said, had certainly ends to answer in keeping open the breach; and as
certainly had formed a design to get his sister out of my hands.
Wherefore it as much imported his worthy friend to keep this treaty as
secret, as it did me; at least till he had formed his party, and taken
his measures. Ill will and passion were dreadful misrepresenters. It
was amazing to him, that animosity could be carried so high against a man
capable of views so pacific and so honourable, and who had shown such a
command of his temper, in this whole transaction, as I had done.
Generosity, indeed, in every case, where love of stratagem and intrigue
(I would excuse him) were not concerned, was a part of my character.

He was proceeding, when, breakfast being ready, in came the empress of my
heart, irradiating all around her, as with a glory--a benignity and
graciousness in her aspect, that, though natural to it, had been long
banished from it.

Next to prostration lowly bowed the Captain. O how the sweet creature
smiled her approbation of him! Reverence from one begets reverence from
another. Men are more of monkeys in imitation than they think
themselves.--Involuntarily, in a manner, I bent my knee--My dearest
life--and made a very fine speech on presenting the Captain to her. No
title myself, to her lip or cheek, 'tis well he attempted not either. He
was indeed ready to worship her;--could only touch her charming hand.

I have told the Captain, my dear creature--and then I briefly repeated
(as if I had supposed she had not heard it) all I had told him.

He was astonished, that any body could be displeased one moment with such
an angel. He undertook her cause as the highest degree of merit to
himself.