This lady was one of my nearest relations, an orphan from her infancy, and under the guardianship of my father.

Our ages were nearly the same, and from our earliest years we were playfellows and friends.

I cannot remember the time when I did not love Eliza; and my affection for her, as we grew up, was such, as perhaps, judging from my present forlorn and cheerless gravity, you might think me incapable of having ever felt.

Hers, for me, was, I believe, fervent as the attachment of your sister to Mr.Willoughby and it was, though from a different cause, no less unfortunate.

At seventeen she was lost to me for ever.