ed with passion, that I was actually afraid of going to
bed with him; and next morning, when he awakened, there was such an
expression of frantic wildness in his countenance, that I imagined he
was actually distracted.

"This alarming circumstance confirmed me in my resolution of decamping;
and I accordingly moved my quarters to a house in Sackville-street,
where I had lodged when I was a widow. From thence I sent a message
to the duke of L--, desiring he would make my lord acquainted with the
place of my abode, my reasons for removing, and my intention to defend
myself against all his attempts. The first night of this separation I
went to bed by myself with as much pleasure as a man would feel in going
to bed to his mistress whom he had long solicited in vain, so rejoiced
was I to be delivered from my obnoxious bedfellow!

"From these lodgings I soon moved to Brook-street, where I had not long
enjoyed the sweets of my escape, when I was importuned to return, by a
new steward whom my lord had engaged in the room of H--. This gentleman,
who bore a very fair character, made such judicious representations, and
behaved so candidly in the discharge of his function, that I agreed
he should act as umpire in the difference betwixt us, and once more
a reconciliation was effected, though his lordship began to be
dissatisfied even before the execution of our agreement; in consequence
of which he attended me to Bath, whither I went for the benefit of my
health, which was not a little impaired.

"This accommodation had a surprising effect upon my lover, who,
notwithstanding his repeated declarations, that no woman should ever
gain such an ascendancy over his heart as to be able to give him pain,
suffered all the agonies of disappointed love, when he now found himself
deprived of the opportunities of seeing me, and behaved very differently
from what he had imagined he should. His words and actions were
desperate: one of his expressions to me was, "It is like twisting my
heart-strings, and tearing it out of my body." Indeed, I never should
have acted this part had I foreseen what he would have suffered; but
I protest I believed him, when he said otherwise, so much, that his
declaration on that subject was the occasion of my giving him up; and it
was now too late to retract.

"In our expedition to Bath, I was accompanied by a very agreeable young
lady, with whom I passed my time very happily, amid the diversions of
the place, which