***
[The Lady, in her next letter, gives Miss Howe an account of what passed
between Mr. Lovelace and herself. She resents his behaviour with her
usual dignity. But when she comes to mention Mr. Mennell's letter,
she re-urges Miss Howe to perfect her scheme for her deliverance;
being resolved to leave him. But, dating again, on his sending up to
her Miss Montague's letter, she alters her mind, and desires her to
suspend for the present her application to Mrs. Townsend.]
I had begun, says she, to suspect all he had said of Mrs. Fretchville and
her house; and even Mr. Mennell himself, though so well-appearing a man.
But now that I find Mr. Lovelace has apprized his relations of his intent
to take it, and had engaged some of the ladies to visit me there, I could
hardly forbear blaming myself for censuring him as capable of so vile an
imposture. But may he not thank himself for acting so very
unaccountably, and taking such needlessly-awry steps, as he had done,
embarrassing, as I told him, his own meanings, if they were good?