r's lodgings, where I lay, the family
being in town, though he himself was in the country. I wrote to him
immediately; and, when he came to London, declared my intention of
separating from my lord; in which, seeing me obstinate and determined,
he at length acquiesced, and a formal separation accordingly ensued,
which at that time I thought binding and immutable.

"I was now sheltered under the wings of an indulgent father, who had
taken me into favour again, on the supposition that my commerce with Mr.
S-- was absolutely at an end. Nevertheless, though we had separated,
in all appearance for ever, we had previously agreed to maintain our
correspondence in private interviews, which should escape the notice of
the world, with which I was again obliged to keep some measures.

"Our parting at the duke of K--'s house in the country was attended with
all the genuine marks of sincere and reciprocal affection, and I lived
in the sweet hope of seeing him again, in all the transport of his
former passion, when my lawyer, who received my letters, brought me a
billet one night, just as I had gone to bed. Seeing the superscription
of S--'s handwriting, I opened it with all the impatience of an absent
lover; but how shall I describe the astonishment and consternation with
which I was seized, when I perused the contents! Instead of the most
tender vows and protestations, this fatal epistle began with, Madam,
the best thing you can do is to return to your father, or some cold and
killing expression to that effect.

"Heaven and earth! what did I feel at this dire conjuncture! the light
forsook my eyes, a cold sweat bedewed my limbs, and I was overwhelmed
with such a torrent of sorrow and surprise, that everybody present
believed I would have died under the violent agitation. They endeavoured
to support my spirits with repeated draughts of strong liquor, which had
no sensible effect upon my constitution, though for eight whole years
I had drunk nothing stronger than water; and I must have infallibly
perished in the first ecstasy of my grief, had it not made its way in
a fit of tears and exclamation, in which I continued all night, to the
amazement of the family, whom my condition had alarmed, and raised from
their repose. My father was the only person who guessed the cause of
my affliction; he said he was sure I had received some ill-usage in
a letter or message from that rascal S--; so he termed him in the
bitterness of passion.

"A