No wonder
then, that I, who am hot and hasty, should be wretched, under the
persecution of such a perverse humourist, who used to terrify me,
and scold at me the whole night without intermission, and shake my
pillow from time to time, that I might not sleep, while he tormented
me with his disagreeable expostulations. I have been often frightened
almost out of my senses, at seeing him convulsed with the most
unreasonable passion; and chagrined to the highest degree of disgust,
to find, by repeated observation, his disposition so preposterous,
that his satisfaction and displeasure never depended upon the cause
he had to be satisfied or disobliged; but, on the contrary, when
he had most reason to be pleased, he was always most discontented,
and very often in good-humour when he had reason enough for vexation.
"While I lived in Poland-street, I was engaged with lawyers, and
so often visited by my father, that I could not dedicate my whole
time as usual to my lover; nor was it convenient that he should be
seen in my company: he therefore took a small house at Camberwell,
whither I went as often as I had an opportunity; and maintained the
correspondence with such eagerness and industry, that, although I
was six months gone with child, I have often, by myself, set out
for his habitation, in a hackney-coach, at eleven o'clock at night,
and returned by six in the morning, that I might be in my own bed
when my father came to see me; for I concealed my amour, as well
as the effects of it, from his knowledge, and frequently took water
from the bridge, that my motions might not be discovered.
Pages:
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908