• 'em, and they drank me two Bottles. No, no, I will never believe any Harm of such fober good Sort of People.'

Sufan being thus filenced, her Mistress proceeded to other Matters. • And fo you tell me,' continued the, that the ftrange Gentleman came Poft, and there is a Footman without with the Horfes; why then, he is certainly fome of your great Gentlefolks too. Why did not you ask him whether he'd have any Supper? I think he is in the other Gentleman's Room; go up and afk whether he called. Perhaps he'll order fomething when he finds any Body ftir⚫ring in the Houfe to drefs it. Now don't com• mit any of your ufual Blunders, by telling him. the Fire's out, and the Fowls alive. fhould order Mutton, don't blab out, that we have none. The Butcher, I know, killed a Sheep juft before I went to Bed, and he never ⚫ refuses to cut it up warm when I defire it. Go, • remember there's all Sorts of Mutton and Fowls; go, open the Door, with, Gentlemen d'ye call; and if they fay nothing, afk what his Honour will be pleafed to have for Supper. Don't forget his Honour. Go; if you don't • mind all thefe Matters better, you'll never come to any Thing.'

And if he

Sufan departed, and foon returned with an Account, that the two Gentlemen were got both into the fame Bed. Two Gentlemen,' fays the Landlady, in the fame Bed! that's impoffible; they are two errant Scrubs, I warrant them; and, I believe, young Squire Allworthy gueffed right, that the Fellow intended to rob her Ladyfhip: For if he had broke open the Lady's Door with any of the wicked Defigns of

< a Gentleman, he would never have sneaked < away to another Room to fave the Expence of a Supper and a Bed to himself. They are certainly Thieves, and their fearching after a Wife is ⚫ nothing but a Pretence.'.

In these Cenfures, my Landlady did Mr. Fitzpatrick great Injuftice; for he was really born a Gentleman, though not worth a Groat; and tho', perhaps, he had fome few Blemithes in his Heart as well as in his Head, yet being a sneaking, or a niggardly Fellow, was not one of them In reality, he was fo generous a Man, that whereas he had received a very handfome Fortune with his Wife, he had now spent every Penny of it, except fome little Pittance which was fettled upon her; and in order to poffefs himself of this, he had used her with fuch Cruelty, that together with his Jealoufy, which was of the bittereft Kind, it had forced the poor Woman to run away from him.

This Gentleman then being well tired with his long Journey from Chefter in one Day, with which, and fome good dry Blows he had received in the Scuffle, his Bones were fo fore, that added to the Soreness of his Mind, it had quite deprived him of any Appetite for eating. And being now fo violently disappointed in the Woman, whom at the Maid's Inftance, he had miftaken for his Wife, it never once entered into his Head, that the might nevertheless be in the Houfe, though he had erred in the firft Perfon he had attacked. He therefore yielded to the Diffuafions of his Friend from searching any farther after her that Night, and accepted the kind Offer of Part of his Bed.

The

The Footman and Poft-boy were in a d Difpofition. They were more ready to than the Landlady was to provide; howev ter being pretty well fatisfied by them of th Truth of the Cafe, and that Mr. Fitzpatri no Thief, the was at length prevailed on fome cold Meat before them, which the devouring with great Greedinefs, when Pa came into the Kitchin. He had been first a by the Hurry which we have before feen while he was endeavouring to compofe again on bis Pillow, a Screech-Owl-had him fuch a Serenade at his Window, that h in a most horrible Affright from his Bed, an dling on his Cloaths with great Expedition down to the Protection of the Company, he heard talking below in the Kitchin.

His Arrival detained my Landlady from r ing to her Reft: For the was just about to the other two Guefts to the Care of Sufan the Friend of young Squire Allworthy was be for neglected, efpecially as he called for of Wine to be mulled. She immediately ob by putting the fame Quantity of Perry to the For this readily anfwered to the Name of Kind of Wine.

The Irish Footman was retired to Bed, a Poft-boy was going to follow; but Partrid vited him to ftay, and partake of his Wine, the Lad very thankfully accepted. The Sc mafter was indeed afraid to return to Bed by felf; and as he did not know how foon he lofe the Company of my Landlady, he wa folved to fecure that of the Boy, in whofe fence he apprehended no Danger from the I For any of his Adherents.

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And now arrived another Poft-boy at the Gate'; upon which Sufan being ordered out, returned, introducing two young Women in Riding-habits, one of which was fo very richly laced, that Partridge and the Poft-boy instantly ftarted from their Chairs, and my Landlady fell to her Court'fies, and her Ladyfhips, with great Eagerness.

The Lady in the rich Habit said, with a Smile of great Condefcenfion, If you will give me Leave, Madam, I will warm myfelf a few Mi-1 nutes at your Kitchin Fire; for it is really very cold; but I muft infift on difturbing no one from his Seat.' This was fpoken on Ac-t count of Partridge, who had retreated to the other End of the Room, ftruck with the utmoft Awe and Aftonishment at the Splendor of the Lady's Drefs. Indeed she had a much better Title to Refpect than this: For fhe was one of the most beautiful Creatures in the World....

The Lady earnestly defired Partridge to return to his Seat, but could not prevail. She then pulled off her Gloves, and difplayed to the Fire two Hands, which had every Property of Snow in them, except that of melting. Her Companion, who was indeed her Maid, likewife pulled off her Gloves, and discovered what bore an exact Refemblance, in Cold and Colour, to a Piece of frozen Beef.

I wish, Madam,' quoth the latter, your • Ladyship would not think of going any farther To-night. I am terribly afraid your Ladyfhip will not be able to bear the Fatigue.' "Why fure,' cries the Landlady, 'fhip's Honour can never intend it. farther To-night indeed! Let me Ladyfhip not to think on't.

her LadyO blefs me, befeech your -But to be fure,

fure, your Ladyfhip can't. What will your < Honour be pleased to have for Supper? I have • Mutton of all Kinds, and fome nice Chicken.'

I think, Madam,' faid the Lady, it would be rather Breakfast than Supper; but I can't eat any Thing; and if I ftay, shall only lie down for an Hour or two. However, if you please, Madam, you may get me a little Sackwhey, made very fmall and thin.'

Yes, Madam,' cries the Mistress of the House, I have fome excellent White-wine.'

have no Sack then,' fays the Lady.

please your Honour, I have;

I

• You

'Yes, an't may challenge the Country for that-But let me beg your Ladyfhip to eat fomething."

Upon my Word, I can't eat a Morfel,' anfwered the Lady; and I fhall be much obliged to you, if you will pleafe to get my Apartment 'ready as foon as poffible: For I am refolved to ⚫ be on Horfeback again in three Hours.'

Why Sufan,' cries the Landlady, is there a Fire lit yet in the Wild-goafe ?--I am forry, Madam, all my best Rooms are full. Several People of the firft Quality are now in Bed. Here's a great young Squire, and many other great Gentlefolks of Quality.'

Sufan anfwered, That the Irish Gentlemen ⚫ were got into the Wild-goofe.'

Was ever any Thing like it!' fays the Miftrefs; why the Devil would you not keep fome of the best Rooms for the Quality, when you know scarce a Day paffes without fome calling here? If they be Gentlemen, I am certain, when they know it is for her Ladyfhip, they will get up again.”

• Not