My aunt, good
woman, favoured my timorousness, which she look'd on as
childish affection, that her own experience might probably
assure her would wear off in time, and gave my suitors
proper answers for me.
"The family had not been down at that seat for years,
so that it was neglected, and committed entirely to my aunt,
and two old domestics to take care of it. Thus I had the
full range of a spacious lonely house and gardens, situate
at about half a mile distance form any other habitation,
except, perhaps, a straggling cottage or so.
"Here, in tranquillity and innocence, I grew up with-
out any memorable accident, till one fatal day I had, as I
had often done before, left my aunt fast asleep, and secure
for some hours, after dinner; and resorting to a kind of
ancient summer-house, at some distance from the house, I
carried my work with me, and sat over a rivulet, which its
door and window fac'd upon. Here I fell into a gentle
breathing slumber, which stole upon my senses, as they
fainted under the excessive heat of the season at that hour;
a cane couch, with my work-basket for a pillow, were all
the conveniencies of my short repose; for I was soon awaked
and alarmed by a flounce, and the noise of splashing in the
water. I got up to see what was the matter; and what indeed
should it be but the son of a neighbouring gentleman, as I
afterwards found (for I had never seen him before), who had
strayed that way with his gun, and heated by his sport, and
the sultriness of the day, had been tempted by the freshness
of the clear stream; so that presently stripping, he jump'd
into it on the other side, which bordered on a wood, some
trees whereof, inclined down to the water, form'd a pleasing
shady recess, commodious to undress and leave his clothes
under.
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