She smiled with unspeakable sweetness, and said there
would be no want of opportunities, provided I could maintain the
good opinion her brother had conceived of me, and I, enchanted by
her charms, seized her hand, which I well nigh devoured with kisses.
But she checked my boldness with a severity of countenance, and
desired I would not so far forget myself to her, as to endanger the
esteem she had for me; she reminded me of our being almost strangers
to each other, and of the necessity there was for her knowing me
better, before she could take any resolution in my favour; and, in
short, mingled so much good sense and complacency in her reproof,
that I became as much enamoured of her understanding as I had been
before of her beauty, and asked pardon for my presumption with
the utmost reverence of conviction. She forgave my offence with
her usual affability, and sealed my pardon with a look so full of
bewitching tenderness, that, for some minutes, my senses were lost
in ecstacy! I afterwards endeavoured to regulate my behaviour according
to her desire, and turn the conversation upon a more indifferent
subject; but her presence was an insurmountable obstacle to my
design; while I beheld so much excellence, I found it impossible
to call my attention from the contemplation of it! I gazed with
unutterable fondness! I grew mad with admiration! "My condition is
insupportable!" cried I: "I am distracted with passion! Why are
you so exquisitely fair?--why are you so enchantingly good?--why
has nature dignified you with charms so much above the standard of
woman? and, wretch that I am, how dare my unworthiness aspire to
the enjoyment of such perfection!"
She was startled at my ravings, reasoned down my transport, and by
her irresistible eloquence, soothed my soul into a state of tranquil
felicity; but, lest I might suffer a relapse, industriously promoted
other subjects to entertain my imagination.
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