’—­’tis joy or sorrow, peace or strife. 
   ‘Tis all the colour of remaining life.’

I can foresee nothing else to make me unhappy, and, I believe, shall take care another time not to involve myself in difficulties by an overplus of heroic generosity.

“I am, dear sister, ever yours, with the utmost esteem and affection.  If I get over this cursed affair, my style may enliven.”

[June, 1721.]

“I have just received your letter of May 30th, and am surprised, since you own the receipt of my letter, that you give me not the least hint concerning the business that I writ so earnestly to you about.  Till that is over, I am as little capable of hearing or repeating news, as I should be if my house was on fire.  I am sure, a great deal must be in your power; the hurting of me can be in no way his interest.  I am ready to assign, or deliver the money for L500 stock, to whoever he will name, if he will send my letters into Lady Stafford’s hands; which, were he sincere in his offer of burning them, he would readily do.  Instead of that, he has writ a letter to Mr. W. [Wortley] to inform him of the whole affair:  luckily for me, the person he has sent it to assures me it shall never be delivered; but I am not the less obliged to his good intentions.  For God’s sake, do something to set my mind at ease from this business, and then I will not fail to write you regular accounts of all your acquaintance.”

[July (?), 1721.]

“I cannot enough thank you, dear sister, for the trouble you give yourself in my affairs, though I am still so unhappy to find your care very ineffectual.  I have actually in my present possession a formal letter directed to Mr. Wortley to acquaint him with the whole business.  You may imagine the inevitable eternal misfortunes it would have thrown me into, had it been delivered by the person to whom it was intrusted.  I wish you would make him sensible of the infamy of this proceeding, which can no way in the world turn to his advantage.  Did I refuse giving the strictest account, or had I not the clearest demonstration in my hands of the truth and sincerity with which I acted, there might be some temptation to this baseness; but all he can expect by informing Mr. Wortley is to hear him repeat the same things I assert; he will not retrieve one farthing, and I am for ever miserable.  I beg no more of him than to direct any person, man or woman, either lawyer, broker, or a person of quality, to examine me; and as soon as he has sent a proper authority to discharge me on enquiry, I am ready to be examined.  I think no offer can be fairer from any person whatsoever; his conduct towards me is so infamous, that I am informed I might prosecute him by law if he was here; he demanding the whole sum as a debt from Mr. Wortley, at the same time I have a note under his hand signed to prove the contrary.  I beg with the utmost earnestness that you would make him sensible of his error.  I believe