per, with frenzied triumph
gleaming in his eyes. I never saw anybody look so fearful as he did
then; his form quivered with intense excitement--his features appeared
as if convulsed--his eyes, almost starting from their sockets, were
blood shot and fiery. I trembled, lest in the madness of his passions,
he might forcibly overcome me. He anticipated no resistance, imagining
that he had an easy prey; but, at that very instant when he thought he
was about to intoxicate his vile soul with the delicious draught of
sensual delight, I spurned him from me as I would have spurned the most
loathsome reptile that crawls amid the foetid horrors of a dungeon
vault.--That was the moment of my triumph; I had led him step by step,
until he felt assured of his ultimate success: I had permitted him to
obtain, as it were, glimpses of a Paradise he was never to enjoy; and at
the very moment he thought to have crossed the golden threshold, to
enter into the blissful and flowery precincts of that Paradise, he was
hurled from the pinnacle of his hopes, and doomed to endure the bitter
pangs of disappointment, and the gnawings of a raging desire, never to
be appeased!

'Thus repulsed, my reverend admirer did not resume his attempt, for my
indignation was aroused, and he saw fierce anger flashing from my eyes.
I solemnly declared, that had he attempted forcibly to accomplish his
purpose, I would have dashed out his brains with the first weapon I
could have laid my hand to!

'Humbled and abashed, he retired to a corner of the room, where he
seated himself with an air of mortified disappointment. Yet still he
kept his eyes upon me; and as I knew that his desires were raging as
violently within him as ever (tho' he dare not approach me,) I devised
the following method of augmenting his passions, and inflicting further
torture upon him:--In my struggle with him, my dress had become somewhat
disarranged and torn; and standing before a large mirror which was
placed over the mantle-piece, I loosened my garments, and while
pretending to examine the injury which had been done to them, I took
especial pains to remove all covering from my neck, shoulders and bosom,
which were uncommonly soft and white, as you, my dear, can testify. The
sight of my naked charms instantly produced the desired effect upon the
minister, who watched my slightest movement with eager scrutiny: he
ceased almost to breathe, but panted--yes, absolutely _panted_--with the
intensity