Life in the Country
When her aunt wrote to her father about her heresy, he ordered her to the country at age fifteen. She found herself suddenly deprived of town pleasures and initially grew melancholy, though she eventually grew accustomed to solitude. She consoled herself with a good library and divided her time between family management, visiting, and rural diversions. Having more imagination than judgment, she addicted herself too much to poetry and romance, becoming regarded as an extraordinary person by everyone in the neighborhood.
Assault by the Drunken Squire
One evening while reading in a wood bordering the high road near her father’s house, a drunken squire rode by, perceived her, and alighted to treat her rudely. She shrieked and opposed his violence with all her strength. During this struggle, another horseman came to her assistance, dismounted, and flew to help her.
Rescue by the Gentleman Stranger
The squire, maddened by the intervention, drew a pistol and fired at her protector, who suffered no damage. The stranger then struck the squire down with his whip and threatened him with his own second pistol. The narrator interceded and begged for the squire’s life, which was granted after he asked pardon and claimed his intention was only to obtain a kiss. The stranger unloaded the remaining pistol before giving him liberty. He then conducted her home.
The Stranger’s Appearance
Her father, learning of the service rendered, loaded the stranger with caresses and insisted he stay the night. The narrator was inspired with gratitude and found him entitled to more. He was about twenty-two, among the tallest of the middle size, with chestnut-colored hair tied in a ribbon, a high polished forehead, an aquiline nose, lively blue eyes, red pouting lips, teeth white as snow, and an open countenance. She noted he was the exact resemblance of her listener, and if she had not known his family and degree, she would have thought them brothers. His conversation was ingenuous, sensible, and uncommon. They learned he was the eldest son of a wealthy local gentleman and had been returning from visiting an acquaintance when her shrieks brought him to her rescue.
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