Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 13.djvu/126

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MARCH 2, 17331733-4 [sic].

AM extreme glad to hear you are got well again; and I do assure you, it was no point of ceremony made me forbear writing, but the downright fear of being troublesome. If you have got off your deafness, that is a happiness I doubt poor lady Suffolk will never have; for she does not mend, if she does not grow rather worse. But we ladies are famous for straining our voices upon the bad occasion of anger: and sure then it is hard if it is not more agreeable to do it for the sake of friendship. By the histories I hear from Ireland, Bettesworth, in the midst of your illness, did not think your pen lay idle ; but this good you had from it, that such a troublesome fellow made your friends and neighbours show they could exert