times furious with anger, sometimes relenting at her tears, and
sometimes terrified at her menaces, was so greatly agitated, that he
knew not how to answer, either the nicety of a creature who wanted to
act the part of Lucretia under his own eye, or the assurance with which
she had the effrontery to reproach him. In this suspense, love had
almost entirely vanquished all his resentments, and had nearly induced
him to throw himself upon his knees, and entreat pardon for the injury
he had done her, when she desired him to retire, and leave her in
repose, at least for the remainder of that night, without offending
those who had either accompanied him, or conducted him to her
apartments, by a longer visit. This impertinent request provoked and
irritated him to the highest degree: he went out abruptly, vowing never
to see her more, and passed the most restless and uneasy night he had
ever experienced since his restoration.

The next day the Duke of Richmond received orders to quit the court, and
never more to appear before the king; but it seems he had not waited for
those orders, having set out early that morning for his country seat.

Miss Stewart, in order to obviate all injurious constructions that might
be put upon the adventure of the preceding night, went and threw herself
at the queen's feet; where, acting the new part of an innocent
Magdalen, she entreated her majesty's forgiveness for all the sorrow and
uneasiness she might have already occasioned her. She told her majesty
that a constant and sincere repentance had induced her to contrive all
possible means for retiring from court: that this reason had inclined
her to receive the Duke of Richmond's addresses, who had courted her
a long time; but since this courtship had caused his disgrace, and had
likewise raised a vast noise and disturbance, which perhaps might be
turned to the prejudice of her reputation, she conjured her Majesty
to take her under her protection, and endeavour to obtain the king's
permission for her to retire into a convent, to remove at once all those
vexations and troubles her presence had innocently occasioned at court.
All this was accompanied with a proper deluge of tears.

It is a very agreeable spectacle to see a rival prostrate at our feet,
entreating pardon, and at the same time justifying her conduct. The
queen's heart not only relented, but she mingled her own tears with
those of Miss Stewart. After having raised her up, and most tend