One account, said to come from Lady Mary, is at least not intrinsically[10] improbable.

According to this story, the unfortunate poet forgot for a moment that he was a contemptible cripple, and forgot also the existence of Mr.Edward Wortley Montagu, and a passionate declaration of love drew from the lady an "immoderate fit of laughter." Ever afterwards, it is added, he was her implacable enemy.

Doubtless, if the story be true, Lady Mary acted like a sensible woman of the world, and Pope was silly as well as immoral.

And yet one cannot refuse some pity to the unfortunate wretch, thus roughly jerked back into the consciousness that a fine lady might make a pretty plaything of him, but could not seriously regard him with anything but scorn.

Whatever the precise facts, a breach of some sort might have been anticipated.