"In this dilemma, when the death of Lady Wriothesly had deprived her
of even the semblance of a friend, I was first presented to Miss
Marchmont. The motive of the king in encouraging my attachment I can
hardly guess, unless the thought to fix her at court by her marriage,
where some future change of sentiment might throw her into his power;
or possibly he hoped to make my addresses the means of separating her
from the real object of her attachment, without contemplating a
farther result, and thus the same wanton selfishness which rendered
him regardless of every tie of moral feeling towards Theresa, led him
to prepare a life of misery and dishonour for his early friend and
faithful adherent.
"Agitated by a daily and hourly exposure to the importunities of
Charles; insulted by the suspicions which the insinuations of
Buckingham had excited in the minds of her companions; friendless--
Helpless--hopeless--dreading that she might be betrayed by her
ignorance of the world into some unforeseen evil, and knowing that
even in the event of Percy's return, her engagement with him must
long remain unfulfilled, the unhappy girl naturally looked upon her
union with me as the only deliverance from the assailing misfortunes;
and in an hour of desperation she gave me her hand. That her
strongest efforts of mind had been exerted, from the moment of her
marriage, to banish all remembrance of her former lover I firmly
believe.
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