to my chamber,
locked the door, and fairly went to bed; being perhaps the first woman
who went thither for protection from the insults of a man. Here, then.
I immured myself with my faithful Abigail. My lord finding me secured,
knocked at the door, and through the keyhole begged to be admitted,
assuring me that all he wanted was a conference. I desired to be
excused, though I believed his assurance; but I had no inclination to
converse with him, because I knew from experience the nature of his
conversation, which was so disagreeable and tormenting, that I would
have exchanged it at any time for a good beating, and thought myself
a gainer by the bargain. However, he persisted in his importunities to
such a degree, that I assented to his proposal, on condition that the
duke of L-- should be present at the interview: and he immediately sent
a message for his grace, while I, in peace, ate my breakfast, conveyed
in a basket, which was hoisted up to the window of my bedchamber.

"The duke was so kind as to come at my lord's request, and, before I
would open the door, gave me his word, that I should be protected from
all violence and compulsion. Thus assured, they were permitted to enter.
My little gentleman, sitting down by my bedside, began to repeat the old
hackneyed arguments he had formerly used, with a view of inducing me
to live with him; and I, on my side, repeated my former objections, or
pretended to listen to his representations, while my imagination was
employed in contriving the means of effecting an escape, as the duke
easily perceived by my countenance.

"Finding all his remonstrances ineffectual, he quitted the chamber, and
left his cause to the eloquence of his grace, who sat with me a whole
half-hour, without exerting himself much in behalf of his client,
because he knew I was altogether obstinate and determined on that score;
but joked upon the behaviour of his lordship, who, though jealous of
most people, had left him alone with me in my bedchamber, observing,
that he must neither have great confidence in his virtue, or a very
bad opinion of him otherwise. In short, I found means to defer the
categorical answer till next day, and invited the duke and his lordship
to dine with me to-morrow. My wise yoke-fellow seemed to doubt the
sincerity of this invitation, and was very much disposed to keep
possession of my house. But, by the persuasion of his grace, and the
advice of H--, who was his chief counsellor a