siness, I could not but see in her severe watchfulness, the marks of a slip, which she did not care should be hereditary; but we no more choose our passions than our features or complexion, and the bent of mine was so strong to the forbidden pleasure, that it got the better, at length, of all her care and precaution. I was scarce twelve years old, before that part of me which she wanted so much to keep out of harms way, made me feel its impatience to be taken notice of, and come into play: already had it put forth the signs of forwardness in the sprout of a soft down over it, which had often flatter'd, and I might also say, grown under my constant touch, and visitation: so pleas'd was I with what I took to be a kind of title to womanhood, that state I pined to be entered off, for the pleasures I conceiv'd where annex'd to it: and now the growing importance of that part to me, and the new sensations in it, demolish'd at once all my girlish play-things and amusements: nature now pointed me strongly
