Your deportment to me ought chiefly to govern my opinion of you; and
have you not been uniformly generous, sincere, and upright?--not quite
passionate enough, perhaps; no blind and precipitate enthusiast. Love has
not banished discretion, or blindfolded your sagacity; and, as I should
forgive a thousand errors on the score of love, I cannot fervently applaud
that wisdom which tramples upon love. Thou hast a thousand excellent
qualities, Henry; that is certain: yet a little more impetuosity and
fervour in thy tenderness would compensate for the want of the whole
thousand. _There_ is a frank confession for thee! I am confounded at
my own temerity in making it. Will it not injure me in thy esteem? and, of
all evils which it is possible for me to suffer, the loss of _that_
esteem would soonest drive me to desperation.

The world has been liberal of its censure, but surely a thorough
knowledge of my conduct could not condemn me. When my father and mother
united their entreaties to those of Talbot, my heart had never known a
preference. The man of their choice was perfectly indifferent to me, but
every individual of his sex was regarded with no less indifference. I did
not conceal from him the state of my feelings, but was always perfectly
ingenuous and explicit. Talbot acted like every man in love. He was eager
to secure me on these terms, and fondly trusted to his tenderness and
perseverance to gain those affections which I truly acknowledged to be
free. He would not leave me for his European voyage till he had extorted a
solemn promise.

During his absence I met you. The nature of those throbs, which a
glance of your very shadow was sure to produce, even previous to the
exchange of a single word between us, was entirely unknown to me. I had no
experience to guide me. The effects of that intercourse which I took such