"Here, according to the rule laid down, I should stop;
but I am so much in motion, that I could not if I would. I
shall only add, however, that I got home without the least
discovery, or suspicion of what had happened. I met my
young ravisher several times after, whom I now passionately
lov'd and who, tho' not of age to claim a small but indepen-
dent fortune, would have married me; but as the accidents
that prevented it, and their consequences which threw me on
the publick, contain matters too moving and serious to in-
troduce at present, I cut short here."
Louisa, the brunette whom I mentioned at first, now
took her turn to treat the company with her history. I have
already hinted to you the graces of her person, than which
nothing could be more exquisitely touching; I repeat touch-
ing, as a just distinction from striking, which is ever a
less lasting effect, and more generally belongs to the fair
complexions: but leaving that decision to every one's taste,
I proceed to give you Louisa's narrative as follows:
"According to practical maxims of life, I ought to
boast of my birth, since I owe it to pure love, without
marriage; but this I know, it was scarce possible to inherit
a stronger propensity to that cause of my being than I did.
I was the rare production of the first essay of a journeyman
cabinet-maker on his master's maid: the consequence of which
was a big belly, and the loss of a place.
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