My Lady was very good-natured and indulgent to all her servants, and to me among the rest; tho’ I had no hopes of becoming a favourite, when I saw, by her house-keeper's practice, how much she loved flattery. She would often say, when I omitted an opportunity of imitating her, that I was dull; and sometimes, that she fancied I could think nothing commendable in any one but myself; but all this without any bitterness.

I seldom saw Sir George, but in his Lady's presence; he would often talk to me and compliment me, called me Lady Markland's Venus; and when I entered the room, would cry, Here comes your goddess, my dear; but all with so much mirth, and so little design, that in time I learnt not to mind it, and answered to the name of Venus, as readily as to that of Emily.

Mr. Markland was much less free, but more attentive; he treated me with such respect, that his mother would sometimes tell him, she believed he thought I was a goddess in reality. He would answer, that a fine woman was a better thing; that no situation in life should make a man fail in politeness to one of the other sex; and that really there was a modesty in my appearance, which was truly respectable. These sort of compliments he would make me before his parents; and often gave the conversation such a turn, as afforded him opportunities of applying others to me by his eyes, which were unobserved by every one else. He found excuses to come into the house-keeper's room, where he would rally her and her lover on their mutual passion, taking occasion from it to vent some libertine sentiments, wherein they were sure to second him; and sometimes to behave with a tenderness and gallantry to me, which I ought with shame to say, rather alarmed than offended me; so little was I the better for my sister's good advice.