Page:Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (1749, vol. 2).pdf/101

rity and society with my companions, whose particular favourites, (the Baronet excepted, who soon after took Harriet home) had all, on the terms of community establish'd in the house, sollicited the gratification of their taste for variety in my embraces; but I had with the utmost art and address, on various pretexts, eluded their persuit, without giving them cause to complain: and this reserve I used neither out of dislike to them, or disgust of the thing, but my true reason was my attachment to my own, and my tenderness of invading the choice of my companions, who outwardly exempt, as they seem'd, from jealousy, could not but in secret like me the better for the regard I had for, without making a merit of it to, them. Thus easy, and belov'd by the whole family did I go on, when one day, that, about five in the afternoon, I stepp'd over to a fruiterer's shop, in Covent-Garden, to pick some table-fruit for myself and the young women, I met with the following adventure.