 me an unquestionable proof
of my being in full possession of his heart.
    My appearance at Bath, without the company of lord B--, occasioned a general
surprize, and encouraged the men to pester me with addresses; every new admirer
endeavouring to advance his suit, by demonstrating the unkind and disrespectful
behaviour of his lordship. Indeed, this was the most effectual string they could
touch: my pride and resentment were alarmed, and I was weak enough to listen to
one man, who had like to have insinuated himself into my inclinations. He was
tall and large boned, with white hair, inclining to what is called sandy, and
had the reputation of being handsome, tho' I think he scarce deserved that
epithet. He possessed a large fortune, loved mischief, and stuck at nothing for
the accomplishment of his designs; one of his chief pleasures, being that of
setting any two lovers at variance. He employed his address upon me with great
assiduity, and knew so well how to manage my resentment, that I was pleased with
his manner, heard his vows without disgust, and, in a word, promised to
deliberate with myself upon his proposals, and give him an account of my
determination in writing.
    Thus resolved, I went to lord B--, in Wiltshire, whither I was followed by
this pretender to my heart, who visited us on the footing of an acquaintance;
but when I reflected on what I had done, I condemned my own conduct, as
indiscreet, though nothing decisive had passed between us, and began to hate him
in proportion to the self-conviction I felt; perceiving that I had involved
myself in a difficulty from which I should not be easily disengaged. For the
present, however, I found means to postpone my declaration; he admitted my
excuse, and I returned to London with lord B--, who was again summoned to the
field by his former challenger.
    H-d-n, governor, counsellor, and steward to this little hero, came to lord
B-- with a verbal message, importing, that his lordship had changed his mind
about going to Flanders, but expected to meet him, on such a day and hour, in
the burying-ground near Red-lion-square. Lord B-- accepted the challenge, and
gave me an account of what had passed; but he had been anticipated by the
messenger, who had already tried to alarm my fears, from the consideration of
the consequence, that I might take some measures to prevent their meeting. But I
perceived his drift,
