Among those that visited us
upon this occasion was my lord's younger brother, who was at that
time in keeping with a rich heiress of masculine memory, and took
that opportunity of making a parade with his equipage, which was
indeed very magnificent, but altogether disregarded by us, whose
happiness consisted in the opulence of mutual love.
"This ceremony of receiving visits being performed, we went to wait
on his mother, the duchess of H--, who, hearing I was an heiress,
readily forgave her son for marrying without her knowledge and
consent, and favoured us with a very cordial reception; insomuch,
that for several months, we dined almost constantly at her table;
and I must own, I always found her unaltered in her civility and
affection, contrary to her general character, which was haughty
and capricious. She was undoubtedly a woman of great spirit and
understanding, but subject to an infirmity which very much impairs
and disguises every other qualification.
"In about three weeks after our marriage, I was so happy as to
obtain the forgiveness of my father, to whose house we repaired, in
order to pay our respects and submission.
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