the woman who could withstand him must be virtuous. In short, he found himself so uneasy without her that he thought, if there could be any method found of regaining her reputation, he could be contented to marry her: a strong proof of the strange inconsistency of the human mind! For whilst there was no other objection but her want of fortune, and he might have received her with honour at her father's hands, he could command his passion; but when there was the addition of many other objections to prevent his indulging it, he was willing to overcome them all. The truth was, while she lived with her father, he had never given himself leave to have the smallest hopes of her in one way; and as he thought it imprudent to think on her in the other, his desires were curbed by the apparent impossibility of gratifying them. But when he thought her both infamous and poor, he had made himself so certain of obtaining her, he could not bear the disappointment of being refused; and perplexed himself so long about it, that at last, like Heartfree in the play of the "Old Bachelor," "He ran into the danger to avoid the apprehension;" and wrote the foregoing letter.
David now was perfectly easy, and there was a general cheerfulness throughout the whole company for the evening; and when they retired to rest, it with that calmness which is always the companion of innocence and health. The adventures of the next day shall be reserved for another chapter.
CHAPTER VII
in which is related the life of an atheist
In the morning they all met with the utmost good humour; and it being Sunday, David proposed the going to Church; for he said he had great
