For my own part, I look upon him as utterly incorrigible;
and, as fate has subjected me to his power, endeavour to make the
bitter draught go down, by detaching myself as much as possible
from the supposition that there is any such existence upon earth.
Indeed, if I had not fatal experience to the contrary, I should be
apt to believe that such a character is not to be found among the
sons of men; because his conduct is altogether unaccountable by
the known rules and maxims of life, and falls entirely under the
poet's observation, when he says,
"'Tis true, no meaning puzzles more than wit."
Her ladyship having thus concluded her story, to the entertainment
of the company, and the admiration of Peregrine, who expressed his
astonishment at the variety of adventures she had undergone, which
was such as he thought sufficient to destroy the most hardy and
robust constitution, and therefore infinitely more than enough to
overwhelm one of her delicate frame; one of the gentlemen present
roundly taxed her with want of candour, in suppressing some circumstances
of her life, which he thought essential in the consideration of
her character.
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