ished by our worthy
steward, who therefore determined to overturn our whole plan, and
succeeded accordingly. My lord, all of a sudden, declared himself
against the jaunt we had projected, and insisted upon my staying at
home, without assigning any reason for this peremptory behaviour; his
countenance being cloudy, and, for the space of three days, he did not
open his mouth. At last, he one night entered my bedchamber, to which
he now had free access, with his sword under his arm, and, if I remember
aright, it was ready drawn. I could not help taking notice of this
alarming circumstance, which shocked me the more, as it happened
immediately after a gloomy fit of discontent. However, I seemed to
overlook the incident, and, dismissing my maid, went to bed; because I
was ashamed to acknowledge, even to my own heart, any dread of a person
whom I despised so much. However, the strength of my constitution was
not equal to the fortitude of my mind. I was taken ill, and the servants
were obliged to be called up; while my lord himself, terrified at my
situation, ran upstairs to Mrs. S--, who was in bed, told her, with
evident perturbation of spirits, that I was very much indisposed, and
said, he believed I was frightened by his entering my chamber with his
sword in hand.

"This lady was so startled at his information, that she ran into my
apartment half naked, and as she went down-stairs, asked what reason
could induce him to have carried his sword with him. Upon which he gave
her to understand, that his intention was to kill the bats. I believe
and hope he had no other design than that of intimidating me; but when
the affair happened, I was of a different opinion. Mrs. S--, having put
on her clothes, sat up all night by my bedside, and was so good as to
assure me that she would not leave me until I should be safely delivered
from the apprehensions that surrounded me in this house, to which she
and the doctor had been the principal cause of my coming; for my lord
had haunted and importuned them incessantly on this subject, protesting
that he loved me with the most inviolable affection; and all he desired
was, that I would sit at his table, manage his family, and share his
fortune. By these professions, uttered with an air of honesty and
good-nature, he had imposed himself upon them for the best tempered
creature upon earth; and they used all their influence with me to take
him into favour. This has been the case with a great many