that time, I confess, against myself, that I perhaps too readily closed with a proposal which my candor and ingenuity gave me some repugnance to; but not enough to contradict the intention of one to whom I had now throughly abandon'd the direction of all my steps. For Mrs. Cole had, I do not know how, unless by one of those unaccountable invincible simpathies, that nevertheless form the strongest links, especially of female friendship, won and got intire possession of me. On her side, she pretended that a strict resemblance, she fancied she saw in me to an only daughter, whom she had lost at my age, was the first motive of her taking to me so affectionately as she did: it might be so: there exist as slender motives of attachments, that gathering force from habit, and liking, have proved often more solid, and durable, than those founded on much stronger reasons: but this I know, that tho' I had had no other acquaintance with her, than
