I spent three months of the twelve in going from house to house, but I could not get a single person to receive me.
The ladies declared that they never saw so old-fashioned a gawkey, and civilly recommended me to their abigails; the abigails turned me round with a stare, and then pushed me down to the kitchen and the fat scullion-maids, who assured me that, 'in the respectable families they had the honour to live in, they had never even heard of my name.' One young housemaid, just from the country, did indeed receive me with some sort of civility; but she very soon lost me in the servants' hall.

I now took refuge with the other sex, as the least uncourteous.

I was fortunate enough to find a young gentleman of remarkable talents, who welcomed me with open arms.

He was full of learning, gentleness, and honesty.

I had only one rival,--Ambition.