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she act and so cautiously behave that tho'thoughMatilda and I often spent several weeks togetherwith them, yet we neither of us had any sus::picion of her real Disposition. After the birthof Louisa however, which one would have thoughtwould have strengthened her regard for Lesley,the mask she had so long supported was bydegrees thrown aside, and as probably [.]she1then thought herself secure in the affectionof her Husband (which did indeed [..]appearif poſsible augmented by the birth of his Child)She seemed to taken2 no pains to prevent thataffection from ever diminishing. Our visitstherefore to the NDunbeath,3 were now leſs frequent

Footnotes

1.
Another letter begun and erased before this word. Back to context...
2.
'n' erased from end of 'taken'. Back to context...
3.
'Dunbeath' written over erased 'the N'. Back to context...
Image for page: 90 of manuscript: blvolsecond