Volume 1, Letter 16: Answer

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​⁠Every line of your terrible letter made me shudder. But I will obey you; I have promised, and it is my duty: yes, you shall be obeyed. But you cannot conceive, no, barbarous Eloisa, you will never comprehend how this cruel sacrifice affects my heart. There wanted not the trial in the bower to increase my sensibility. It was a merciless refinement of inhumanity, and I now defy you to make me more m