he would answer
accordingly.

'He was grieved at his heart, to find that he had so little share in my
favour or confidence.

'As to my reputation, (he must be very sincere with me,) that could not
suffer half so much by the step I so regretted to have taken, as by the
confinement, and equally foolish and unjust treatment, I had met with
from my relations: that every mouth was full of blame of them, of my
brother and sister particularly; and of wonder at my patience: