, happened to have some words with my
lord, who was so violently transported with passion, that I was actually afraid
of going to bed with him; and next morning when he waked, there was such an
expression of frantic wildness in his countenance, that I imagined he was
actually distracted.
    This alarming circumstance confirmed me in my resolution of decamping; and I
accordingly moved my quarters to an house in Sackville-street, where I had
lodged when I was a widow; and when I was settled, sent a message to the duke of
L-, desiring he would make my lord acquainted with the place of my abode, my
reasons for removing, and my intention to defend myself against all his
attempts. The first night of this separation I went to bed by myself, with as
much pleasure as a man could do in going to bed to his mistress, whom he had
long solicited in vain. So rejoiced was I to be delivered from my obnoxious
bedfellow!
    I had not long changed my lodgings, which I did to Brook-street, and enjoyed
the sweets of my escape, when I was importuned to return, by a new steward whom
my lord had engaged in the room of H-n. This gentleman, who bore a very fair
character, made such judicious representations, and behaved so candidly in the
discharge of his function, that I agreed he should act as umpire in the
difference between us; and once more a reconciliation was effected, tho' his
lordship began to be dissatisfied even before the execution of our agreement, in
consequence of which he attended me to Bath, whither I went for the benefit of
my health, which was not a little impaired.
    This accommodation had a surprising effect upon my lover, who,
notwithstanding his repeated declarations, that no woman should ever gain such
an ascendency over his heart, as to be able to give him pain, suffered all the
agonies of disappointed love, when he now found himself deprived of the
opportunities of seeing me, and behaved very differently from what he had
imagined he should: his words and actions were desperate; one of his expressions
to me was, »It is like twisting my heart-strings, and tearing it out of my
body.« And I should never have done it, had I thought he would have suffered;
but I protest I believed him when he said otherwise so much, that it was the
occasion of my giving him up; and it was now too late to retract.
    In our expedition to the Bath I was accompanied by a very agreeable young
lady, with whom
