again, without opening the door, upon my earnest expostulations.

What can you mean, Mr. Lovelace?--said I--Would you thus expose yourself?
Would you thus expose me?--Is this your generosity? Is every body to
take advantage thus of the weakness of my temper?

And I wept. I could not help it.

He threw himself upon his knees at my feet--Who can bear, said he, [with
an ardour that could not be feigned, his own eyes glistening,] who can
bear to behold such sweet emotion?--O charmer of my heart, [and,
respectfully still kneeling, he took my hand with both his, pressing it
to his lips,] command me with you, command me from you; in every way I am
implicit to obedience--but I appeal to all you know of your relations'
cruelty to you, their determined malice against me, and as determined
favour to the man you tell me you hate, (and, O Madam, if you did not
hate him, I should hardly think there would be a merit in your
approbation, place it where you would)--I appeal to every thing you know,
to all you have suffered, whether you have not reason to be apprehensive
of that Wednesday, which is my terror!--whether you can possibly have
another opportunity--the chariot ready: my friends with impatience
expecting the result of your own appointment: a man whose will shall be
entirely your will, imploring you, thus, on his knees, imploring you--
to be your own mistress; that is all: nor will I ask for your favour, but
as upon full proof I shall appear to deserve it. Fortune, alliance,
unobjectionable!--O my beloved creature! pressing my hand once more to
his lips, let not such an opportunity slip. You never, never will have
such another.

I bid him rise. He arose; and I told him, that were I not thus