“After a prefatory conversation,—­my blood (I thought it had been cooler) flushed over my whole countenance as he spoke—­he alluded to my situation.  He desired me to reflect—­’and act like a prudent woman, as the best proof of my superior understanding; for he must own I had sense, did I know how to use it.  I was not,’ he laid a stress on his words, ’without my passions; and a husband was a convenient cloke.—­He was liberal in his way of thinking; and why might not we, like many other married people, who were above vulgar prejudices, tacitly consent to let each other follow their own inclination?—­He meant nothing more, in the letter I made the ground of complaint; and the pleasure which I seemed to take in Mr. S.’s company, led him to conclude, that he was not disagreeable to me.’

“A clerk brought in the letters of the day, and I, as I often did, while he was discussing subjects of business, went to the piano forte, and began to play a favourite air to restore myself, as it were, to nature, and drive the sophisticated sentiments I had just been obliged to listen to, out of my soul.

“They had excited sensations similar to those I have felt, in viewing the squalid inhabitants of some of the lanes and back streets of the metropolis, mortified at being compelled to consider them as my fellow-creatures, as if an ape had claimed kindred with me.  Or, as when surrounded by a mephitical fog, I have wished to have a volley of cannon fired, to clear the incumbered atmosphere, and give me room to breathe and move.

“My spirits were all in arms, and I played a kind of extemporary prelude.  The cadence was probably wild and impassioned, while, lost in thought, I made the sounds a kind of echo to my train of thinking.

“Pausing for a moment, I met Mr. Venables’ eyes.  He was observing me with an air of conceited satisfaction, as much as to say—­’My last insinuation has done the business—­she begins to know her own interest.’  Then gathering up his letters, he said, ’That he hoped he should hear no more romantic stuff, well enough in a miss just come from boarding school;’ and went, as was his custom, to the counting-house.  I still continued playing; and, turning to a sprightly lesson, I executed it with uncommon vivacity.  I heard footsteps approach the door, and was soon convinced that Mr. Venables was listening; the consciousness only gave more animation to my fingers.  He went down into the kitchen, and the cook, probably by his desire, came to me, to know what I would please to order for dinner.  Mr. Venables came into the parlour again, with apparent carelessness.  I perceived that the cunning man was overreaching himself; and I gave my directions as usual, and left the room.

“While I was making some alteration in my dress, Mr. Venables peeped in, and, begging my pardon for interrupting me, disappeared.  I took up some work (I could not read), and two or three messages were sent to me, probably for no other purpose, but to enable Mr. Venables to ascertain what I was about.