, and particularly as they were always
very tedious and impertinent; nor could my Lord ---- be pleased with
them at all if they had gone on. It would be diverting to set down here
in what manner I repulsed these sort of people; how in some I resented
it as an affront, and told them that I was sorry they should oblige me
to vindicate myself from the scandal of such suggestions by telling them
that I could see them no more, and by desiring them not to give
themselves the trouble of visiting me, who, though I was not willing to
be uncivil, yet thought myself obliged never to receive any visit from
any gentleman after he had made such proposals as those to me. But these
things would be too tedious to bring in here. It was on this account I
proposed to his lordship my taking new lodgings for privacy; besides, I
considered that as I might live very handsomely, and yet not so
publicly, so I needed not spend so much money by a great deal; and if I
made L500 a year of this generous person, it was more than I had any
occasion to spend by a great deal.

My lord came readily into this proposal, and went further than I
expected, for he found out a lodging for me in a very handsome house,
where yet he was not known--I suppose he had employed somebody to find
it out for him--and where he had a convenient way to come into the
garden by a door that opened into the park, a thing very rarely allowed
in those times.

By this key he could come in at what time of night or day he pleased;
and as we had also a little door in the lower part of the house which
was always left upon a lock, and his was the master-key, so if it was
twelve, one, or two o'clock at night, he could come directly into my
bedchamber. _N.B._--I was not afraid I should be found abed with anybody
else, for, in a word, I conversed with nobody at all.

It happened pleasantly enough one night, his lordship had stayed late,
and I, not expecting him that night, had taken Amy to bed with me, and
when my lord came into the chamber we were both fast asleep. I think it
was near three o'clock when he came in, and a little merry, but not at
all fuddled or what they call in drink; and he came at once into the
room.

Amy was frighted out of her wits, and cried out. I said calmly, "Indeed,
my lord, I did not expect you to-night, and we have been a little
frighted to-night with fire." "Oh!" says he, "I see you have got a
bedfellow with you." I began to make an apology. "No, no," says