Louisa herself did not long outstay this adventure at
Mrs. Cole's (to whom, by-the-bye, we took care not to boast
of our exploit, till all fear of consequences were clearly
over): for an occasion presenting itself of proving her
passion for a young fellow, at the expense of her discretion,
proceeding all in character, she pack'd up her toilet at half
a day's warning and went with him abroad, since which I
entirely lost sight of her, and it never fell in my way to
hear what became of her.
But a few days after she had left us, two very pretty
young gentlemen, who were Mrs. Cole's especial favourites,
and free of her academy, easily obtain'd her consent for
Emily's and my acceptance of a party of pleasure at a little
but agreeable house belonging to one of them, situated not
far up the river Thames, on the Surry side.
Everything being settled, and it being a fine summer-
day, but rather of the warmest, we set out after dinner, and
got to our rendez-vous about four in the afternoon; where,
landing at the foot of a neat, joyous pavillion, Emily and I
were handed into it by our squires, and there drank tea with
a cheerfulness and gaiety that the beauty of the prospect,
the serenity of the weather, and the tender politeness of our
sprightly gallants naturally led us into.
After tea, and taking a turn in the garden, my particu-
lar, who was the master of the house, and had in no sense
schem'd this party of pleasure for a dry one, propos'd to us,
with that frankness which his familiarity at Mrs. Cole's
entitled him to, as the weather was excessively hot, to bathe
together, under a commodious shelter that he had prepared
expressly for that purpose, in a creek of the river, with
which a side-door of the pavilion immediately communicated,
and where we might be sure of having our diversion out, safe
from interruption, and with the utmost privacy.
Emily, who never refus'd anything, and I, who ever
delighted in bathing, and had no exception to the person who
propos'd it, or to those pleasures it was easy to guess it
implied, took care, on this occasion, not to wrong our
training at Mrs. Cole's, and agreed to it with as good a
grace as we could. Upon which, without loss of time, we
return'd instantly to the pavilion, one door of which open'd
into a tent, pitch'd before it, that with its marquise,
formed a pleasing defense against the sun, or the weather,
and was besides as private as we could wish. The lining of
it, imbossed cloth, represented a wild forest-foliage, from
the top down to the sides, which, in the same stuff, were
figur'd with fluted pilasters, with their spaces between
fill'd with flower-vases, the whole having a gay effect upon
the eye, wherever you turn'd it.
Then it reached sufficiently into the water, yet con-
tain'd convenient benches round it, on the dry ground, either
to keep our cloaths, or . . ., or . . ., in short, for more
uses than resting upon. There was a side-table too, loaded
with sweetmeats, jellies, and other eatables, and bottles of
wine and cordials, by way of occasional relief from any raw-
ness, or chill of the water, or from any faintness from what-
ever cause; and in fact, my gallant, who understood chere
entiere perfectly, and who, for taste (even if you would not
approve this specimen of it) might have been comptroller of
pleasures to a Roman emperor, had left no requisite towards
convenience or luxury unprovided.
As soon as we had look'd round this inviting spot, and
every preliminary of privacy was duly settled, strip was the
word: when the young gentlemen soon dispatch'd the undressing
each his partner and reduced us to the naked confession of
all those secrets of person which dress generally hides, and
which the discovery of was, naturally speaking, not to our
disadvantage. Our hands, indeed, mechanically carried towards
the most interesting part of us, screened, at first, all from
the tufted cliff downwards, till we took them away at their
desire, and employed them in doing them the same office, of
helping off with their cloaths; in the process of which, there
pass'd all the little wantonnesses and frolicks that you may
easily imagine.
As for my spark, he was presently undressed, all to his
shirt, the fore-lappet of which as he lean'd languishingly on
me, he smilingly pointed to me to observe, as it bellied out,
or rose and fell, according to the unruly starts of the mo-
tion behind it; but it was soon fix'd, for now taking off his
shirt, and naked as a Cupid, he shew'd it me at so upright a
stand, as prepar'd me indeed for his application to me for
instant ease; but, tho' the sight of its fine size was fit
enough to fire me, the cooling air, as I stood in this state
of nature, joined to the desire I had of bathing first, en-
abled me to put him off, and tranquillize him, with the re-
mark that a little suspense would only set a keener edge on
the pleasure. Leading then the way, and shewing our friends
an example of continency, which they were giving signs of
losing respect to, we went hand in hand into the stream, till
it took us up to our neck, where the no more than grateful
coolness of the water gave my senses a delicious refreshment
from the sultriness of the season, and made more alive, more
happy in myself, and, in course, more alert, and open to
voluptuous impressions.
Here I lav'd and wanton'd with the water, or sportively
play'd with my companion, leaving Emily to deal with hers at
discretion. Mine, at length, not content with making me take
the plunge over head and ears, kept splashing me, and provok-
ing me with all the little playful tricks he could devise,
and which I strove not to remain in his debt for. We gave,
in short, a loose to mirth; and now, nothing would serve him
but giving his hands the regale of going over every part of
me, neck, breast, belly, thighs, and all the et cetera, so
dear to the imagination, under the pretext of washing and
rubbing them; as we both stood in the water, no higher now
than the pit of our stomachs, and which did not hinder him
from feeling, and toying with that leak that distinguishes
our sex, and it so wonderfully water-tight: for his fingers,
in vain dilating and opening it, only let more flame than
water into it, be it said without a figure. At the same time
he made me feel his own engine, which was so well wound up,
as to stand even the working in water, and he accordingly
threw one arm round my neck, and was endeavouring to get the
better of that harsher construction bred by the surrounding
fluid; and had in effect won his way so far as to make me
sensible of the pleasing stretch of those nether-lips, from
the in-driving machine; when, independent of my not liking
that aukward mode of enjoyment, I could not help interrupt-
ing him, in order to become joint spectators of a plan of
joy, in hot operation between Emily and her partner; who
impatient of the fooleries and dalliance of the bath, had led
his nymph to one of the benches on the green bank, where he
was very cordially proceeding to teach her the difference be-
twixt jest and earnest.
There, setting her on his knee, and gliding one hand over
the surface of that smooth polish'd snow-white skin of hers,
which now doubly shone with a dew-bright lustre, and presented
to the touch something like what one would imagine of animated
ivory, especially in those ruby-nippled globes, which the
touch is so fond of and delights to make love to, with the
other he was lusciously exploring the sweet secret of nature,
in order to make room for a stately piece of machinery, that
stood uprear'd, between her thighs, as she continued sitting
on his lap, and pressed hard for instant admission, which the
tender Emily, in a fit of humour deliciously protracted, af-
fecting to decline, and elude the very pleasure she sigh'd
for, but in a style of waywardness so prettily put on, and
managed, as to render it ten times more poignant; then her
eyes, all amidst the softest dying languishment, express'd at
once a mock denial and extreme desire, whilst her sweetness
was zested with a coyness so pleasingly provoking, her moods
of keeping him off were so attractive, that they redoubled
the impetuous rage with which he cover'd her with kisses: and
the kisses that, whilst she seemed to shy from or scuffle for,
the cunning wanton contrived such sly returns of, as were
doubtless the sweeter for the gust she gave them, of being
stolen ravished.
Thus Emily, who knew no art but that which nature itself,
in favour of her principal end, pleasure, had inspir'd her
with, the art of yielding, coy'd it indeed, but coy'd it to
the purpose; for with all her straining, her wrestling, and
striving to break from the clasp of his arms, she was so far
wiser yet than to mean it, that in her struggles, it was
visible she aim'd at nothing more than multiplying points of
touch with him, and drawing yet closer the folds that held
them every where entwined, like two tendrils of a vine inter-
curling together: so that the same effect, as when Louisa
strove in good earnest to disengage from the idiot, was now
produced by different motives.
Mean while, their emersion out of the cold water had
caused a general glow, a tender suffusion of heighten'd
carnation over their bodies; both equally white and smooth-
skinned; so that as their limbs were thus amorously inter-
woven, in sweet confusion, it was scarce possible to distin-
guish who they respectively belonged to, but for the brawnier,
bolder muscles of the stronger sex.
In a little time, however, the champion was fairly in
with her, and had tied at all points the true lover's knot;
when now, adieu all the little refinements of a finessed re-
luctance; adieu the friendly feint! She was presently driven
forcibly out of the power of using any art; and indeed, what
art must not give way, when nature, corresponding with her
assailant, invaded in the heart of her capital and carried by
storm, lay at the mercy of the proud conqueror who had made
his entry triumphantly and completely? Soon, however, to be-
come a tributary: for the engagement growing hotter and
hotter, at close quarters, she presently brought him to the
pass of paying down the dear debt to nature; which she had no
sooner collected in, but, like a duellist who has laid his
antagonist at his feet, when he has himself received a mortal
wound, Emily had scarce time to plume herself upon her vic-
tory, but, shot with the same discharge, she, in a loud ex-
piring sigh, in the closure of her eyes, the stretch-out of
her limbs, and a remission of her whole frame, gave manifest
signs that all was as it should be.
For my part, who had not with the calmest patience stood
in the water all this time, to view this warm action, I lean'd
tenderly on my gallant, and at the close of it, seemed'd to
ask him with my eyes what he thought of it; but he, more eager
to satisfy me by his actions than by words or looks, as we
shoal'd the water towards the shore, shewed me the staff of
love so intensely set up, that had not even charity beginning
at home in this case, urged me to our mutual relief, it would
have been cruel indeed to have suffered the youth to burst
with straining, when the remedy was so obvious and so near at
hand.
Accordingly we took to a bench, whilst Emily and her
spark, who belonged it seems to the sea, stood at the side-
board, drinking to our good voyage: for, as the last observ'd,
we were well under weigh, with a fair wind up channel, and
full-freighted; nor indeed were we long before we finished our
trip to Cythera, and unloaded in the old haven; but, as the
circumstances did not admit of much variation, I shall spare
you the description.
At the same time, allow me to place you here an excuse
I am conscious of owing you, for having, perhaps, too much
affected the figurative style; though surely, it can pass no-
where more allowably than in a subject which is so properly
the province of poetry, nay, is poetry itself, pregnant with
every flower of imagination and loving metaphors, even were
not the natural expressions, for respects of fashion and
sound, necessarily forbid it.
Resuming now my history, you may please to know that
what with a competent number of repetitions, all in the same
strain (and, by-the-bye, we have a certain natural sense that
those repetitions are very much to the taste), what with a
circle of pleasures delicately varied, there was not a moment
lost to joy all the time we staid there, till late in the
night we were re-escorted home by our squires, who delivered
us safe to Mrs. Cole, with generous thanks for our company.
This too was Emily's last adventure in our way: for
scarce a week after, she was, by an accident too trivial to
detail to you the particulars, found out by her parents, who
were in good circumstances, and who had been punish'd for
their partiality to their son, in the loss of him, occasion'd
by a circumstance of their over-indulgence to his appetite;
upon which the so long engross'd stream of fondness, running
violently in favour of this lost and inhumanly abandon'd child
whom if they had not neglected enquiry about, they might long
before have recovered. They were now so overjoyed at the re-
trieval of her, that, I presume, it made them much less strict
in examining the bottom of things: for they seem'd very glad
to take for granted, in the lump, everything that the grave
and decent Mrs. Cole was pleased to pass upon them; and soon
afterwards sent her, from the country, a handsome acknowledge-
ment.
But it was not so easy to replace to our community the
loss of so sweet a member of it: for, not to mention her
beauty, she was one of those mild, pliant characters that if
one does not entirely esteem, one can scarce help loving,
which is not such a bad compensation neither. Owing all her
weakness to good-nature, and an indolent facility that kept
her too much at the mercy of first impressions, she had just
sense enough to know that she wanted leading-strings, and
thought herself so much obliged to any who would take the
pains to think for her, and guide her, that with a very little
management, she was capable of being made a most agreeable,
nay, a most virtuous wife: for vice, it is probable, had never
been her choice, or her fate, if it had not been for occasion,
or example, or had she not depended less upon herself than
upon her circumstances. This presumption her conduct after-
wards verified: for presently meeting with a match that was
ready cut and dry for her, with a neighbour's son of her own
rank, and a young man of sense and order, who took her as the
widow of one lost at sea (for so it seems one of her gallants,
whose name she had made free with, really was), she naturally
struck into all the duties of their domestic life with as much
constancy and regularity, as if she had never swerv'd from a
state of undebauch'd innocence from her youth.
These desertions had, however, now so far thinned Mrs.
Cole's brood that she was left with only me like a hen with
one chicken; but tho' she was earnestly entreated and encou-
rag'd to recruit her corps, her growing infirmities, and,
above all, the tortures of a stubborn hip-gout, which she
found would yield to no remedy, determin'd her to bread up her
business and retire with a decent pittance into the country,
where I promis'd myself nothing so sure, as my going down to
live with her as soon as I had seen a little more of life and
improv'd my small matters into a competency that would create
in me an independence on the world: for I was, now, thanks to
Mrs. Cole, wise enough to keep that essential in view.
Thus was I then to lose my faithful preceptress, as did
the Philosophers of the town the White Crow of her profession.
For besides that she never ransacked her customers, whose
taste too she ever studiously consulted, besides that she
never racked her pupils with unconscionable extortions, nor
ever put their hard earnings, as she call'd them, under the
contribution of poundage. She was a severe enemy to the
seduction for innocence, and confin'd her acquisitions solely
to those unfortunate young women, who, having lost it, were
but the juster objects of compassion: among these, indeed,
she pick'd but such as suited her views and taking them under
her protection, rescu'd them from the danger of the publick
sinks of ruin and misery, to place, or do for them, well or
ill, in the manner you have seen. Having then settled her
affairs, she set out on her journey, after taking the most
tender leave of me, and at the end of some excellent instruc-
tions, recommending me to myself, with an anxiety perfectly
maternal. In short, she affected me so much, that I was not
presently reconcil'd to myself for suffering her at any rate
to go without me; but fate had, it seems, otherwise dispos'd
of me.
I had, on my separation from Mrs. Cole, taken a pleasant
convenient house at Marybone, but easy to rent and manage from
its smallness, which I furnish'd neatly and modestly. There,
with a reserve of eight hundred pounds, the fruit of my defer-
ence to Mrs. Cole's counsels, exclusive of cloaths, some
jewels, some plate, I saw myself in purse for a long time, to
wait without impatience for what the chapter of accidents
might produce in my favour.
Here, under the new character of a young gentle-woman
whose husband was gone to sea, I had mark'd me out such lines
of life and conduct, as leaving me at a competent liberty to
pursue my views either out of pleasure or fortune, bounded me
nevertheless strictly within the rules od decency and discre-
tion: a disposition in which you cannot escape observing a
true pupil of Mrs. Cole.
I was scarce, however, well warm in my new abode, when
going out one morning pretty early to enjoy the freshness of
it, in the pleasing outlet of the fields, accompanied only by
a maid, whom I had newly hired, as we were carelessly walking
among the trees we were alarmed with the noise of a violent
coughing: turning our heads towards which, we distinguish'd a
plain well-dressed elderly gentleman, who, attack'd with a
sudden fit, was so much overcome as to be forc'd to give way
to it and sit down at the foot of a tree, where he seemed
suffocating with the severity of it, being perfectly black in
the face: not less mov'd than frighten'd with which, I flew
on the instant to his relief, and using the rote of practice
I had observ'd on the like occasion, I loosened his cravat
and clapped him on the back; but whether to any purpose, or
whether the cough had had its course, I know not, but the fit
immediately went off; and now recover'd to his speech and
legs, he returned me thanks with as much emphasis as if I had
sav'd his life. This naturally engaging a conversation, he
acquainted me where he lived, which was at a considerable
distance from where I met with him, and where he had stray'd
insensibly on the same intention of a morning walk.
He was, as I afterwards learn'd in the course of the
intimacy which this little accident gave birth to, an old
bachelor, turn'd of sixty, but of a fresh vigorous complexion,
insomuch that he scarce marked five and forty, having never
rack'd his constitution by permitting his desires to overtax
his ability.
As to his birth and condition, his parents, honest and
fail'd mechanicks, had, by the best traces he could get of
them, left him an infant orphan on the parish; so that it was
from a charity-school, that, by honesty and industry, he made
his way into a merchant's counting-house; from whence, being
sent to a house in CADIZ, he there, by his talents and acti-
vity, acquired a fortune, but an immense one, with which he
returned to his native country; where he could not, however,
so much as fish out one single relation out of the obscurity
he was born in. Taking then a taste for retirement, and
pleas'd to enjoy life, like a mistress in the dark, he flowed
his days in all the ease of opulence, without the least parade
of it; and, rather studying the concealment than the shew of a
fortune, looked down on a world he perfectly knew; himself, to
his wish, unknown and unmarked by.
But, as I propose to devote a letter entirely to the
pleasure of retracing to you all the particulars of my ac-
quaintance with this ever, to me, memorable friend, I shall,
in this, transiently touch on no more than may serve, as
mortar to cement, to form the connection of my history, and
to obviate your surprize that one of my high blood and relish
of life should count a gallant of threescore such a catch.
Referring then to a more explicit narrative, to explain
by what progressions our acquaintance, certainly innocent at
first, insensibly changed nature, and ran into unplatonic
lengths, as might well be expected from one of my condition
of life, and above all, from that principle of electricity
that scarce ever fails of producing fire when the sexes meet.
I shall only her acquaint you, that as age had not subdued
his tenderness for our sex, neither had it robbed him of the
power of pleasing, since whatever he wanted in the bewitching
charms of youth, he aton'd for, or supplemented with the ad-
vantages of experience, the sweetness of his manners, and
above all, his flattering address in touching the heart, by
an application to the understanding. From him it was I first
learn'd, to any purpose, and not without infinite pleasure,
that I had such a portion of me worth bestowing some regard
on; from him I received my first essential encouragement, and
instructions how to put it in that train of cultivation, which
I have since pushed to the little degree of improvement you
see it at; he it was, who first taught me to be sensible that
the pleasures of the mind were superior to those of the body;
at the same time, that they were so far from obnoxious to, or
incompatible with each other, that, besides the sweetness in
the variety and transition, the one serv'd to exalt and per-
fect the taste of the other to a degree that the senses alone
can never arrive at.
Himself a rational pleasurist, as being much too wise to
be asham'd of the pleasures of humanity, loved me indeed, but
loved me with dignity; in a mean equally remov'd from the
sourness, of forwardness, by which age is unpleasingly char-
acteriz'd, and from that childish silly dotage that so often
disgraces it, and which he himself used to turn into ridicule,
and compare to an old goat affecting the frisk of a young kid.
In short, everything that is generally unamiable in his
season of life was, in him, repair'd by so many advantages,
that he existed a proof, manifest at least to me, that it is
not out of the power of age to please, if it lays out to
please, and if, making just allowances, those in that class
do not forget that it must cost them more pains and attention
than what youth, the natural spring-time of joy, stands in
need of: as fruits out of season require proportionably more
skill and cultivation, to force them.
With this gentleman then, who took me home soon after
our acquaintance commenc'd, I lived near eight months; in
which time, my constant complaisance and docility, my atten-
tion to deserve his confidence and love, and a conduct, in
general, devoid of the least art and founded on my sincere
regard and esteem for him, won and attach'd him so firmly to
me, that, after having generously trusted me with a genteel,
independent settlement, proceeding to heap marks of affection
on me, he appointed me, by an authentick will, his sole
heiress and executrix: a disposition which he did not outlive
two months, being taken from me by a violent cold that he
contracted as he unadvisedly ran to the window on an alarm of
fire, at some streets distance, and stood there naked-breast-
ed, and exposed to the fatal impressions of a damp night-air.
After acquitting myself of my duty towards my deceas'd
benefactor, and paying him a tribute of unfeign'd sorrow,
which a little time chang'd into a most tender, grateful
memory of him that I shall ever retain, I grew somewhat com-
forted by the prospect that now open'd to me, if not of hap-
piness at least of affluence and independence.
I saw myself then in the full bloom and pride of youth
(for I was not yet nineteen) actually at the head of so large
a fortune, as it would have been even the height of impudence
in me to have raised my wishes, much more my hopes, to; and
that this unexpected elevation did not turn my head, I ow'd
to the pains my benefactor had taken to form and prepare me
for it, as I ow'd his opinion of my management of the vast
possessions he left me, to what he had observ'd of the pru-
dential economy I had learned under Mrs. Cole, of which the
reserve he saw I had made was a proof and encouragement to
him.
But, alas! how easily is the enjoyment of the greatest
sweets in life, in present possession, poisoned by the regret
of an absent one! but my regret was a mighty and just one,
since it had my only truly beloved Charles for its object.
Given him up I had, indeed, compleatly, having never once
heard from him since our separation; which, as I found after-
wards, had been my misfortune, and not his neglect, for he
wrote me several letters which had all miscarried; but for-
gotten him I never had. Amidst all my personal infidelities,
not one had made a pin's point impression on a heart impene-
trable to the true love-passion, but for him.
As soon, however, as I was mistress of this unexpected
fortune, I felt more than ever how dear he was to me, from
its insufficiency to make me happy, whilst he was not to
share it with me. My earliest care, consequently, was to
endeavour at getting some account of him; but all my re-
searches produc'd me no more light than that his father had
been dead for some time, not so well as even with the world;
and that Charles had reached his port of destination in the
South-Seas, where, finding the estate he was sent to recover
dwindled to a trifle, by the loss of two ships in which the
bulk of his uncle's fortune lay, he was come away with the
small remainder, and might, perhaps, according to the best
advice, in a few months return to England, from whence he
had, at the time of this my inquiry, been absent two years
and seven months. A little eternity in love!