Some account of John Duke of Argyll and his family

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might be partly actuated by pique at the affront origi-
nally offered to her personal charms, upon which no
poor little, frivolous, weak woman of us all could
secretly set a higher value. Her motives, however,
were best known to herself : the magnanimous vow she
made and proclaimed was, never to cohabit as a wife
with Lord Coke; and she adhered to it with all her
characteristic obstinacy. The moment his father under-
stood this, it converted him into her determined enemy.
Making light of directly contradicting his former pro-
fessions (as indeed he had little reputation for honour or
consistency to forfeit), he gave a loose to the brutality
of his nature without reserve.
Nevertheless, through Archibald Duke of Argyll's
mediation, a kind of truce was made. Lady Mary,
being much indisposed, had permission to live two or
three months at her mother's house in Bruton Street ;
while Lord Coke, who was also ill, resided with his
parents. But he often called to inquire after the health
of his beloved spouse, and never once gained admit-
tance, although she received other visitors ; in excuse
for which she pleaded that her nerves were too weak to
bear the agitation that an interview with him would
have caused. Meantime, her uncle pressed Lord
Leicester to let the ill-matched pair be formally separ-
ated ; but his arguments and persuasions had no effect :
neither father nor son would hear of it ; and all he
could obtain was, that both should give him (the Duke)
their words of honour to treat her more kindly in
future.
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