However, it must have been in August that, failing the consent of Lord Dorchester to their marriage, they made up their minds to elope.  From whom the suggestion first came, who can say?  Let it be hoped for the sake of maiden modesty it came from Montagu.  What drove them to this step may well have been the fear that Lord Dorchester might, to all intents and purposes, imprison his daughter on one of his estates.  Even at the eleventh hour, Lady Mary was determined that there should be no misunderstanding between her and her fiance.  She wrote to him saying that if she came to him in this way, she would come to him without a portion.  To this part of her letter he vouchsafed no reply, so she again touched upon the matter.

“You made no reply to one part of my letter concerning my fortune.  I am afraid you flatter yourself that my F. [father] may be at length reconciled and brought to reasonable terms.  I am convinced, by what I have often heard him say, speaking of other cases like this, he never will.  The fortune he has engaged to give with me, was settled on my B. [brother]’s marriage, on my sister and on myself; but in such a manner, that it was left in his power to give it all to either of us, or divide as he thought fit.  He has given it all to me.  Nothing remains for my sister, but the free bounty of my F. [father] from what he can save; which, notwithstanding the greatness of his estate, may be very little.  Possibly, after I have disobliged him so much, he may be glad to have her so easily provided for, with money already raised; especially if he has a design to marry himself, as I hear.  I do not speak this that you should not endeavour to come to terms with him, if you please; but I am fully persuaded it will be to no purpose.”

Lady Mary assured Montagu that Lord Dorchester’s attitude was this:  She had consented to an engagement with another man, that she had let him incur an expenditure of some four hundred pounds for a trousseau, and that, by breaking it off, had made him look foolish.  In fact, her father, she added, had given her clearly to understand that he would entertain no dealings whatsoever with any suitor other than the one of his choice, that he would send her to his estate in the north of England, and that it was his intention to leave her, on his death, only an annuity of four hundred pounds.

As a good sportsman she at the last moment gave Montagu a chance to retreat.

“He [my father] will have a thousand plausible reasons for being irreconcileable, and ’tis very probable the world will be of his side.  Reflect now for the last time in what manner you must take me.  I shall come to you with only a night-gown and petticoat, and that is all you will get with me.  I told a lady of my friends what I intended to do.  You will think her a very good friend when I tell you she has proffered to lend us her house if we would come there the first night.  I did not accept of this till I had let you know it.  If you think