But, in this particular, he was soon undeceived.
His heart, though naturally adapted for the melting passion, had
hitherto escaped untouched by all the ladies of Italy and France;
and, therefore, the first impressions were the more deeply fixed.
As he was unpractised in the ways of common gallantry and deceit,
the striking simplicity in his character was the more likely
to engage the heart of one who knew the perfidy of the world, and
despised all the farce and bombast of fashionable profession, which
I had always considered as the phrase of vanity and ostentation,
rather than the genuine language of love. Besides, gratitude had
a considerable share in augmenting my affection, which manifested
itself in such a warm, cordial, artless manner, as increased his
esteem, and riveted his attachment; for he could easily perceive,
from the whole tenor of my conduct, that my breast was an utter
stranger to craft and dissimulation; yet I was at first fearful of
contracting any engagement with him, because, being younger than
me, he might be more apt to change, and the world might be malicious
enough to suppose I had practised upon his inexperience; but,
conscious of my own integrity, I set slander at defiance, trusting
to my own behaviour, and his natural probity, for the continuance
of his love.
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