inconsiderate girl in England have done worse than I shall appear to have
done in the eye of the world? Since my crime will be known without the
provocations, and without the artifices of the betrayer too; while it
will be a high aggravation, that better things were expected from me than
from many others.

You charge me to marry the first opportunity--Ah! my dear! another of the
blessed effects of my folly--That's as much in my power now as--as I am
myself!--And can I besides give a sanction immediately to his deluding
arts?--Can I avoid being angry with him for tricking me thus, as I may
say, (and as I have called it to him,) out of myself?--For compelling me
to take a step so contrary to all my resolutions and assurances given to
you; a step so dreadfully inconvenient to myself; so disgraceful and so
grievous (as it must be) to my dear mother, were I to be less regardful
of any other of my family or friends?--You don't know, nor can you
imagine, my dear, how I am mortified!--How much I am sunk in my own
opinion! I, that was proposed for an example, truly, to others!--O that
I were again in my father's house, stealing down with a letter to you;
my heart beating with expectation of finding one from you!


***


This is the Wednesday morning I dreaded so much, that I once thought of
it as the day of my doom: but of the Monday, it is plain, I ought to have
been most apprehensive. Had I staid, and had the worst I dreaded
happened, my friends would then have been answerable for the
consequences, if any bad ones had followed:--but now, I have only this
consolation left me (a very poor one, you'll say!) that I have cleared