THE TRUE MAID OF HONOUR. of exercise of His grace), yea, for tribulation, for persecution, for contradictions, and for everything agreeable to the Spirit, and displeasing to the flesh." This state of feverish anxiety began to tell on her spirits and appearance so terribly, that Evelyn-who calls her a beautiful flower-could not bear to see the rapid alteration, and affectionately scolded her " for neglecting herself." She was spending a few weeks at Twickenham Park, - Lord Berkeley's country seat,-and she wrote to him that she would be careful of her health, that the world might not think she left its gay circle with regret. On her return to London, she was fully determined to put into action her cherished resolution of quitting the busy capital, and living in retirement, and even fixed the day of her departure ; but when the time ar- rived, Lady Berkeley, who could not endure to lose " the sweetest, most agreeable companion in the world," employed all that friendship and love could dictate to detain her, so that Margaret was obliged to consent to defer her journey. She had finally resolved to take a little house at Greenwich, and commissionedEvelyn to find for her a dwelling where she might live in calm retirement, without quite going out of the range of her acquaintance. This commission, Evelyn candidly and quaintly admits, he was not at all diligent to fulfil ; and he therefore requested, as she had frequently stayed on visits with his wife, to come and sojourn for some, time at his house, until he should, at his leisure, 31
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