mine?--In revenge, they told me, that it was cunning management
between us; and that we both understood one another better than we
pretended to do. And at last they gave such a loose to their
passions, all of a sudden* as I may say, that instead of withdrawing,
as they used to do when he came, they threw themselves in his way
purposely to affront him.


* The reason of this their more openly shown animosity is given in
Letter XIII.


Mr. Lovelace, you may believe, very ill brooked this: but nevertheless
contented himself to complain of it to me: in high terms, however,
telling me, that but for my sake my brother's treatment of him was not
to be borne.

I was sorry for the merit this gave him in his own opinion with me:
and the more, as some of the affronts he received were too flagrant to
be excused: But I told him, that I was determined not to fall out with
my brother, if I could help it, whatever faults he had: and since they
could not see one another with temper, should be glad that he would
not throw himself in my brother's way; and I was sure my brother would
not seek him.

He was very much nettled at this answer: But said, he must bear his
affronts if I would have it so. He had been accused himself of
violence in his temper; but he hoped to shew on this occasion that he
had a command of his passions which few young men, so highly provoked,
would be able to shew; and doubted not but it would be attributed to a