4
so; — my dear Creature, I have admitted no one's atten:
:tions but Mainwaring's. I have avoided all general
flirtation whatever, I have distinguished no Creature
besides, of all the numbers resorting hither, except
Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little notice
in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring.
But, if the world could know my motive there
they would honour me. — I have been called an un:
:kind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of
maternal affection, it was the advantage of my
Daughter that led me on; & if that Daughter
were not the greatest simpleton on Earth, I might
have been rewarded for my Exertions as I ought. —
Sir James did make proposals to me for Frede:
:rica — but Frederica, who was born to be the
torment of my life, chose to set herself so vio:
:lently against the match that I thought it
better to lay aside the scheme for the present. —
I have more than once repented that I did not

5
marry him myself, & were he but one degree
less contemptibly weak I certainly should, but
I must own myself rather romantic in that re:
:spect, & that Riches only, will not satisfy me.
The event of all this is very provoking. — Sir James
is gone, Maria highly incensed, & M^rs. Mainwaring
insupportably jealous; — so jealous, in short, & so en:
:raged against me, that in the fury of her temper
I should not be surprized at her appealing to her
Guardian if she had the liberty of addressing him —
but there your husband stands my friend, & the
kindest, most amiable action of his life was his
throwing her off forever on her marriage. — Keep up
his resentment therefore I charge you. — We are
now in a sad state; no house was ever more altered;
the whole party are at war, & Mainwaring scarcely
dares speak to me. It is time for me to be gone;
I have therefore determined on leaving them, & shall
spend I hope a comfortable day with you in Town

6
within this week. — If I am as little in favour with
Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at No. 10
Wigmore S^t: — but I hope this may not be the case, for
as Mr. Johnson with all his faults is a man to
whom that great word "Respectable" is always given,
& I am known to be so intimate with his wife, his
slighting me has an awkward Look. — I take
Town in my way to that insupportable spot, a Coun:
:try Village, for I am really going to Churchhill. —
Forgive me, my dear friend, it is my last resource.
Were there another place in England open to me,
I would prefer it. — Charles Vernon is my aversion,
& I am afraid of his wife. — At Churchhill however
I must remain till I have something better in
view. My young Lady accompanies me to Town,
where I shall deposit her under the care of Miss
Summers in Wigmore street, till she becomes a little
more reasonable. She will make good connections there,
as the girls are all of the best Families. — The price is