This was the case with me; and now the irrevocable
step was taken, my first care was to avoid his sight. With this
view, I begged that Lord W-- would think of some remote place
in the country, to which we might retire for the present, and he
forthwith conducted me to a house on Blackheath, where we were very
civilly received by a laughter-loving dame, who seemed to mistake
me for one of her own sisterhood. I no sooner perceived her opinion,
than I desired Lord W-- to undeceive her; upon which she was made
acquainted with the nature of my situation, and showed us into
a private room, where I called for pen and paper, and wrote an
apology to my father, for having acted contrary to his will in so
important a concern.
"This task being performed, the bridegroom gave me to understand,
that there was a necessity for our being bedded immediately, in
order to render the marriage binding, lest my father should discover
and part us before consummation. I pleaded hard for a respite till
the evening, objecting to the indecency of going to bed before noon;
but he found means to invalidate all my arguments, and to convince
me that it was now my duty to obey.
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