Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/86

lxxiv my Lord will settle one thousand a year more on my son's marriage.

"I will not enlarge upon other particulars of present maintenance and such things, because, if the propositions now made be hearkened unto, I am sure we shall not disagree—Sir Stephen Fox being so reasonable, and we being so much inclined to have an alliance with him.

"I forgot to mention that the 64 acres of wood is most very good timber, and that which brings in the £40 is only the carting of underwood necessary to be done.

"Half of Worme-Leighton is in jointure to my Lady Sunderland."

The failure of her plan was a sad disappointment, but Evelyn got very well out of the scrape, gaining credit for a degree of zeal which he scarcely deserved.

"If I had not been very busy," says Lady Sunderland, "I had before now answered your kind letter, in which your concern at our disappointment is as kind as was your zeal and industry to bring it to the hopes we had; and in all this, as in other matters, I have been so much obliged to you that I find myself brim full of thanks, and much wanting in the expression of them. I shall ever pray to