I did; and clasped her once more to my bosom:  but, considering the delicacy of her frame, her force was amazing, and showed how much in earnest she was in her resentment; for it was with the utmost difficulty that I was able to hold her:  nor could I prevent her sliding through my arms, to fall upon her knees:  which she did at my feet:  and there in the anguish of her soul, her streaming eyes lifted up to my face with supplicating softness, hands folded, dishevelled hair; for her night head-dress having fallen off in her struggling, her charming tresses fell down in naturally shining ringlets, as if officious to conceal the dazzling beauties of her neck and shoulders; her lovely bosom too heaving with sighs, and broken sobs, as if to aid her quivering lips in pleading for her—­in this manner, but when her grief gave way to her speech, in words pronounced with that emphatical propriety, which distinguishes this admirable creature in her elocution from all the women I ever heard speak, did she implore my compassion and my honour.

‘Consider me, dear Lovelace,’ [dear was her charming word!] ’on my knees I beg you to consider me as a poor creature who has no protector but you; who has no defence but your honour:  by that honour! by your humanity! by all you have vowed!  I conjure you not to make me abhor myself! not to make me vile in my own eyes!’

I mentioned to-morrow as the happiest day of my life.

Tell me not of to-morrow.  If indeed you mean me honourably, now, this very instant now! you must show it, and be gone! you can never in a whole long life repair the evils you now make me suffer!

Wicked wretch!—­Insolent villain!—­yes, she called me insolent villain, although so much in my power!  And for what!—­only for kissing (with passion indeed) her inimitable neck, her lips, her cheeks, her forehead, and her streaming eyes, as this assemblage of beauties offered itself at once to my ravished sight; she continuing kneeling at my feet as I sat.

If I am a villain, Madam!—­And then my grasping, but trembling hand—­I hope I did not hurt the tenderest and loveliest of all her beauties—­If I am a villain, Madam—­

She tore my ruffle, shrunk from my happy hand, with amazing force and agility, as with my other arm I would have encircled her waist.

Indeed you are!—­the worst of villains!—­Help! dear, blessed people! and screamed out—­No help for a poor creature!

Am I then a villain, Madam?—­Am I then a villain, say you?—­and clasped both my arms about her, offering to raise her to my bounding heart.

Oh! no!—­And yet you are!—­And again I was her dear Lovelace!—­her hands again clasped over her charming bosom:—­Kill me! kill me!—­if I am odious enough in your eyes to deserve this treatment:  and I will thank you!—­Too long, much too long has my life been a burden to me!—­Or, (wildly looking all round her,) give me but the means, and I will instantly convince you that my honour is dearer to me than my life!