To her the escapades of foolish damsels were abominable.

The laws of society as well as of her exalted station were in harmony with her intelligence.

She thought them good, but obeyed them as a subject, not slavishly: she claimed the right to exercise her trained reason.

The modestest, humblest, sweetest of women, undervaluing nothing that she possessed, least of all what was due from her to others, she could go whithersoever her reason directed her, putting anything aside to act justly according to her light.

Nor would she have had cause to repent had I been the man she held me to be.