 diamonds.
    I now employed my thoughts in keeping measures with my lord; we lay in the
same apartment, and for the first four or five months I neither dined nor supped
abroad, above twice; and then he knew where I was, and approved of my company.
But all this complacency and circumspection had no effect upon his temper, which
remained as capricious and dissatisfied as ever. Nay, to such a provoking degree
did this unhappy humour prevail, that one day, in the presence of his lawyer, he
harrangued upon my misconduct since our last re-union; and very freely affirmed,
that every step I had taken was diametrically opposite to his will.
    Conscious of the pains I had been at to please him, I was so incensed at
these unjust invectives, that starting up, I told him he was a little dirty
fellow; and would have left the house immediately, had not his lawyer, and
others, who were in the next room, interposed, and by dint of argument and
importunity diverted me from my purpose. By the bye, I have been informed by a
person of rank, that my lord discovered exactly the same disposition in his
father's life-time, and only changes the subject of his complaint from the word
father to that of wife. Indeed he takes all opportunities of plaguing my dear
parent, as he has just sagacity enough to know, that this is the most effectual
way he can take to distress me.
    After repeated trials, I have given up all hopes of making him happy, or of
finding myself easy in my situation; and live with him at present to avoid a
greater inconvenience. Not that his ill-nature is all the grievance of which I
complain: exclusive of the personal disgust I entertain for him, his folly is of
that species which disobliges rather than diverts, and his vanity and
affectation altogether intolerable; for he actually believes himself, or at
least would impose himself upon mankind, as a pattern in gallantry and taste;
and, in point of business, a person of infinite sagacity and penetration: but
the most ridiculous part of his character is his pretended talent for politics,
in which he so deeply concerns himself, that he has dismissed many a good
servant, because he suspected him of having wrong connexions; a theme upon which
he has often quarrelled with me, even almost to parting, accusing me of holding
correspondence with the earls of B- and C-, and Mr. H- V- tho' I never had the
least acquaintance with any of these gentlemen, except the earl of
