once more upon society, she was unfit to sustain
the conflict of decorum against depravity. Her master, her patron, her
preserver, was dead; and hardly as she had earned the pittance she
received from him, she found that it surpassed her power to obtain the
like again. Her doubtful character, her capacious mind, her unmethodical
manners, were still badly suited to the nice precision of a country
housewife; and as the prudent mistress of a family sneered at her
pretensions, she, in her turn, scorned the narrow-minded mistress of a
family.

In her inquiries how to gain her bread free from the cutting reproaches
of discretion, she was informed "that London was the only private corner,
where guilt could be secreted undisturbed; and the only public place
where, in open day, it might triumphantly stalk, attended by a chain of
audacious admirers."

There was a charm to the ear of Agnes in the name of London, which
thrilled through her soul. William lived in London; and she thought
that, while she retired to some dark cellar with her offences, he
probably would ride in state with his, and she at humble distance might
sometimes catch a glance at him.

As difficult as to eradicate insanity from a mind once possessed, so
difficult it is to erase from the lover's breast the deep impression of a
_real_ affection. Coercion may prevail for a short interval, still love
will rage again. Not all the ignominy which Agnes experienced in the
place where she now was without a home--not the hunger which she at times
suffered, and even at times saw her child endure--not every inducement
for going to London, or motive for quitting her present desolate station,
had the weight to affect her choice so much as--in London, she should
live nearer William; in the present spot she could never hope to see him
again, but there she might chance to pass him in the streets; she might
pass his house every day unobserved--might inquire about him of his
inferior neighbours, who would be unsuspicious of the cause of her
curiosity. For these gratifications, she should imbibe new fortitude;
for these she could bear all hardships which London threatened; and for
these, she at length undertook a three weeks' journey to that perilous
town on foot, cheering, as she walked along, her innocent and wearied
companion.

William--in your luxurious dwelling, possessed of coffers filled with
gold, relations, friends, clients, joyful around you, delicious viands
an