CHAPTER XI.
AT TWICKENHAM The Montagus take a house at Twickenham--Lady Mary's liking for country life--Neighbours and visitors--Pope--Bononcini, Anastasia Robinson, Senesino--Lord Peterborough--Sir Geoffrey Kneller--Henrietta Howard--Lord Bathurst--The Duke of Wharton--His early history--He comes to Twickenham--His relations with Lady Mary--Horace Walpole's reference to them--Pope's bitter onslaught on the Duke--An Epilogue by Lady Mary--"On the death of Mrs.Bowes"-- The Duke quarrels with Lady Mary.
Pope went to live at Twickenham in 1718, and it was generally believed that it was by his persuasion that the Montagus rented a house in that little riverside hamlet.

It was not until 1722 that they bought "the small habitation." Lady Mary divided her time between London and Twickenham, but apparently enjoyed herself more at her country retreat.

"I live in a sort of solitude that wants very little of being such as I would have it," she wrote to her sister, Lady Mar, in August, 1721.

As a matter of fact, the solitude was more imaginary than real, for round about there was a small colony of friends.
She was, indeed, very rarely lonely.

"My time is melted away in almost perpetual concerts," she told her sister.