ven
me room to hope I had gained; 'That, make up how you please with your
relations, you will never marry any other man, while I am living and
single, unless I should be so wicked as to give new cause for high
displeasure.'

I hesitate not to confirm this promise, Sir, upon your own condition. In
what manner do you expect to confirm it?

Only, Madam, by your word.

Then I never will.

He had the assurance (I was now in his power) to salute me as a sealing
of my promise, as he called it. His motion was so sudden, that I was not
aware of it. It would have looked affected to be very angry; yet I could
not be pleased, considering this as a leading freedom, from a spirit so
audacious and encroaching: and he might see, that I was not.

He passed all that my with an air peculiar to himself--Enough, enough,
dearest Madam! And now let me beg of you but to conquer this dreadful
uneasiness, which gives me to apprehend too much for my jealous love to
bear; and it shall be my whole endeavour to deserve your favour, and to
make you the happiest woman in the world; as I shall be the happiest of
men.

I broke from him to write to you my preceding letter; but refused to
send it by his servant, as I told you. The mistress of the house helped
me to a messenger, who was to carry what you should give him to Lord
M.'s seat in Hertfordshire, directed for Mrs. Greme, the housekeeper
there. And early in the morning, for fear of pursuit, we were to set
out that way: and there he proposed to change the chariot and six for a
chaise and pair of his own, which he had at that seat, as it would be a
less-noticed conveyance.

I looked over my little stock of money; and found it to be no more
than seven guineas and some silver: the rest of my stock was but fifty
guineas, and that five more than I thought it was, when my sister
challeneged me as to the sum I had by me:* and those I left in my
escritoire, little intending to go away with him.

* See Vol. I. Letter XLIII.

Indeed my case abounds with a shocking number of indelicate
circumstances. Among the rest, I was forced to account to him, who knew
I could have no clothes but what I had on, how I came to have linen with
me (for he could not but know I sent for it); lest he should imagine
I had an early design to go away with him, and made that part of the
preparation.

He most heartily wished, he said, for my mind's sake, that your mother
would have afforded me her protection; an