** See Vol.  IV.  Letter IV. towards the conclusion. *** Ibid.  Letter XVI.  Ibid.

Indeed, I little thought, at the time that I formed these precautionary schemes, that she would ever have been able, if willing, to get out of my hands.  All that I hoped I should have occasion to have recourse to them for, was only, in case I should have the courage to make the grand attempt, and should succeed in it, to bring the dear creature [and this out of tenderness to her, for what attention did I ever yet pay to the grief, the execrations, the tears of a woman I had triumphed over?] to bear me in her sight:  to expostulate with me, to be pacified by my pleas, and by my own future hopes, founded upon the reconciliatory-project, upon my reiterated vows, and upon the Captain’s assurances.  Since in that case, to forgive me, to have gone on with me, for a week, would have been to forgive me, to have gone on with me, for ever.  And that, had my eligible life of honour taken place, her trials would all have been then over:  and she would have known nothing but gratitude, love, and joy, to the end of one of our lives.  For never would I, never could I, have abandoned such an admirable creature as this.  Thou knowest I never was a sordid villain to any of her inferiors—­Her inferiors, I may say—­For who is not her inferior?

You speak like a gentleman; you look like a gentleman, said Miss Rawlins—­but, Sir, this is a strange case; the lady sees to dread the sight of you.

No wonder, Madam; taking her a little on one side, nearer to Mrs. Moore.  I have three times already forgiven the dear creature—­but this is jealousy!—­There is a spice of that in it—­and of phrensy too [whispered I, that it might have the face of a secret, and of consequence the more engage their attention]—­but our story is too long.

I then made a motion to go to my beloved.  But they desired that I would walk into the next room; and they would endeavour to prevail upon her to lie down.

I begged that they would not suffer her to talk; for that she was accustomed to fits, and, when in this way, would talk of any thing that came uppermost:  and the more she was suffered to run on, the worse she was; and if not kept quiet, would fall into ravings:  which might possibly hold her a week.

The promised to keep her quiet; and I withdrew into the next room; ordering every one down but Mrs. Moore and Miss Rawlins.

She was full of exclamations!  Unhappy creature! miserable! ruined! and undone! she called herself; wrung her hands, and begged they would assist her to escape from the terrible evils she should otherwise be made to suffer.

They preached patience and quietness to her; and would have had her to lie down:  but she refused; sinking, however, into an easy chair; for she trembled so she could not stand.

By this time, I hoped, that she was enough recovered to bear a presence that it behoved me to make her bear; and fearing she would throw out something in her exclamations, that would still more disconcert me, I went into the room again.