XIV

sconduct,andremovesalltheblamewhichhasbeensolavishedonher,mayalsoconvinceushowlittlethegeneralreportofanyoneoughttobecreditedsincenocharacter,howeverupright,canescapethemalevolenceofslander.Ifmysister,inthesecurityofretirement,withaslittleopportunityasinclinationtodoevil,couldnotavoidcensure,wemustnotrashlycondemnthosewho,livingintheworldandsurroundedwithtemptations,shouldbeaccusedoferrorswhichtheyareknowntohavethepowerofcommitting. IblamemyselfseverelyforhavingsoeasilybelievedtheslanderoustalesinventedbyCharlesSmithtotheprejudiceofLadySusan,asIamnowconvincedhowgreatlytheyhavetraducedher.AstoMrs.Mainwaring’sjealousyitwastotallyhisowninvention,andhisaccountofherattachingMissMainwaring’sloverwasscarcelybetterfounded.SirJamesMartinhadbeendrawninbythatyoungladytopayhersomeattentionandasheisamanoffortune,itwaseasytoseeher