nted to know concerning me.

I was prodigiously surprized when I came home and found the Cabinet,
which my woman imagined I had won by its being brought thither. It was
indeed a piece of gallantry I had no reason to expect from one so
perfect a stranger to me; and this, joined with the many complaisant
things he said to me at mrs. C--rt-f--r's, flattered my vanity enough to
make me think he was no less charmed with me than I too plainly found I
was with him. I slept little that night, and pretty early the next
morning received a billet from him to this effect:

MADAM,

'I thought the cabinet we raffled for was more
properly the furniture of a lady's closet than
mine, especially one who must daily receive a
great number of such epistles as it was doubtless
intended by the maker to contain: happy should
I think myself if any thing of mine might find
room among those which, for their wit and elegance,
may be more worthy of preferring, tho'
none can be for their sincerity more so than those
which are dictated by the eternally devoted heart of

HENRICUS.'

You cannot imagine, my dear Louisa, how delighted I was with these few
lines; I enclosed them indeed in the cabinet given me by the author of
them, but laid up their meaning in my heart:--I was quite alert the
whole day, but infinitely more so, when in the evening my admired
Henricus made me a visit introduced by lord H----, who had been one of
my late husband's particular friends, and had ever kept a good
correspondence with me.

Henricus took, not the least notice either of the cabinet or letter
before him; and as I imagined he had his reasons for it, I too was
silent on that head; he took the opportunity, however, while lord H----
was speaking to a young lady who happened to be with me, to ask
permission to wait on me with the hope of being received on his own
score as he was now on that of his friend. I told him that merit, such
as his, was sufficient to recommend him any where; and, besides, I had
an obligation to him which I ought to acknowledge. This was all either
of us had time to say; but it was enough to make me convinced he desired
a more particular conversation, and him, that it would not be
unwelcome to me.

Thus began an acquaintance equally fatal to my peace of mind and
reputation; and having said that, it would be needless to repeat the
circumstances of it, therefore shall only tell you I was so infatuated
with my passion, that I never gave mys