In his epistle dedicatory to her histories and novels, he thus expresses himself.

"Now that I have blown off some of the rage I feel against you for the cruelty you used to my devotion, and have taught you to see that, while you may be divine, I am not made of water, I bid you tear up this letter, for I have done the like, and do not forget that I am one to whose epistles kings and emperors reply.

This thought was insupportable, and as Dodbury saw that his child must hear the whole, he read the epistle word for word.