nated in the
most rancorous degree. I was scarce ever permitted to stir abroad, saw
nobody at home, but my old male friend, whom I have mentioned above; and
the doctor, with his lady, from whose conversation, also, I was at last
excluded.

"Nevertheless, I contrived to steal a meeting now and then with my late
benefactor, for whom I entertained a great share of affection, exclusive
of that gratitude that was due to his generosity. It was not his fault
that I compromised matters with my lord; for he was as free of his purse
as I was unwilling to use it. It would, therefore, have been unfriendly,
unkind, and ungrateful in me, now that I was in affluence, to avoid all
intercourse with a man who had supported me in adversity. I think people
cannot be too shy and scrupulous in receiving favours; but once they are
conferred, they ought never to forget the obligation. And I was never
more concerned at any incident of my life, than at hearing that this
gentleman did not receive a letter, in which I acknowledged the last
proof of his friendship and liberality which I had occasion to use,
because I have since learned that he suspected me of neglect.

"But to return to my situation in Bond-street. I bore it as well as I
could for the space of three months, during which I lived in the midst
of spies, who were employed to watch my conduct, and underwent every
mortification that malice, power, and folly could inflict. Nay, so
ridiculous, so unreasonable was my tyrant in his spleen, that he
declared he would even be jealous of Heydigger, if there was no other
man to incur his suspicion: he expected that I should spend my whole
time with him tete-a-tete; when I sacrificed my enjoyment to these
comfortable parties, he never failed to lay hold on some innocent
expression of mine, which he made the foundation of a quarrel; and, when
I strove to avoid these disagreeable misinterpretations by reading or
writing, he incessantly teased and tormented me with the imputation of
being peevish, sullen, and reserved.

"Harassed by this insufferable behaviour, I communicated my case to
Dr. S-- and his lady, intimating that I neither could nor would expose
myself any longer to such usage. The doctor exhorted me to bear my fate
with patience; and Mrs. S-- was silent on the subject; so that I still
hesitated between staying and going, when the doctor, being one night at
supper, happened to have some words with my lord, who was so violently
transport