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་ nor could I ever meet with her till this Morning, when the directed me to your Ladyship's Houfe. I can e accordingly, and did myself the Honour to afk for your Ladyfhip; and upon my faying that I had very particular Bufinefs, a Servant fhewed me into this Room; where I had not been long before the young Lady returned from the Play.'

Upon his mentioning the Mafquerade, he look'd very flyly at Lady Bellafton, without any Fear of being remarked by Sophia; for fhe was vifibly too much confounded to make any Obfervations. This Hint a little alarmed the Lady, and fhe was filent; when Jones, who faw the Agitations of Sophia's Mind, refolved to take the only Method of relieving her; which was by retiring: But before he did this, he faid, I believe, Madam, it is cuftomary to give fome Reward on thefe Occafions;-I muft infift on a very high one for my Honefty ;-It is, Madam, no lefs than the Honour of being permitted to pay another Vifit here.'

Sir,' replied the Lady, I make no Doubt ⚫ that you are a Gentleman, and my Doors are never fhut to People of Fashion.'

Jones then, after proper Ceremonials, departed, highly to his own Satisfaction, and no lefs to that of Sophia; who was terribly alarmed left Lady Bellafton fhould discover what the knew already but too well.

Upon the Stairs Jones met his old Acquaintance Mrs. Honour, who, notwithstanding all she had faid against him, was now fo well-bred to behave with great Civility. This Meeting proved indeed a lucky Circumstance, as he communi

cated

cated to her the Houfe where he lodged, with which Sophia was acquainted.

"

CHAP. XII.

[..

In which the Thirteenth Book is concluded.

T

HE elegant Lord Shaftsbury fomewhere objects to telling too much Truth: By which it may be fairly inferred, that, in fome Cafes, to lie, is not only excufable but commendable.

And furely there are no Perfons who may fo properly challenge a Right to this commendable Deviation from Truth, as young Women in the Affair of Love; for which they may plead Precept, Education, and above all, the Sanction, nay, I may fay, the Neceffity of Cuftom, by which they are reftrained, not from fubmitting to the honeft Impulfes of Nature (for that would be a foolish Prohibition) but from owning them.

We are not, therefore, afhamed to say, that our Heroine now purfued the Dictates of the abovementioned Right Honourable Philofopher. As fhe was perfectly fatisfied then, that Lady Bellafton was ignorant of the Perfon of Jones, fo the determined to keep her in that Ignorance, though at the Expence of a little Fibbing.

Jones had not been long gone, before Lady Bellafton cry'd, Upon my Word, a good pretty young Fellow; I wonder who he is: For I 'don't remember ever to have feen his Face 'before.'

Nor I neither, Malam, cries Sophia, I must fay he behaved very handfon ely in relation to my Note.'

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• Yes,

Yes; and he is a very handfome Fellow,' faid the Lady; don't you think so?”

I did not take much Notice of him,' answered Sophia; but I thought he feemed rather aukward and ungenteel than otherwife'

You are extremely right, cries Lady Bellafton: You may fee, by his Manner, that he hath not kept good Company. Nay, notwithstanding his returning your Note, and refufing the < Reward, I almoft question whether he is a Gentleman.I have always obferved there is a Something in Perfons well-born, which others < can never acquire.--I think I ill give Orders not to be at Home to him.'

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Nay furc, Madam,' anfwered Sophia, one can't fufpect after what he hath done:--Befides, if your Ladyfhip obferved him, there was an Elegance in his Difcourfe, a Delicacy, a Prettinefs of Expreffion that, that-

1 confefs,' faid Lady Bellafton, the Fellow hath Words--And indeed, Sophia, you must forgive me, indeed you muft.'

I forgive your Ladyfhip!' faid Sophia.

• Yes indeed you muft,' anfwered the laughing; for I had a horrible Sufpicion when I first came into the Room--I vow you must forgive it; • but I suspected it was Mr. Jones himself."

Did your Ladyship indeed?' cries Sophia, blushing, and affecting a Laugh.

Yes, I vow I did,' anfwered fhe, I can't imagine what put it into my Head: For, give the Fellow his due, he was genteelly dreft; which, I think, dear Sophy, is not commonly the Cafe with your Friend."

• This

This Raillery,' cries Sophia, is a little cruel, Lady Bellafton, after my Promise to your Ladyfhip.'.

Not at all, Child,' faid the Lady!-- It would have been cruel before; but after you have promised me never to marry without your Father's Confent, in which you know is implied your giving up Jones, fure you can bear a little Raillery on a Paffion which was pardonable enough in a young Girl in the Country, and of which you tell me you have fo entirely got the better. What must I think, my dear Sophy, if you cannot bear a little Ridicule even on his Drefs? I fhall begin to fear you are very far gone indeed; and almoft queftion whether you have dealt ingenuoufly with me.'

Indeed, Madam,' cries Sophia, your Ladyfhip miftakes me, if you imagine I had any Concern on his Account.'..

On his Account ? anfwered the Lady: You must have mistaken me; I went no farther than his Drefs;------for I would not injure your Tafte by any other Comparison---I don't imagine, my dear Sophy, if your Mr. Jones had been fuch a Fellow as this-----

I thought,' fays Sophia, your Ladyship had allowed him to be handfome.'

← Whom, pray?' cried the Lady, haftily.' Mr. Jones, anfwered Sophia ;----and immediately recollecting herfelf, Mr. Jones !

no, no; I afk your Pardon ;---I mean the • Gentleman who was just now here.'

Sophy! Sophy cries the Lady;

this

• Mr. Jones, I am afraid, still runs in your Head.'

• Then

Then upon my Honour, Madam,' said Sophia, Mr. Jones is as entirely indifferent to me, as the Gentleman who juft now left us.'

Upon my Honour,' faid Lady Bellafton, I believe it. Forgive me, therefore, a little innocent Raillery; but I promife you I will ne< ver mention his Name any more.'

And now the two Ladies feparated, infinitely more to the Delight of Sophia than of Lady BelLofton, who would willingly have tormented her Rival a little longer, had not Business of more Importance called her away. As for Sophia, her Mind was not perfectly eafy under this first Practice of Deceit upon which, when the retired to her Chamber, fhe reflected with the highest Uneafinefs and confcious Shame. Nor could the peculiar Hardship of her Situation, and the Neceffity of the Cafe, at all reconcile her Mind to her Conduct; for the Frame of her Mind was too delicate to bear the Thought of having been guilty of a Falfhood, however qualified by Circumftancès. Nor did this Thought once fuffer her to close her Eyes during the whole fucceeding Night.