l distinguish by the name of Mrs. S--), for the space of ten weeks,
during which I saw nobody, and never once stirred abroad.

"While I was thus harassed out of all enjoyment of life, and reduced
to the utmost indigence, by the cruelty of my persecutor, who had even
stripped me of my wearing apparel, I made a conquest of Lord D--,
a nobleman who is now dead, and therefore I shall say little of his
character, which is perfectly well known: this only will I observe,
that, next to my own tyrant, he was the person of whom I had the
greatest abhorrence. Nevertheless, when these two came in competition,
I preferred the offers of this new lover, which were very considerable;
and as an asylum was the chief thing I wanted, agreed to follow him
to his country seat, whither I actually sent my clothes, which I had
purchased upon credit.

"However, upon mature deliberation, I changed my mind, and signified my
resolution in a letter, desiring at the same time that my baggage might
be sent back. In consequence of this message, I expected a visit from
him, in all the rage of indignation and disappointment, and gave orders
that he should not be admitted into my house yet, notwithstanding this
precaution, he found means to procure entrance; and one of the first
objects that I saw, next morning, in my bedchamber, was my lover, armed
with a horsewhip, against which, from the knowledge of the man, I did
not think myself altogether secure; though I was not much alarmed,
because I believed myself superior to him in point of bravery, should
the worst come to the worst. But, contrary to my expectation, and his
usual behaviour to our sex, he accosted me very politely, and began to
expostulate on the contents of my letter. I freely told him, that I had
rashly assented to his proposal, for my own convenience only; that, when
I reflected on what I had done, I thought it ungenerous in me to live
with him upon these terms; and that, as I did not like him, and
could not dissemble, such a correspondence could never tend to the
satisfaction of either. He allowed the inference was just, though he
was very much chagrined at my previous proceeding. He relinquished his
claim, restored my clothes, and never afterwards upbraided me with my
conduct in this affair; though he at one time owned, that he still loved
me, and ever should, because I had used him ill; a declaration that
strongly marks the peculiarity of his character. As for my own part, I
own that m