His grief was so great, and he had always shown me so much kindness, that at last I felt it to be my duty to make the most painful sacrifices for his sake—I consented to become a mother!…
With what transports of gratitude did he not welcome the first signs of the fulfilment of his hopes! But even they did not equal his delight when I gave birth to a son. Beside himself with joy, he ordered that no expense was to be spared, and gave the most brilliant of entertainments; the best families came to it and offered us their heartiest congratulations.
As for myself, I felt then the most delightful emotion, quite new to my heart and which I recognized as maternal love.
This happiness was increased the next year by the birth of a second son, whose baptism was celebrated with great pomp. Mr. Perceval and Lord Bulkeley were his godfathers.
My father, having heard that I was now sole mistress in my husband’s house, hastened to bring his daughter, to give me, as he said, a pleasant companion.
They both appeared in sailor costume, which made me feel greatly ashamed; and I had them dressed in a proper fashion.
My father ran all over London, visited all the places of interest, laid his hands on everything he could get in our house, and departed with well-lined trunks.
I kept my sister with me, furnished her with a magnificent wardrobe, and gave her in abundance everything she could desire; but in spite of it all, I could never conquer her hardness of heart, and every day she distressed me by her constant rudeness.
Her connection with Lord Newborough brought her in contact with a distinguished ecclesiastic, whom she subsequently married.
We had just heard that my second brother had got into terrible trouble in Italy, when he made his appearance in order to secure himself from the hands of justice, which would have infallibly consigned him to the same fate as one of his cousins, who was sent to the galleys for ten years.