It is ridiculous to suppose that these two letters were addressed to the same person. In the one we find the expression of an imperishable attachment, in the other merely commonplace statements. In the first letter Byron says, if ever he returns to England, it will be to see the person to whom he is writing, and that absence has the more deeply confirmed his passion. In the second he tells the lady that he has had his hair cut, and that he was never very willing to revisit Great Britain! And yet, in spite of these inconsistencies, Lady Byron walked into the snare which Augusta had so artfully prepared. In forwarding the amatory epistle to Lady Byron, Augusta tells her to burn it, and says that her brother 'must surely be considered a maniac' for having written it, adding, with adroit mystification: '_I_ do not believe any feelings expressed are by any means permanent--only occasioned by the passing and present reflection and occupation of writing _to the unfortunate Being to whom they are addressed_.' Augusta did not tell Lady Byron that 'the unfortunate Being' was Mary Chaworth, now reconciled to her husband, and that she had withheld Byron's letter from her, lest her mind should be unsettled by its perusal. Mrs. Leigh had two excellent reasons for this betrayal of trust. In the first place, she wished Lady Byron to believe that her brother was still making love to her, and that she was keeping her promise in not encouraging his advances. In the second place, she knew that the terms of Byron's letter would deeply wound Lady Byron's pride--and revenge is sometimes sweet! Lady Byron, who was no match for her sister-in-law, had failed to realize the wisdom of her mother's warning: 'Beware of Augusta, for she _must_ hate you.' She received this proof of Augusta's return to virtue with gratitude, thanked her sincerely, and acknowledged that the terms of Byron's letter 'afforded ample testimony that she had not encouraged his tenderness.' Poor Lady Byron! She deserves the pity of posterity. But she was possessed of common sense, and knew how to play her own hand fairly well. She wrote to Augusta in the following terms: 'This letter is a proof of the prior "reformation," which was sufficiently evidenced to _me_ by your own assertion, and the agreement of circumstances with it. _But, in case of a more unequivocal disclosure on his part than has yet been made_, this letter would confute those false accusations to which you would undoubtedly be subjected from others.'