the gentleman
who stayed, perceiving my concern, asked what I intended to do, or if he
could serve me in any shape, and desired to know whither I proposed to
retreat. I affected to laugh, and answered, "To a garret, I believe." To
this overstrained reasoning he replied, that if I should, his friendship
and regard would find the way to my apartment; and I had no reason to
doubt the sincerity of his declaration. We consulted about the measures
I should take, and I determined to remove into the country, where I was
soon favoured with a letter from him, wherein he expressed the infinite
pleasure he had in being able to assure me that my suit had been
successful, and that I might appear again with great safety.

"Accordingly, I returned to town in his coach and six, which he had
sent for my convenience, and the same evening went with him to the
masquerade, where we passed the night very agreeably, his spirits, as
well as mine, being elevated to a joyous pitch by the happy event of
my process. This gentleman was a person of great honour, worth, and
good-nature; he loved me extremely, but did not care that I should know
the extent of his passion. On the contrary, he endeavoured to persuade
me, he had laid it down as a maxim, that no woman should ever have power
enough over his heart to give him the least pain or disquiet. In short,
he had made a progress in my affection, and to his generosity was
I indebted for my subsistence two whole years; during which, he was
continually professing this philosophic indifference, while, at the same
time, he was giving me daily assurances of his friendship and esteem,
and treated me with incessant marks of the most passionate love; so
that I concluded his intention was cold, though his temper was warm.
Considering myself as an encumbrance upon his fortune, I redoubled my
endeavours to obtain a separate maintenance from my lord, and removed
from St. James's-square to lodgings at Kensington, where I had not
long enjoyed myself in tranquility, before I was interrupted by a very
unexpected visit.

"While I was busy one day dressing in my dining-room, I found his
lordship at my elbow before I was aware of his approach, although his
coach was at the door, and the house already in the possession of his
servants. He accosted me in the usual style, as if we had parted the
night before; and I answered him with an appearance of the same careless
familiarity, desiring him to sit down, while I retreated