“I did not put myself into a situation to justify a charge of adultery, till I had, from conviction, shaken off the fetters which bound me to Mr. Venables.—­While I lived with him, I defy the voice of calumny to sully what is termed the fair fame of woman.—­Neglected by my husband, I never encouraged a lover; and preserved with scrupulous care, what is termed my honour, at the expence of my peace, till he, who should have been its guardian, laid traps to ensnare me.  From that moment I believed myself, in the sight of heaven, free—­and no power on earth shall force me to renounce my resolution.”

The judge, in summing up the evidence, alluded to “the fallacy of letting women plead their feelings, as an excuse for the violation of the marriage-vow.  For his part, he had always determined to oppose all innovation, and the newfangled notions which incroached on the good old rules of conduct.  We did not want French principles in public or private life—­and, if women were allowed to plead their feelings, as an excuse or palliation of infidelity, it was opening a flood-gate for immorality.  What virtuous woman thought of her feelings?—­It was her duty to love and obey the man chosen by her parents and relations, who were qualified by their experience to judge better for her, than she could for herself.  As to the charges brought against the husband, they were vague, supported by no witnesses, excepting that of imprisonment in a private madhouse.  The proofs of an insanity in the family, might render that however a prudent measure; and indeed the conduct of the lady did not appear that of a person of sane mind.  Still such a mode of proceeding could not be justified, and might perhaps entitle the lady [in another court] to a sentence of separation from bed and board, during the joint lives of the parties; but he hoped that no Englishman would legalize adultery, by enabling the adulteress to enrich her seducer.  Too many restrictions could not be thrown in the way of divorces, if we wished to maintain the sanctity of marriage; and, though they might bear a little hard on a few, very few individuals, it was evidently for the good of the whole.”

CONCLUSION

BY THE EDITOR *

     * i.e., Godwin [Publisher’s note].

VERY FEW hints exist respecting the plan of the remainder of the work.  I find only two detached sentences, and some scattered heads for the continuation of the story.  I transcribe the whole.

I.  “Darnford’s letters were affectionate; but circumstances occasioned delays, and the miscarriage of some letters rendered the reception of wished-for answers doubtful:  his return was necessary to calm Maria’s mind.”

II.  “As Darnford had informed her that his business was settled, his delaying to return seemed extraordinary; but love to excess, excludes fear or suspicion.”

The scattered heads for the continuation of the story, are as follow. *