The spirit of mischievous gaiety possessed me.

I proceeded on tiptoe.

You did not perceive my entrance; and I advanced softly till I was able to overlook your shoulder.
"I had gone thus far in error, and had no power to recede.

How cautiously should we guard against the first inroads of temptation! I knew that to pry into your papers was criminal; but I reflected that no sentiment of yours was of a nature which made it your interest to conceal it.

You wrote much more than you permitted your friends to peruse.