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said. I wrote to you yesterday about F. I am told by those who know him that he certainly would not accept it. Adieu,
Two months afterwards, Mr Norton and I were parted; Lord Melbourne passed the Easter at Broeke and Panshanger; and as I never dreamed that he would himself be made the pretence of our quarrel, I wrote to tell him what had happened, I quote four of his letters written at that time. Living, he justified himself by his simple word of honour; and dead, I justify him with lines written by a hand cold in the grave. However deservedly severe his language may be with respect to Mr Norton, I leave those who read, to judge whether these are the letters of a treacherous seducer,—or even of a lover.
…… "I hardly know what to write to you, or what comfort to offer. You know, as well as I do, that the best course is to keep yourself tranquil, and not to give way to feelings and passions which Heaven knows are too natural to be easily resisted. This conduct upon his part seems perfectly unaccountable; and depend upon it, being, as you are, in the right, it will be made ultimately to appear, whatever temporary misrepresentations may prevail. You cannot have better or more affectionate advisers than you have with you upon the spot, who are well acquainted with the circumstances of the case, and with the characters of those with whom they have to deal. You know that I have always counselled you to bear everything, and remain to the last. I thought it for the best. I am afraid it is no longer possible. Open breaches of this kind are always to be lamented; but you have the consolation that you have done your utmost to stave this extremity off as long as possible. In all difficulties you may always depend upon me, and believe me,
…… "It is in vain to rail, otherwise I could do so too; but it was at all times easy to see that it was the most
