Thus concurring, even precipitately,
to the point she wanted him at, Mrs. Cole brought him at last
to hug himself on the cheap bargain he consider'd the pur-
chase of my imaginary jewel was to him, at no more than three
hundred guineas to myself, and a hundred to the brokeress:
being a slender recompense for all her pains, and all the
scruples of conscience she had now sacrificed to him for this
the first time of her life; which sums were to be paid down
on the nail, upon livery of my person, exclusive of some no
inconsiderable presents that had been made in the course of
the negotiation: during which I had occasionally, but spar-
ingly been introduc'd inbto his company, at proper times and
hours; in which it is incredible how little it seem'd neces-
sary to strain my natural disposition to modesty higher, in
order to pass it upon him for that of a very maid: all my
looks and gestures ever breathing nothing but that innocence
which the men so ardently require in us, for no other end
than to feast themselves with the pleasures of destroying it,
and which they are so grievously, with all their skill, sub-
ject to mistakes in.
When the articles of the treaty had been fully agreed
on, the stipulated payments duly secur'd, and nothing now
remained but the execution of the main point, which center'd
in the surrender of my person up to his free disposal and
use, Mrs.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219