think, blame him for concluding fomething more than what he faw, from the familiarities which he really had feen, and which we are at least favorable enough to, when we call them innocent freedoms. The Reader will eafily fuggeft great plenty of inftances to himfelf: I fhall add but one more, which, however unchristian it may be thought by fome, I cannot help efteeming to be strictly juftifiable; and this is a fufpicion that a man is capable of doing what he has done already, and that it is poffible for one who has been a villain once, to act the fame part again. And to confefs the truth, of this degree of fufpicion I believe Sophia was guilty. From this degree of fufpicion fhe had, in fact, conceived an opinion, that her coufin was really not better than fhe fhould be.

The cafe, it seems, was this: Mrs. Fitzpatrick wifely confidered, that the virtue of a young Lady is, in the world, in the fame fituation with a poor hare, who is certain, whenever it ventures abroad, to meet its enemies: for it can hardly meet any other. No fooner therefore was fhe determined to take the first opportunity of quitting the protection of her husband, than fhe refolved to caft herself under the protection of fome other man; and whom could fhe fo properly chufe to be her guardian as a perfon of quality, of fortune, of honor; and who, befides a gallant difpofition which inclines men to knight-errantry, that is, to be the champions of Ladies in diftrefs, had often declared a violent.

attachment to herself, and had already given her all the inftances of it in his power.

But as the law has foolishly omitted this office of vice-husband, or guardian to an eloped Lady; and as malice is apt to denominate him by a more difagreeable appellation; it was concluded that his Lordship should perform all fuch kind offices to the Lady in fecret, and without publicly affuming the character of her protector. Nay, to prevent any other perfon from feeing him in this light, it was agreed that the Lady fhould proceed directly to Bath, and that his Lordship should first go to London, and thence should go down to that place by the advice of his physicians.

Now all this Sophia very plainly understood, not from the lips or behaviour of Mrs. Fitzpatrick, but from the Peer, who was infinitely lefs expert at retaining a fecret, than was the good Lady; and perhaps the exact fecrecy which Mrs. Fitzpatrick had obferved on this head in her narrative, served not a little to heighten those suspicions which were now risen in the mind of her coufin.

Sophia very easily found out the Lady fhe fought; for indeed there was not a chairman in town to whom her houfe was not perfectly well known; and as fhe received, in return of her firft meffage, a most preffing invitation, fhe immediately accepted it. Mrs. Fitzpatrick indeed did not defire her eoufin to stay with her with more earnestness than

civility required. Whether fhe had difcerned and resented the fufpicion above mentioned, or from what other motive it arofe, I cannot fay; but certain it is, she was full as defirous of parting with Sophia, as Sophia herself could be of going.

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The young Lady, when fhe came to take leave of her coufin, could not avoid giving her a fhort hint of advice. She begged her, for Heaven's fake, to take care of herfelf, and to confider in how dangerous a fituation fhe stood; adding, fhe hoped fome method would be found of reconciling her to her husband. "You must remember, my dear," fays fhe, "the maxim which my aunt Weftern has fo often repeated to us both: that whenever the matrimonial alliance is broke, and war declared between husband and wife, she can hardly make a disadvantageous peace for herself on any ,, conditions. These are my aunt's very words, and she has had a great deal of experience in the world. Mrs. Fitzpatrick anfwered, with a contemptuous fmile, "Never fear me, child, take „ care of yourself; for you are younger than me. I will come and vifit you in a few days; but, dear Sophy, let me give you one piece of advice. Leave the character of Graveairs in the » country, for, believe me, it will fit very awkwardly upon you in this town."

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Thus the two coufins parted, and Sophia repaired directly to Lady Bellafton, where fhe found a most hearty, as well as a most polite welcome.

The Lady had taken a great fancy to her when she had seen her formerly with her aunt Western. She was indeed extremely glad to fee her, and was no fooner acquainted with the reasons which induced her to leave the Squire and fly to London, than fhe highly applauded her sense and resolution; and after expreffing the highest fatisfaction in the opinion which Sophia had declared she entertained of her Ladyship, by chufing her house for an afylum, fhe promised her all the protection which it was in her power to give.

As we have now brought Sophia into safe hands, the Reader will, I apprehend, be contented to deposit her there a while, and to look a little after other perfonages, and particularly poor Jones, whom we have left long enough to do penance for his past offences, which, as is the nature of vice, brought fufficient punishment upon themselves.

him

THE

HISTORY

OF A

FOUNDLING.

BOOK XII.

Containing the fame individual Time with the

former.

CHAP. I.

Showing what is to be deemed Plagiarism in a modern Author, and what is to be confidered as lawful Prize.

THE learned Reader must have observed, that in the course of this mighty Work, I have often tranflated paffages out of the best ancient authors, without quoting the original, or without taking the leaft notice of the book from whence they were borrowed.

This conduct in writing is placed in a very proper light by the ingenious Abbé Bannier, in