A Woman seldom stops at the first imprudence. I had been with difficulty prevailed upon to consent to the first private interview with Captain Turnham; but after that was once granted, I made no scruple of another meeting; and then of another still; and so on, till they came almost daily. The respect with which he at first behaved, encouraged me to trust him again. The danger vanished from my thoughts; and I did not see why I should deny myself and my lover so great a pleasure as we received from the liberty of professing our mutual love, and lamenting the cruelty of fortune and parents, which had divided us, when this indulgence might be granted without an infringement of virtue; for I did not perceive that my husband had a right to require me to be prudent as well as to be chaste; and that encouraging the passion of another man, or indulging my own for him, was an offence against virtue, within whatever bounds I restrained my actions.

A woman who hopes to preserve her virtue after she has laid aside decorum, is as foolish as a man would be, who should expect to defend a town, whose fortifications and outworks are destroyed, against a powerful enemy; especially if there is treachery within, which I am afraid is the case when a woman's affections are strongly engaged.

I could not so easily deceive Captain Turnham as I did myself: He knew the consequence of all my actions, and how long respect was necessary to deprive me of all fear; the only enemy he had: And virtue followed my prudence, as is generally the case with her who parts with the latter.