adelphi.

I thank you, my dear, for the warm zeal you manifest for my happiness; I will heighten yours by adding, that my dear Major's conduct is such as confirms me in the idea of his heart being now entirely my own. A week ago he took an opportunity to converse with me upon the subject you mention. He then condemned his former errors in the strongest terms, and spoke with energy and feeling on the dreadful consequences attendant upon guilt./ I saw him affected by the discourse, therefore requested him to drop it. – He replied,

‘I will, my love, if it gives pain to your feelings; but the event of this day has furnished me with an extraordinary fund for contemplation; which not being likely to afford any pleasure to my mind, I wished to avoid it by conversing upon the matter with you.’

‘Do not mistake me, Herbert,’ cried I, ‘I was not afraid of you giving me pain; my fears were only for you; but if you think unbosoming yourself to me, without reserve, will, on the contrary, afford relief to your mind, I will be all attention.’

‘Really, Eliza,’ returned he, ‘my mind is too much oppressed to refuse the relief which communication usually affords, particularly where there is a prospect of meeting the return of good sense and tender sympathy. I therefore accept, with thanks, your kind permission, and shall begin by telling you, that during the criminal intercourse I held with Fanny Elwood, now Mrs. Wilkins, she frequently mentioned to me a Miss/ Matthews, who, at that time, lived in London, and who, she said, was her most particular friend; and so strongly attached to her, that, to use her own expression, she could wind her round her finger: tho’, at the same time, Fanny did not hesitate to ridicule what she termed her folly.