'And how can you talk so,' cried I, 'before you know me to be a murderess? It is not just, it is not generous, it is not feminine. Men impelled by love, may deprive our sex of virtue; but we ourselves, actuated by rancorous, not gentle impulses, rob each other of character.' 'Oh! indeed, you have done for yourself now,' said the young lady. 'That sentence of morality has settled you completely.' 'Then I presume you do not admire morality,' said I. 'Not from the lips of a low wretch like you,' said she. 'Know, young woman,' cried I, 'that the current which runs through these veins is registered in hereditary heraldry.' The company gave a most disgusting laugh. 'It is,' cried I, 'I tell you it is. I tell you I am of the blood noble.' 'Oh blood!' squeaked a young gentleman. What wonder that I forgot my prudence amidst these indignities? Yes, the proud spirit of my ancestors swelled my heart, all my house stirred within me, and the blood of the De Willoughbys rose into my face, as I drew the magnificent picture from my bosom, pointed a quivering finger at it, and exclaimed: 'Behold the portrait of my titled mother!' 'See, see!' cried the girls crowding round. ''Tis covered all over with diamonds!' 'I flatter myself it is,' said I. 'There is proof irrefragable for you!' 'Proof enough to hang you I fancy!' cried the old gentleman, snatching it out of my hand. 'So now, my lady, you must march to the magistrate.' I wept, knelt, entreated, all was in vain: his son, the young man who had paid my face the compliment, took charge of my person, and accompanied by the servant who had seized me, set off with me to the magistrate's. During our walk, he tried to discover how I had got possession of the picture, but I was on my guard, and merely replied that time would tell my innocence. On a sudden, he desired the servant to go back for an umbrella, and take it to the magistrate's after him. The man having left us: 'Now,' said the 'squire, 'whether you are a pilferer of pictures I know not, but this I know, that you are a pilferer of hearts, and that I am determined to keep you in close custody, till you return mine, which you have just stolen. To be plain, I will extricate you from your present difficulty, and conceal you in a cottage just at hand, if you will allow me to support and visit you. You understand me.' The blood gushed into my cheeks as he spoke; but however indignant I felt at the proposal, I likewise felt that it would be prudent to dissemble; and as other heroines in similar predicaments do not hesitate to hint that they will compromise their honours, I too determined to give my tempter some hope; and thus make him my friend till I could extricate myself from this emergency. I therefore replied that I trusted he would not find me deficient in gratitude. 'Thank you, love,' said he. 'And now here is the cottage.'