Page:Adventures of Rachel Cunningham.djvu/10

 just come into possession of a very rich and splendid patrimony, who paid her particular and marked attention, was most assiduous in his efforts to win and merit her sincere affection by every tenderness of delicate bearing towards her, and lavished very considerable sums in bestowing valuable presents upon her, at different times, of rich jewels, diamond ornament, &c. &c. to decorate her person, moved thereto by passionate regard, as well as an ardent desire to attach her heart's constancy to him through a liberal gratification of her vanity, of which she had no small share; and if constancy had been at all amongst the number of her qualities he could not perhaps, have adopted a more sure methods of securing it; but love of change, avarice, and their concomitant deception, as they after developed themselves in her licentious pursuits and actions, appear as the predominant characteristics of her natal disposition.

This gentleman had made some honourable advances, and would have as honourably acquitted himself of the proposals offered, in a way most important to her advantage and future station in society, has he not, long before the close of  the watering-season, discovered that she allowed familiarities to many, and bestowed certain favours on other of the occupants in the house, which induced him to change his mode of siege, as he now felt conviction that, that only was requisite to obtaining the same privileges with her, she had conceded with so little ceremony to several of his more successful though less honourably inclined rivals.

On this suggestion, though not without some unpleasant feelings of reluctance, for his, attachment for her, (prior to this,) was affectionately sincere, abandoning his former  hoes [sic] and intentions, (for, as he really loved her, he hoped as well as intended,) of making her his wife, he altered his, system, of attack, and taking a new ground of approach he succeeded in carrying his point; she capitulated to his desires without a struggle of resistance and yielded her person to his will more readily than he could willingly have wished, as true love is ever anxious under the circumstances to retain as much good opinion as possible of the object it has once adored.

During the remainder of the season, he freely enjoyed her