shore. My dreadful necessities, my gratitude, and above all, to say the plain truth, the dissipation, and diversion I began to find in this new acquaintance, from the black corroding thoughts my heart had been a prey to, ever since the absence of my dear Charles, concurr'd to stun all contrary reflections. If I now thought of my first, my only charmer, it was still with the tenderness and regret of the fondest love, embitter'd with the consciousness that I was no longer worthy of him. I could have beg'd my bread with him all over the world, but wretch that I was! I had neither the virtue nor courage requisite not to outlive my separation from him.
Yet! had not my heart been thus pre-ingag'd, Mr. H——— might probably have been the sole master of it, but the place was full, and the force of conjunctures alone had made him the possessor of my person; the charms of which had, by the bye been his sole object, and passion, and were of course, no foundation for a love either very delicate, or very durable.
