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Foster, Hannah (Webster), 1759-1840 [1797], The coquette, or, The history of Eliza Wharton: a novel, founded on fact (Samuel Etheridge, Boston) [word count] [eaf104].
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LETTER XI. [figure description] Page 032.[end figure description]

TO MR. CHARLES DEIGHTON.
New-Haven.

Well, Charles, I have been man
Ĺ“uvring to day, a little revengefully. That,
you will &longs;ay, is out of character. So baleful a
pa&longs;&longs;ion does not ea&longs;ily find admi&longs;&longs;ion among
tho&longs;e &longs;ofter ones, which you well know I cherish.
However, I am a mere Proteus, and can
a&longs;&longs;ume any &longs;hape that will be&longs;t an&longs;wer my purpose.

I called this forenooon, as I told you I intended,
at Gen. Richman's. I waited &longs;ome time in
the parlor alone, before Eliza appeared; and
when &longs;he did appear, the di&longs;tant re&longs;erve of her
manners, and the pen&longs;ivene&longs;s of her countenance
convinced me that &longs;he had been vexed, and
I doubted not but Peter Sanford was the occasion.
Her wife cou&longs;in, I could have &longs;worn, had
been giving her a detail of the vices of her
gallant; and warning her again&longs;t the danger
of a&longs;&longs;ociating with him in future. Notwithstanding,
I took no notice of any alteration in
her behavior; but entered with the utmo&longs;t facetiousness
into a conver&longs;ation which I thought

-- 033 --

[figure description] Page 033.[end figure description]

mo&longs;t to her ta&longs;te. By degrees, &longs;he a&longs;&longs;umed her
u&longs;ual vivacity; cheerfulne&longs;s and good humor
again animated her countenance. I tarried as
long as decency would admit. She having intimated
that they were to dine at my friend
Lawrence's, I caught at this information; and
determined to follow them, and teaze the jealous
Mrs. Richman, by playing off all the gallantry
I was ma&longs;ter of in her pre&longs;ence.

I went, and &longs;ucceeded to the utmo&longs;t of my
wi&longs;hes, as I read in the vexation, vi&longs;ible in the
one; and the ea&longs;e and attention di&longs;played by
the other. I believe too, that I have charmed
the eye at lea&longs;t, of the amiable Eliza. Indeed,
Charles, &longs;he is a fine girl. I think it would hurt,
my con&longs;cience to wound her mind or reputation.
Were I di&longs;po&longs;ed to marry, I am persuaded
&longs;he would make an excellent wife; but that
you know is no part of my plan, &longs;o long as I
can keep out of the noo&longs;e. Whenever I do submit
to be &longs;hackled, it mu&longs;t be from a nece&longs;&longs;ity
of mending my fortune. This girl would be
far from doing that. However, I am plea&longs;ed
with her acquaintance, and mean not to abu&longs;e
her credulity and good nature, if I can help it.

Peter Sanford.

-- 034 --

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Foster, Hannah (Webster), 1759-1840 [1797], The coquette, or, The history of Eliza Wharton: a novel, founded on fact (Samuel Etheridge, Boston) [word count] [eaf104].
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