TO MADAM LA COMTESSE DE FEUILLDE THIS NOVEL IS INSCRIBED BY HER OBILIGED HUMBLE SERVANT
THE AUTHOR
“Deceived in Friendship and Betrayed in Love”

Love and friendship

Billu

TO MADAM LA COMTESSE DE FEUILLDE THIS NOVEL IS INSCRIBED BY HER OBILIGED HUMBLE SERVANT

“Deceived in Friendship and Betrayed in Love”

How often, in answer to my repeated entreaties that you would give my daughter a regular detail of the Misfortunes and Adventures of tour Life, have you said “No, my friend never will I comply with your request till I may be no longer in Danger of again experiencing such dreadful ones.”

Surely that time is now at hand. You are this day 55. If a woman may ever be said to be in safety from the determined Perseverance of disagreeable Lovers and of obstinate Fathers, surely it must be at such a time of Life. Isabel

Although I can’t agree with You in supposing that I hall never again be exposed to Misfortunes as unmerited as those I have already experienced, yet to avoid the imputation of Obstinacy or ill-nature, I will gratify the curiosity of your daughter; and many the fortitude with which I have suffered the many afflictions of my past Life, prove to her a useful lesson for the support of those which may befall her in her own. Laura

As the daughter of my most intimate freind I think you are entitled to that Knowledge of my unhappy story, which your mother has so often solicited me to give you.

My Father was a native of Ireland and an inhabitant of Wales; my mother was the natural Daughter of a Scotch Peer by an Italian Opera- girl I was born in Spain and received my Education at a Convent in France.

When I had reached my eighteenth Year I was recalled by my Parents to my paternal roof in Wales. Our mansion was situated in one of the most romantic parts of the Vale of Uske. Tho’ my Charms are now considerably softened and somewhat impaired by the Misfortunes I have undergone I was once beautiful. But lovely as I was the Graces of my Perfections. Of every accomplishment accustomed to my sex, I was Mistress. Had always exceeded my instructions, my Acquirements had been wonderful for my age, and I had shortly surpassed my Masters.

In my mind, every Virtue that cloud adorned it was centered; it was Rendez-vous of every good quality and every noble sentiment.

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