"she was governed by the influence of her "mother; and was the more confirmed in "this opinion by her reviving our correspond"ence herself twelve months after. The tenor "of her letter was, that although she could "not love me, she desired my friendship. "Friendship is a dangerous word for young "ladies; it is Love full-fledged, and waiting "for a fine day to fly.

"It had been predicted by Mrs. Williams, "that twenty-seven was to be a dangerous 66 age for me. The fortune-telling witch was

right; it was destined to prove so. I shall "never forget the 2d of January! Lady

66

Byron (Byrn, he pronounced it) was the only unconcerned person present; Lady

Noel, her mother, cried; I trembled like a "leaf, made the wrong responses, and after

"the ceremony called her Miss Milbanke.

"There is a singular history attached to "the ring. The very day the match was "concluded, a ring of my mother's, that had "been lost, was dug up by the gardener at "Newstead. I thought it was sent on purpose for the wedding; but my mother's

66

66

marriage had not been a fortunate one, "and this ring was doomed to be the seal "of an unhappier union still.*

"After the ordeal was over, we set off for "a country-seat of Sir Ralph's; and I was

66

66

66

surprised at the arrangements for the jour

ney, and somewhat out of humour to find

a lady's-maid stuck between me and my "bride. It was rather too early to assume

"Save the ring,

Which, being the damned'st part of matrimony—” Don Juan, Canto IX. Stanza 70.

"the husband; so I was forced to submit, "but it was not with a very good grace. Put

66

yourself in a similar situation, and tell me "if I had not some reason to be in the sulks. "I have been accused of saying, on getting "into the carriage, that I had married Lady "Byron out of spite, and because she had "refused me twice. Though I was for a "moment vexed at her prudery, or what

66

ever you may choose to call it, if I had

"made so uncavalier, not to say brutal a

66

speech, I am convinced Lady Byron would "instantly have left the carriage to me and "the maid (I mean the lady's). She had

66

spirit enough to have done so, and would "properly have resented the affront.

"Our honeymoon was not all sunshine; "it had its clouds: and Hobhouse has some "letters which would serve to explain the

"rise and fall in the barometer,—but it was

66 never down at zero.

"You tell me the world says I married "Miss Milbanke for her fortune, because "she was a great heiress. All I have ever

66

received, or am likely to receive, (and that “has been twice paid back too,) was 10,0007.

66

My own income at this period was small, "and somewhat bespoke. Newstead was a

66

very unprofitable estate, and brought me "in a bare 15007. a-year; the Lancashire

66

property was hampered with a law-suit, "which has cost me 14,000l. and is not yet "finished.

66

"We had a house in town, gave dinnerparties, had separate carriages, and launch"ed into every sort of extravagance. This "could not last long. My wife's 10,0007.

"soon melted away. I was beset by duns, " and at length an execution was levied, and "the bailiffs put in possession of the very "beds we had to sleep on. This was no

66

66

very agreeable state of affairs, no very

pleasant scene for Lady Byron to witness; "and it was agreed she should pay her fa"ther a visit till the storm had blown over, "and some arrangements had been made " with my creditors. You may suppose on "what terms we parted, from the style of a "letter she wrote me on the road: : you will "think it began ridiculously enough,—* Dear "Duck!' *

66

Imagine my astonishment to receive,

*Shelley, who knew this story, used to say these two words would look odd in an Italian translation Anitra carissima.