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pass at home during the illness of his wife, were most charmingly
beguiled by the amusing & lively Madam Luneville.

The coquetry natural to her disposition, she had indulged during her
youth simply for amusement & the gratification of her vanity,
It had now become so habitual, that whenever opportunity offer
-ed she could not resist using the power she felt she
possessed, of exciting love & admiration. Sometimes she was
prompted to this trial of her powers, by a curiosity to know
if her attractions were as yet undiminished -- at other times
she was stimulated by the coldness & indifference which she had
a secret delight in vanquishing; to triumph over positive dis-
-like was a matter of still greater exultation; in fact Alexan
-der's desire of conquering kingdoms, was not greater than
she felt to conquer hearts, & like him she would have wept
had no more remained to conquer. It was not that she cared
for them after they were won, no, she was prompted by the love
of conquest, & like every one who possesses power, she loved to use it.

It is not then to be supposed she would neglect the oppor-
-tunity now thrown in her way. Clifton was young & handsome
& according to her morals she thought it no sin to
possess herself of those affections which she soon discovered
were not occupied by his wife. At first she had no design
beyond her usual love of conquest; but the intimacy in
which she lived with him, & his absolute indifference to Julia,
suggested to her the idea of supplanting her friend, not only
in the affections, but the rights of a wife. If she could by
any means effect a seaparation, -- procure a divorce, she
could then fill the vacated place & gain the heart, fortune
& name of Clifton. Some change in her situation had become
absolutely necessary. Always living beyond her means, she had
now long lived beyond her credit, she had failed in several of
her matrimonial speculations & was somewhat disheartened,
when by becoming the inmate of Clifton's family, she discovered
all the secrets of his domestic circumstances -- obtained a thorough know-
-ledge of his & Julia's characters -- & determined to turn the