For Mrs.
Cole had, I do not know how unless by one of those unaccount-
able invincible sympathies that, nevertheless, form the
strongest links, especially of female friendship, won and
got entire possession of me. On her side, she pretended
that a strict resemblance she fancied she saw in me to an
only daughter whom she had lost at my age, was the first
motive of her taking to me so affectionately as she did. It
might be so: there exist as slender motives of attachment
that, gathering force from habit and liking, have proved
often more solid and durable than those founded on much
stronger reasons; but this I know, that tho' I had no other
acquaintance with her than seeing her at my lodgings when I
lived with Mr. H . . ., where she had made errands to sell
me some millinery ware, she had by degrees insinuated her-
self so far into my confidence that I threw myself blindly
into her hands, and came, at length, to regard, love, and
obey her implicitly; and, to do her justice, I never experi-
enc'd at her hands other than a sincerity of tenderness, and
care for my interest, hardly heard of in those of her pro-
fession. We parted that night, after having settled a per-
fect unreserv'd agreement; and the next morning Mrs. Cole
came, and took me with her to her house for the first time.
Here, at the first sight of things, I found everything
breath'd an air of decency, modesty and order.
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