his I mention to show you, Madam, that he could not at this time be
privy to such a barbarous and disgraceful treatment of her.

We returned not till Saturday night, all in as good humour with one
another as we went out. We never had such pleasure in his company
before. If he would be good, and as he ought to be, no man would be
better beloved by relations than he. But never was there a greater
alteration in man when he came home, and received a letter from a
messenger, who, it seems, had been flattering himself in hopes of a
reward, and had been waiting for his return from the night before. In
such a fury!--The man fared but badly. He instantly shut himself up to
write, and ordered man and horse to be ready to set out before day-light
the next morning, to carry the letter to a friend in London.

He would not see us all that night; neither breakfast nor dine with us
next day. He ought, he said, never to see the light; and bid my sister,
whom he called an innocent, (and who was very desirous to know the
occasion of all this,) shun him, saying, he was a wretch, and made so by
his own inventions, and the consequences of them.

None of us could get out of him what so disturbed him. We should too
soon hear, he said, to the utter dissipation of all his hopes, and of all
ours.

We could easily suppose that all was not right with regard to the worthy
young lady and him.

He went out each day; and said he wanted to run away from himself.

Late on Monday night he received a letter from Mr. Belford, his most
favoured friend, by his own messenger; who came back in a foam, man and
horse. Whatever were the contents, he was not easier, but like a madman
rather: but still would not let us know the occasion. But to my sister
he said, nobody, my dear Patsey, who can think but of half the plagues
that pursue an intriguing spirit, would ever quit the fore-right path.

He was out when your messenger came: but soon came in; and bad enough was
his reception from us all. And he said, that his own torments were
greater than ours, than Miss Harlowe's, or your's, Madam, all put
together. He would see your letter. He always carries every thing
before him: and said, when he had read it, that he thanked God, he was
not such a villain, as you, with too great an appearance of reason,
thought him.

Thus, then, he owned the matter to be.

He had left general instructions to the people of the lodgings the dear
lady went from, to fin