Amelia -- Volume 1

f Miss Matthe

rally observed; and my poor father, who, I believe, loved the cornet as if he had been his son, began to jest

all the while bleeding for another woman, to whom he would willingly sacrifice the world; but, because he must sacrifice her interest as well as his own, never durst even give her a hint of that passion which was preying on his very vitals? 'Do you believe, Miss Fanny, there is such a wretch on earth?' I answered, with an assumed coldness, I did not believe there was. He then took me gently by the hand, and, with a look so tender that I cannot describe it, vowed he was himself th

riumph over the widow, for whom I had in a very short time contracted a most inveterate hatred, was a pride not to be described. Hebbers appeared to me to be the cause of all t

addresses to the widow, who was now a constant jest between us; and he pretended from time to time to acquaint me faithfully with everything that past at his interviews with her; nor was this faithle

ry, had great difficulty to refrain from laughter; but, by good luck,

g tedious; for, as to the commerce between lovers, it is, I believe, much the same in all cases;

never once solicited a day for that purpose. Indeed, women cannot be cautioned too much against such lovers; for though I have heard, and perhaps truly, of some of our sex, of a virtue so exalted, that it is proof against every temptation; yet the generality, I am

me to remark to you what past on that occasion? But why do I mention modesty, who have no pretensions to it? Everything was said and practised on that occasion, as if the purpose had been to inflame the mind of every woman present. That effect, I freely own to yo

ry unusual thing with him, grew intoxicated with liquor; most of the men were in the same condition; nay, I myself drank more than I was accustomed to, enough to inflam

g to every woman to keep her innocence, to resist every temptation, since she is certain to repent of the foolish bargain. May it be a warning to her to deal with mankind with care and caution; to shun the least approaches of dishonour, and n

ese exhortations, since no woman hears me; but you wi

sed at her being able so well to prese

e, since I die revenged. I am not one of those mean wretches who can sit down and lament the

me to time, he would mention it to my father; and still excusing himself for not doing it. At last he thought on an expedient to obtain a longer reprieve. This

paint my sensations, when one morning he came into my room, with all the marks of dejection in his countenance, and, throwing an open letter o

d, and that they were to march within two days. And this, I am since convinced, was what he e

of a villain whom I loved. However, I soon acquired sufficient presence of mind to remember the main point

to your father?'-My eyes were now opened all at once-I fell into a rage little short of madness. Tell not me, I cried, of impossibilities, nor times, nor of my father--my honour, my reputation, my all are at stake.-I will have no excuse, no delay-make me your wife this instant, or I will proclaim you over the face of the whole ear

on.-I must stop a moment. I can go no farther." Booth attempted all in his powe