people, who
had but a superficial knowledge of his disposition; but, in the course
of their acquaintance, they have never failed to discern and acknowledge
their mistake.

"The doctor, on his return from Tunbridge, to which place he had made a
trip by himself, found me ill abed, and the whole family in confusion.
Surprised and concerned at this disorder, he entered into expostulation
with my lord, who owned, that the cause of his displeasure and disquiet
was no other than jealousy. He had informed him, that I had been seen
to walk out with Mr. Bal-- in a morning; and that our correspondence had
been observed, with many additional circumstances, which were absolutely
false and groundless. This imputation was no sooner understood, than it
was resolved that the accuser should be examined in presence of us all.
He accordingly appeared, exceedingly drunk, though it was morning, and
repeated the articles of the charge, as an information he had received
from a man who came from town to hang the bells, and was long ago
returned to London.

"This was an instance of his cunning and address, which did not forsake
him even in his hours of intoxication. Had he fixed the calumny on any
one of the servants, he would have been confronted and detected in his
falsehood. Nevertheless, though he could not be legally convicted,
it plainly appeared that he was the author of this defamation, which
incensed Mr. Bal-- to such a degree, that he could scarce be withheld
from punishing him on the spot, by manual chastisement. However, he
was prevailed upon to abstain from such immediate vengeance, as a step
unworthy of his character; and the affair was brought to this issue,
that his lordship should either part with me or Mr. H--; for I was fully
determined against living under the same roof with such an incendiary.

"This alternative being proposed, my lord dismissed his steward, and we
returned to town with the doctor and Mrs. S--; for I had imbibed such
horror and aversion for this country seat, though one of the pleasantest
in England, that I could not bear to live in it. We therefore removed to
a house in Bond-street, where, according to the advice of my friends, I
exerted my whole power and complaisance in endeavours to keep my husband
in good-humour, but was so unsuccessful in my attempts, that, if ever he
was worse tempered, more capricious, or intolerable, at one time than at
another, this was the season in which his ill-humour predomi