He went so far as to say that he would assist her to marry a man of moderate means, if there were such an one in her heart.

She was little used to sympathy, and the proposal affected her deeply.

"The generosity and goodness of this letter wholly determines my softest inclinations on your side," she wrote with unusual gentleness to Montagu on a Thursday night in August.
"You are in the wrong to suspect me of artifice; plainly showing me the kindness of your heart (if you have any there for me) is the surest way to touch mine, and I am at this minute more inclined to speak tenderly to you than ever I was in my life--so much inclined I will say nothing.
I could wish you would leave England, but I know not how to object to anything that pleases you.

In this minute I have no will that does not agree with yours." There is a reference in the letter just printed to a meeting of Lady Anne and Montagu, but how often they saw each other at this time there is no knowing.
However, it must have been in August that, failing the consent of Lord Dorchester to their marriage, they made up their minds to elope.

From whom the suggestion first came, who can say?
Let it be hoped for the sake of maiden modesty it came from Montagu.