- patience. Her passion, increased by renewed
indulgence, now knew no bounds. She was willing to sacrifice fame, employment, and every thing else, and ardently desired to live with Hamilton.—By perseverance in illicit love, her mind became gradually debased. Sentiment and affection, though still very strong, began now to be surpassed by mere sensual desire, and though Hamilton had no reason for jealousy, the fidelity of Collings was now owing much more to the closeness of his attentions than to the firmness of her constancy. She gradually became negligent about her employment, and not long after relinquished it entirely. Hamilton could not help perceiving her degeneracy, and coolling in his own passion, but conscious that he himself was the cause of her apostacy from virtue, and afterwards from delicacy, felt keen remorse. Her situation
