I told him then, in a tone set me by love itself, that
for reasons I had not time to explain to him, I could not
stay with him, and might not even ever see him again: with
a sigh at these last words, which broke from the bottom of
my heart. My conqueror, who, as he afterwards told me, had
been struck with my appearance, and lik'd me as much as he
could think of liking any one in my suppos'd way of life,
ask'd me briskly at once if I would be kept by him, and that
he would take a lodging for me directly, and relieve me from
any engagements he presum'd I might be under to the house.
Rash, sudden, undigested, and even dangerous as this offer
might be from a perfect stranger, and that stranger a giddy
boy, the prodigious love I was struck with for him had put a
charm into his voice there was no resisting, and blinded me
to every objection; I could, at that instant, have died for
him: think if I could resist an invitation to live with him!
Thus my heart, beating strong to the proposal, dictated my
answer, after scarce a minute's pause, that I would accept
of his offer, and make my escape to him in what way he
pleased, and that I would be entirely at his disposal, let
it be good or bad. I have often since wondered that so
great an easiness did not disgust him, or make me too cheap
in his eyes, but my fate had so appointed it, that in his
fears of the hazard of the town, he had been some time
looking out for a girl to take into keeping, and my person
happening to hit his fancy, it was by one of those miracles
reserved to love that we struck the bargain in the instant,
which we sealed by an exchange of kisses, that the hopes of
a more uninterrupted enjoyment engaged him to content him-
self with.
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