She Is Therefore Requested To
Conceal Herself No Longer, Lest Her Youth, Beauty,
And Inexperience Of The Town Should Betray Her
Innocence Into Those Very Snares She Fears To Fall
Into.'
The very beginning of this paragraph gave her a conjecture it was meant
for no other than herself; and the more she read, the more she grew
convinced, of it.
- It must be so, cryed she; every word, - every
circumstance confirms it. - How unhappy am I that I cannot return so
perfect an affection! - Instead of detesting my ingratitude, he only
fears I should receive the punishment of it. - What man but Dorilaus
would behave thus to the creature of his benevolence? - If I have any
merits, do not I owe them to his goodness? - My brother and myself, two
poor exposed and wretched foundlings, what but his bounty rear'd us to
what we are? - Hard fate! - unlucky passion that drives me from his
presence and protection.
Yet, would she say again, if he has indeed subdued that passion; - if he
resolves to think of me as before he entertained it; if I were certain
he would receive me as a child, how great would be, the blessing!
This confederation had so much effect on her, that she was half
determined to comply with the advertisement; but when she remembered to
have read that where love is sincere and violent, it requires a length
of time to be erased, and that those possessed of it are incapable of
knowing even their own strength, and, as he had said to her himself,
that there was no answering for the consequences, she grew instantly
of another mind, and thought that putting herself again into the power
of such a passion was running too great a hazard.
The continual agitations of her mind, joined to want of air, a quite
different way of life, and perhaps fitting more closely to work than she
had been accustomed, threw her at length into a kind of languishing
indisposition, which, tho' it did not confine her to her bed, occasioned
a loss of appetite, and frequent faintings, which were very alarming to
her. Mrs. C - - ge was extremely concerned to observe this change in her,
and would have the opinion of her own physician, who said that she had
symptoms of an approaching consumption, and that it was absolutely
necessary she should be removed into the country for some time.
Louisa readily complied with this advice, not only because she imagined
it might be of service for the recovery of her health, but also as it
furnished her with a pretence for leaving mrs. C - - ge's house, to which
she was determined to return no more as a boarder. The good woman with
whom she had lodged at first recommended her to a friend of her's at
Windsor, where she immediately went, and was very kindly received.
CHAP. IV.
Louisa becomes acquainted with a lady of quality, part of whose
adventures are also related, and goes to travel with her.
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