and with the buoyant incautiousness of youth, had already plighted
their faith before it occurred to either, that her want of birth and
fortune would render her unacceptable to his parents knowing, which
he did, that they entered very different views for his future
establishment in life, he dared not at present even make them
acquainted with his engagement; and it was therefore mutually agreed
between them that she should accept the proffered services of Lady
Wriothesly for an introduction to the royal notice, and that he in
the mean while, should seek in his profession the means of their
future subsistence. Secure in their mutual good faith, they parted,
and it was on this occasion that he had given her a song, which in
her insanity she was constantly repeating. The refrain, 'Addio
Teresa, Teresa Addio,' I remembered to have heard murmured by the
Duke of Buckingham with a very significant expression, on the night
when the agitation of Lady Greville had made itself so painfully
apparent in the circle of the Queen.

"You will believe with what indignation, with what disgust, I
discovered that shortly after her appointment at court, she had been
persecuted with the licentious addresses of the king. It was nothing
new to me that Charles, in the selfish indulgence of his passions,
overlooked every barrier of honour and decency, but that the
unprotected innocence of the daughter of an old and faithful servant,
whose very life-blood had been poured forth in his defence, should
not have been a safeguard in his eyes, was indeed incredible and
revolting. But it was this orphan helplessness, this afflicting
destitution which marked her for his prey.

"Encompassed by the toils of the spoiler, and friendless as she was,
the unhappy Theresa knew not to whom to apply for succour or counsel;