When we were in London, Mr. Markland had still more opportunities of seeing me. Sir George and my Lady were always abroad, or engaged in company. They seldom enquired after their son, thinking it the duty of polite parents to suffer him to take his own way; or if they happened to ask any questions, the servants knew what to answer. Thus almost all his time was passed with me. While I was busy in attending my Lady at her toilette, he made his necessary visits, that the rest of the day might be his own.

I confess I was not always desirous of avoiding him; but if I had, I could not easily have contrived it, for every servant was bought to his interest. I desired the house-maid, who had leisure in the afternoons, to come and work with me, thinking thereby either to prevent his coming, or at least to put some restraint on his addresses. But he no sooner entered, than she retired; and I found, upon questioning her, that every servant had felt his bounty, either to procure their secrecy, or assistance.

Sensible of my own weakness, and how far every one was combined for my destruction, I had still virtue enough left to wish that I could find some refuge against myself; but could see none, unless I could obtain it of my Lady. Filled with this thought, I determined to apply to her for advice and assistance, acknowlegeing my own excess of passion, and giving her as little reason as possible to be angry with her son.

I waited with impatience for a summons to attend my Lady at her toilette, and took no small pains to keep up my resolution; which perhaps I had never been able to form, had not Mr. Markland been obliged that morning to go abroad with his father.

The time at length came; but, to my great disappointment, I was followed in by a country neighbour of her Ladyship's, who immediately desired to speak with her alone.