“I thought I had already gone too far, and blamed myself for permitting her so long to believe me single; and here the matter had dropped, in all probability, had not a ball, given by my Lord ——­, to which, unknown to each other, we were both, as also the Viscountess, invited, brought us again together.  The lady soon withdrew, with her sister, to another apartment; and being resolved upon personal recrimination (which is what a lady, who is resolved to break with a favoured object, should never trust herself with,) sent for me, and reproached me on my conduct, in which her sister joined.

“I owned frankly, that gaiety, rather than design, made me give cause, at the masquerade, for her ladyship to think I was not married; for that I had a wife, with a thousand excellencies, who was my pride, and my boast:  that I held it very possible for a gentleman and lady to carry on an innocent and honourable friendship, in a family way; and I was sure, when she and her sister saw my spouse, they would not be displeased with her acquaintance; all that I had to reproach myself with, was, that after having, at the masquerade, given reason to think I was not married, I had been both, officiously, to say I was, although I never intended to conceal it.  In short, I acquitted myself so well with both ladies, that a family intimacy was consented to.  I renewed my visits; and we accounted to one another’s honour, by entering upon a kind of Platonic system, in which sex was to have no manner of concern.

“But, my dear Pamela, I must own myself extremely blameable, because I knew the world and human nature, I will say, better than the lady, who never before had been trusted into it upon her own feet:  and who, notwithstanding that wit and vivacity which every one admires in her, gave herself little time for consideration.  I ought, therefore, to have more carefully guarded against inconveniencies, which I knew were so likely to arise from such intimacies; and the rather, as I hinted, because the lady had no apprehension at all of any:  so that, my dear, if I have no excuse from human frailty, from youth, and the charms of the object, I am entirely destitute of any.”

“I see, Mr. B.,” said I, “there is a great deal to be said for the lady.  I wish I could say there was for the gentleman.  But such a fine lady had been safe, with all her inconsideration; and so (forgive me.  Sir,) would the gentleman, with all his intriguing spirit, had it not been for these vile masquerades.  Never, dear Sir, think of going to another.”—­“Why, my dear, those are least of all to be trusted at these diversions, who are most desirous to go to them.—­Of this I am now fully convinced.”—­“Well, Sir, I long to hear more particulars of this story:  for this generous openness, now the affair is over, cannot but be grateful to me, as it shews me you have no reserve, and tends to convince me, that the lady was less blameable than I apprehended:  for I love, for the honour of my sex, to find ladies of birth and quality innocent, who have so many opportunities of knowing and practising their duties, above what meaner persons can have.”