Page:Maria, or, The wanderer reclaim'd.pdf/15

Rh Every word of this letter was keener than a dagger; and all this from the man I loved above all things!— who could support it? However, there is a curioſity even in ſorrow, we are anxious to know the worſt. Mr. S* informed me that the licence was forged; & the prieſt, a vile pander, who, at Mr. G**’s ſollicitation, had hired the wig and habit of an old clergyman for a pot of porter; and that the whole was a device to conquer my virtue. Worthy conqueſt truly! Inhuman ſavage, boaſt thy ſubtlety and ſucceſs!

You cannot wonder that abhorrence took the place of affection; and that no monſter in nature appeared equally ſhocking, equally meriting deteſtation, in my judgment, with this cruel, cruel man! Mr. S* found little ſatisfaction in my company, for I was diſtracted:— I wept, I raved; reaſon was loft, hope seemed to have forſaken me; I gave myſelf up to all the anguiſh of deſpair.

But as nothing violent can laſt long, my ſad reflections began to calm; and indeed I was ſummoned by neceſſity to ſerious deliberation. For as Mr. G**’s income never ſupplied me with much affluence, ſo my want of money ſoon ſhewed itſelf to my maid and to my landlady. The former gave me warning and left me; and to increaſe my troubles, took off with her ſeveral of my beſt things. The latter grew clamorous for her rent, and gave me to know, that ſhe muſt expect to be