that he would never see me
again. But there was one circumstance in his manner of writing, from
which I conceived a happy presage of his future indulgence. He had
begun with his usual appellation of 'Dear Fanny,' which, though it was
expunged to make way for the word 'Madam,' encouraged me to hope that
his paternal fondness was not yet extinguished.

"At supper we were visited by Lord W--'s younger sister, who laughed
at us for our inconsiderate match, though she owned she envied our
happiness, and offered me the use of her clothes until I could retrieve
my own. She was a woman of a great deal of humour, plain but genteel,
civil, friendly, and perfectly well bred. She favoured us with her
company till the night was pretty far advanced, and did not take her
leave till we retired to our apartment.

"As our lodgings were not spacious or magnificent, we resolved to see
little company; but this resolution was frustrated by the numerous
acquaintance of Lord W--, who let in half the town: so that I ran the
gauntlet for a whole week among a set of wits, who always delight in
teasing a young creature of any note, when she happens to make such
a stolen match. Among those that visited us upon this occasion was my
lord's younger brother, who was at that time in keeping with a rich
heiress of masculine memory, and took that opportunity of making
a parade with his equipage, which was indeed very magnificent, but
altogether disregarded by us, whose happiness consisted in the opulence
of mutual love.

"This ceremony of receiving visits being performed, we went to wait on
his mother, the duchess of H--, who, hearing I was an heiress, readily
forgave her son for marrying without her knowledge and consent, and
favoured us with a very cordial reception; insomuch, that for several
months, we dined almost constantly at her table; and I must own, I
always found her unaltered in her civility and affection, contrary
to her general character, which was haughty and capricious. She was
undoubtedly a woman of great spirit and understanding, but subject to
an infirmity which very much impairs and disguises every other
qualification.

"In about three weeks after our marriage, I was so happy as to obtain
the forgiveness of my father, to whose house we repaired, in order
to pay our respects and submission. At sight of me he wept; nor did I
behold his tears unmoved. My heart was overcharged with tenderness and
sorrow, for having offended such an in