Book XIII. while, and at last answered, He had a confiderable Sum of Money of hers in his Hands, which he defired to deliver to her. He then produced the Pocket-book, and acquainted Mrs. Fitzpatrick with the Contents, and with the Method in which they came into his Hands. He had fcarce finished his Story when a moft violent Noise fhook the whole Houfe. To attempt to defcribe this Noife to thofe who have heard it, would be in vain; and to aim at giving any Idea of it to thofe who have never heard the like, would be ftill more vain: For it may be truly faid,

Sic geminant Corybantes Æra.

The Priests of Cybele do not fo rattle their founding Brafs.

In fhort a Footman knocked, or rather thundered at the Door. Jones was a little furprised at the Sound, having never heard it before; but Mrs. Fitzpatrick very calmly faid, that as fome Company were coming, fhe could not make him any Anfwer now; but if he pleased to stay till they were gone, fhe intimated fhe had fomething to fay to him.

The Door of the Room now flew open, and, after pushing in her Hoop fideways before her, entered Lady Bellafton, who having firft made a very low Curtesy to Mrs. Fitzpatrick, and as low a one to Mr. Jones, was ushered to the upper End of the Room.

We mention these minute Matters for the Sake of fome Country Ladies of our Acquain

tance

tance, who think it contrary to the Rules of Modefty to bend their Knees to a Man.

The Company were hardly well fettled, before the Arrival of the Peer lately mentioned caufed a fresh Disturbance and a Repetition of Ceremo nials.

Thefe being over, the Converfation began to be (as the Phrafe is) extremely brilliant. However, as nothing paft in it which can be thought material to this Hiftory, or, indeed, very material in itself, I fhall omit the Relation; the rather as I have known fome very fine polite Converfation grow extremely dull, when transcribed into Books, or repeated on the Stage. Indeed this mental Repaft is a Dainty, of which thofe who are excluded from polite Affemblies, must be contented to remain as ignorant as they muft of the feveral Dainties of French Cookery, which are ferved only at the Tables of the Great. To fay the Truth, as neither of thefe are adapted to every Tafte, they might both be often thrown away on the Vulgar.

Poor Jones was rather a Spectator of this elegant Scene, than an Actor in it; for though in the fhort Interval before the Peer's Arrival, Lady Bellafton firft, and afterwards Mrs. Fitzpatrick, had addreffed fome of their Difcourfe to him; yet no fooner was the noble Lord entered, than he engroffed the whole Attention of the two Ladies to himself; and as he took no more Notice of Jones than if no fuch Perfon had been prefent, unless by now and then staring at him, the Ladies followed his Example.

The Company had now ftaid fo long, that Mrs. Fitzpatrick plainly perceived they all defigned to stay out each other. She therefore re

Book XIII. folved to rid herself of Jones, he being the Vifitant to whom the thought the leaft Ceremony was due. Taking therefore an Opportunity of a Ceffation of Chat, fhe addreffed herfelf gravely to him, and said, Sir, I fhall not poffibly be able to give you an Anfwer To-night, as to that Bufinefs; but if you please to leave Word where I may fend to you To-morrow'.

Jones had natural, but not artificial good Breeding. Instead therefore of communicating the Secret of his Lodgings to a Servant, he acquainted the Lady herself with it particularly, and foon after very ceremoniously withdrew.

He was no fooner gone than the great Perfonages who had taken no Notice of him present, began to take much Notice of him in his Abfence; but if the Reader hath already excufed us from relating the more brilliant Part of this Converfation, he will furely be very ready to excufe the Repetition of what may be called vulgar Abuse: Though, perhaps, it may be material to our Hiftory to mention an Obfervation of Lady Bellafton, who took her Leave in a few Minutes after him, and then faid to Mrs. Fitzpatrick, at her Departure, I am fatisfied on the Account of my Coufin; fhe can be in no Danger from this Fellow.'

Our History fhall follow the Example of Lady Bellafton, and take Leave of the present Company, which was now reduced to two Perfons; between whom, as nothing paffed, which in the leaft concerns us or our Reader, we fhall not fuffer ourselves to be diverted by it from Matters which must seem of more Confequence to all those who are at all interested in the Affairs of our Heroe.

СНАР.

CHAP. V.

An Adventure which happened to Mr. Jones, at his Lodgings, with fome Account of a young Gentleman who lodged there, and of the Mistress of the Houfe, and her two Daughters.

HE next Morning as early as it was de

TH

cent, Jones attended at Mrs. Fitzpatrick's Door, where he was answered that the Lady was not at Home; an Answer which furprized him the more, as he had walked backwards and forwards in the Street from Break of Day; and if fhe had gone out, he must have seen her. This Aufwer, however, he was obliged to receive, and not only now, but to five feveral Vifits which he made her that Day.

To be plain with the Reader, the noble Peer had from fome Reafon or other, perhaps from a Regard for the Lady's Honour, infifted that she fhould not fee Mr. Jones, whom he looked on as a Scrub, any more; and the Lady had complied in making that Promise to which we now fee her fo ftrictly adhere.

But as our gentle Reader may poffibly have a better Opinion of the young Gentleman than her Ladyship, and may even have fome Concern, fhould it be apprehended, that during this unhappy Separation from Sophia, he took up his Refidence either at an Inn, or in the Street; wẹ fhall now give an Account of his Lodging, which was indeed in a very reputable House, and in a very good Part of the Town.

Mr. Jones then had often heard Mr. Allworthy mention the Gentlewoman at whofe Houfe he

ufed

ufed to lodge when he was in Town. This Perfon, who, as Jones likewife knew, lived in BondStreet, was the Widow of a Clergyman, and was left by him at his Deceafe, in Poffeffion of two Daughters, and of a compleat Set of Manufcript Sermons.

Of thefe two Daughters, Nancy, the elder, was now arrived at the Age of Seventeen, and Betty, the younger, at that of Ten.

Hither Jones had dispatched Partridge, and in this House he was provided with a Room for himself in the fecond Floor, and with one for Partridge in the fourth.

The firft Floor was inhabited by one of those young Gentlemen, who, in the last Age, were called Men of Wit and Pleafure about Town, and properly enough: For as Men are usually denominated from their Bufinefs or Profeffion, fo Pleasure may be faid to have been the only Bufinefs or Profeffion of thofe Gentlemen to whom Fortune had made all ufeful Occupations unne ceffary. Play-Houfes, Coffee-Houfes, and Taverns were the Scenes of their Rendezvous. Wit and Humour were the Entertainment of their loofer Hours, and Love was the Business of their more ferious Moments. Wine and the Mufes confpired to kindle the brightest Flames in their Breafts; nor did they only admire, but fome were able to celebrate the Beauty they admired, and all to judge of the Merit of fuch Compofitions.

Such therefore were properly called the Men of Wit and Pleasure; but I queftion whether the fame Appellation may, with the fame Propriety, be given to thofe young Gentlemen of our Times, who have the fame Ambition to be diftinguished

for