dulgent parent; so that I mingled
my tears with his, while my dear husband, whose soul was of the softest
and gentlest mould, melted with sympathy at the affecting scene. Being
thus reconciled to my father, we attended him into the country, where
we were received by my mother, who was a sensible good woman, though
not susceptible to love, and therefore less apt to excuse a weakness
to which she was an utter stranger. This was likewise the case with an
uncle, from whom I had great expectations. He was a plain good-natured
man, and treated us with great courtesy, though his notions, in point
of love, were not exactly conformable to ours. Nevertheless, I was,
and seemed to be so happy in my choice, that my family not only became
satisfied with the match, but exceedingly fond of Lord W--.

"After a short stay with them in the country, we returned to London, in
order to be introduced at court, and then set out for the north, on a
visit to my brother-in-law the duke of H--, who had, by a letter to Lord
W--, invited us to his habitation. My father accordingly equipped us
with horses and money; for our own finances were extremely slender,
consisting only of a small pension, allowed by his grace, upon whom
the brothers were entirely dependent, the father having died suddenly,
before suitable provision could be made for his younger children.

"When I took leave of my relations, bidding adieu to my paternal home,
and found myself launching into a world of care and trouble, though the
voyage on which I embarked was altogether voluntary, and my companion
the person on whom I doted to distraction,--I could not help feeling
some melancholy sensations, which, however, in a little time, gave way
to a train of more agreeable ideas. I was visited in town by almost
all the women of fashion, many of whom, I perceived, envied me the
possession of a man who had made strange havoc among their hearts, and
some of them knew the value of his favour. One in particular endeavoured
to cultivate my friendship with singular marks of regard; but I thought
proper to discourage her advances, by keeping within the bounds of bare
civility; and, indeed, to none of them was I lavish of my complaisance;
for I dedicated my whole time to the object of my affection, who
engrossed my wishes to such a degree, that, although I was never
jealous, because I had no reason to be so, I envied the happiness of
every woman whom he chanced at any time to hand into a coach.