66 immediately on her arrival in London, a "few lines from her father, of a very dry " and unaffectionate nature, beginning 'Sir,' "and ending with saying that his daughter "should never see me again. "In my reply I disclaimed his authority, as a parent, over my wife, and told him "I was convinced the sentiments expressed 66 66 66 were his, not hers. Another post, how ever, brought me a confirmation (under her own hand and seal) of her father's sentence. "I afterwards learnt from Fletcher's (my 66 valet's) wife, who was at that time femme"de-chambre to Lady Byron, that after her "definite resolution was taken, and the fatal "letter consigned to the post-office, she sent "to withdraw it, and was in hysterics of joy "that it was not too late. It seems, how 66 ever, that they did not last long, or that "she was afterwards over-persuaded to "forward it. There can be no doubt that "the influence of her enemies prevailed over “her affection for me, You ask me if no 66 cause was assigned for this sudden resolution ?-if I formed no conjecture about the "cause? I will tell you. "I have prejudices about women: I do "not like to see them eat. Rousseau makes Julie un peu gourmande; but that is not at "all according to my taste. I do not like "to be interrupted when I am writing. "Lady Byron did not attend to these whims "of mine. The only harsh thing I ever "remember saying to her was one evening "shortly before our parting. I was standing "before the fire, ruminating upon the em VOL. I. "barrassment of my affairs, and other annoy 66 ances, when Lady Byron came up to me "and said, Byron, am I in your way?' to "which I replied, "Damnably!' I was after"wards sorry, and reproached myself for the "expression: but it escaped me unconsci 66 ously-involuntarily; I hardly knew what "I said. "I heard afterwards that Mrs. Charlment "had been the means of poisoning Lady "Noel's mind against me; - that she had 66 employed herself and others in watching "me in London, and had reported having "traced me into a house in Portland-place. "There was one act of which I might justly "have complained, and which was unworthy "of any one but such a confidante; I allude 66 to the breaking open my writing-desk. A "book was found in it that did not do much "credit to my taste in literature, and some "letters from a married woman with whom "I had been intimate before my marriage. "The use that was made of the latter was "most unjustifiable, whatever may be thought "of the breach of confidence that led to their "discovery. Lady Byron sent them to the "husband of the lady, who had the good "sense to take no notice of their contents. "The gravest accusation that has been made 66 against me is that of having intrigued with "Mrs. Mardyn in my own house, introduced "her to my own table, &c. There never "was a more unfounded calumny. Being "on the Committee of Drury-Lane Theatre, "I have no doubt that several actresses "called on me; but as to Mrs. Mardyn, who 66 was a beautiful woman, and might have 36 been a dangerous visitress, I was scarcely * acquainted (to speak) with her. I might even make a more serious charge against “ 66 than employing spies to watch sus pected amours, * "I had been shut up in a dark street in Lon"don, writing (I think he said) 'The Siege "of Corinth,' and had refused myself to 66 every one till it was finished. I was sur"prised one day by a Doctor and a Lawyer "almost forcing themselves at the same 66 time into my room. I did not know till "afterwards the real object of their visit. “I thought their questions singular, frivo"lous, and somewhat importunate, if not 66 66 impertinent but what should I have thought, if I had known that they were |