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ese； and； indeed； not only the value； but the very existence； of the latter depends upon its spontaneity。 A promise to love tends rather to loosen than strengthen the tie。
As to myself； the age of illusion is past。 I shall not wed； till I find one whose moral and physical constitution will make personal fidelity easy。 I shall judge without mistiness or passion； and habit will come in aid of an enlightened and deliberate choice。
I shall not be fastidious in my choice。 I do not expect； and scarcely desire； much intellectual similitude between me and my wife。 Our opinions and pursuits cannot be in common。 While women are formed by their education； and their education continues in its present state； tender hearts and misguided understandings are all that we can hope to meet with。
What are the character； age； and person of the woman to whom you allude？ and what prospect of success would attend my exertions to obtain her favour？
I have told you she is rich。 She is a widow； and owes her riches to the liberality of her husband； who was a trader of great opulence； and who died while on a mercantile adventure to Spain。 He was not unknown to you。 Your letters from Spain often spoke of him。 In short； she is the widow of Benington； whom you met at Barcelona。 She is still in the prime of life； is not without many feminine attractions； has an ardent and credulent temper； and is particularly given to devotion。 This temper it would be easy to regulate according to your pleasure and your interest； and I now submit to you the expediency of an alliance with her。
I am a kinsman； and regarded by her with uncommon deference； and my commendations； therefore； will be of great service to you； and shall be given。
I will deal ingenuously with you。 It is proper you should be fully acquainted with the grounds of this proposal。 The benefits of rank； and property； and independence； which I have already mentioned as likely to accrue to you from this marriage； are solid and valuable benefits； but these are not the sole advantages； and to benefit you； in these respects； is not my whole view。
No。 My treatment of you henceforth will be regulated by one principle。 I regard you only as one undergoing a probation or apprenticeship； as subjected to trials of your sincerity and fortitude。 The marriage I now propose to you is desirable； because it will make you independent of me。 Your poverty might create an unsuitable bias in favour of proposals； one of whose effects would be to set you beyond fortune's reach。 That bias will cease； when you cease to be poor and dependent。
Love is the strongest of all human delusions。 That fortitude； which is not subdued by the tenderness and blandishments of woman； may be trusted； but no fortitude； which has not undergone that test； will be trusted by us。
This woman is a charming enthusiast。 She will never marry but him whom she passionately loves。 Her power over the heart that loves her will scarcely have limits。 The means of prying into your transactions； of suspecting and sifting your thoughts； which her constant society with you； while sleeping and waking； her zeal and watchfulness for your welfare； and her curiosity； adroitness； and penetration will afford her； are evident。 Your danger； therefore； will be imminent。 Your fortitude will be obliged to have recourse； not to flight； but to vigilance。 Your eye must never close。
Alas！ what human magnanimity can stand this test！ How can I persuade myself that you will not fail？ I waver between hope and fear。 Many； it is true； have fallen； and dragged with them the author of their ruin； but some have soared above even these perils and temptations； with their fiery energies unimpaired； and great has been； as great ought to be； their recompence。
But you are doubtless aware of your danger。 I need not repeat the consequences of betraying your trust； the rigour of those who will Judge your fault； the unerring and unbounded scrutiny to which your actions； the most secret and indifferent； will be subjected。
Your conduct； however； will be voluntary。 At your own option be it； to see or not to see this woman。 Circumspection； deliberation forethought； are your sacred duties and highest interest。
Chapter VIII。
Ludloe's remarks on the seductive and bewitching powers of women； on the difficulty of keeping a secret which they wish to know； and to gain which they employ the soft artillery of tears and prayers； and blandishments and menaces； are familiar to all men； but they had little weight with me； because they were unsupported by my own experience。 I had never had any intellectual or sentimental connection with the sex。 My meditations and pursuits had all led a different way； and a bias had gradually been given to my feelings； very unfavourable to the refinements of love。 I acknowledge； with shame and regret； that I was accustomed to regard the physical and sensual consequences of the sexual relation as realities； and every thing intellectual； disinterested； and heroic； which enthusiasts connect with it as idle dreams。 Besides； said I； I am yet a stranger to the secret； on the preservation of which so much stress is laid； and it will be optional with me to receive it or not。 If； in the progress of my acquaintance with Mrs。 Benington； I should perceive any extraordinary danger in the gift； cannot I refuse； or at least delay to comply with any new conditions from Ludloe？ Will not his candour and his affection for me rather commend than disapprove my diffidence？ In fine； I resolved to see this lady。
She was； it seems； the widow of Benington； whom I knew in Spain。 This man was an English merchant settled at Barcelona； to whom I had been commended by Ludloe's letters； and through whom my pecuniary supplies were furnished。 。 。 。 。 。 。 Much intercourse and some degree of intimacy had taken place between us； and I had gained a pretty accurate knowledge of his character。 I had been informed； through different channels； that his wife was much his superior in rank； that she possessed great wealth in her own right； and that some disagreement of temper or views occasioned their separation。 She had married him for love； and still doated on him： the occasions for separation having arisen； it seems； not on her side but on his。 As his habits of reflection were nowise friendly to religion； and as hers； according to Ludloe； were of the opposite kind； it is possible that some jarring had arisen between them from this source。 Indeed； from some casual and broken hints of Benington； especially in the latter part of his life； I had long since gathered this conjecture。 。 。 。 。 。 。 Something； thought I； may be derived from my acquaintance with her husband favourable to my views。
I anxiously waited for an opportunity of acquainting Ludloe with my resolution。 On the day of our last conversation； he had made a short excursion from town； intending to return the same evening； but had continued absent for several days。 As soon as he came back； I hastened to acquaint him with my wishes。
Have you well considered this matter； said he。 Be assured it is of no trivial import。 The moment at which you enter the presence of this woman will