"I must own to you that I take it a little unkindly your seeing me no oftener when you were in town and going out of town, without thinking of one who has ever been most sincerely your friend ever since I had the happiness to know you. But mortifications of this nature, though grievous, yet I hope will do me good; and meeting with them so often as I have done in the world will, I hope, make me value and love the world every day of my life less than the other, there being nothing in it, in my opinion, to tempt one if our friends forsake us. Whatever I say of this kind, pray take it as I mean it, very kindly, for if I were not so, I should never complain.
"I am sure I will never give you cause by being less than I have proved myself your friend and servant, "A. S."
Evelyn was not disposed to submit to these reproaches without a remonstrance and reply.
He says: "I received your reproaches, though a little unjust, as a great mark of your favour shewn to me. I make no apology for saying unjust upon any other account than the inequality of my merits. First: I do assure your Ladyship that
