The consent of his generous
mistress being obtained, he waited upon her with the instrument
whereby she had made the conveyance of her fortune to him; and
all his remonstrances being insufficient to persuade her to take
it back, he cancelled it in her presence, and placed it in that
state upon her toilet, while she was dressing; whereupon she shed
a torrent of tears, saying, she now plainly perceived that he wanted
to tear himself from her, and that his affections were settled upon
another. He was sensibly affected by this proof of her concern,
and endeavoured to calm the perturbation of her mind, by vowing
eternal fidelity, and pressing her to accept of his hand in due form
before his departure. By these means her transports were quieted
for the present, and the marriage deferred for the same prudential
reasons which had hitherto prevented it.
"Matters being thus compromised, and the day fixed for his departure,
she, together with her faithful maid, one morning visited him for
the first time at his own lodgings; and, after breakfast, desiring
to speak with him in private, he conducted her into another
room, where assuming an unusual gravity of aspect, 'My dear M--,'
said she, 'you are now going to leave me, and God alone knows if
ever we shall meet again; therefore, if you really love me with
that tenderness which you profess, you will accept of this mark
of my friendship and unalterable affection; it will at least be a
provision for your journey, and if an accident should befall me,
before I have the happiness of receiving you again into my arms, I
shall have the satisfaction of knowing that you are not altogether
without resource.
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