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 some reward on thefe occafions; — I must infift on a very high one for my honesty; it is, Madam, no less than the honor of being » permitted to pay another vifit here. " دو "Sir," replied the Lady, "I make no doubt that you are a gentleman, and my doors are » never fhut to people of fafhion. دو Jones then, after proper ceremonials, departed, highly to his own fatisfaction, and no lefs to that of Sophia; who was terribly alarmed left Lady Bellafton fhould discover what she knew already but too well. Upon the stairs Jones met his old acquaintance Mrs. Honor, who, notwithstanding all fhe had faid against him, was now fo well-bred to behave with great civility. This meeting proved indeed a lucky circumftance, as he communicated to her the house where he lodged, with which Sophia was unacquainted. In which the Thirteenth Book is concluded. THE elegant Lord Shaftsbury somewhere 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 so 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 fanction, nay, I may fay, the neceffity of cuftom by which they are reftrained, not from fubmitting to the honest 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 Honorable Philofopher. As fhe was perfectly fatisfied then, that Lady Bellafton was ignorant of the perfon of Jones, fo fhe determined to keep her in that ignorance, though at the expense 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. " دو "Nor I neither, Madam," cries Sophia; "I must say he behaved very handsomely in relation to my note. "Yes; and he is a very handsome fellow, faid the Lady; "don't you think fo?" "I did not take much notice of him, " answered Sophia; "but I thought he seemed rather awkward and ungenteel than otherwise. رو رو رو "You are extremely right, cries Lady Bellafton: "You may fee, by his manner, that he has » not kept good company. Nay, notwithstanding his returning your note, and refusing the re,, ward, I almost question whether he is a gentleman. I have always obferved there is a fomething in persons well-born, which others can » never acquire I think I will give orders not ,, to be at home to him. وو دو "Nay fure, Madam, " answered Sophia, "one can't fufpect after what he has done: - Befides, if your Ladyfhip observed him, there was an elegance in his difcourfe, a delicacy, a prettiness of expreffion that, that— "I confefs, "faid Lady Bellafton, "the fellow has words and indeed, Sophia, you must forgive me; indeed you must." "I forgive your Ladyfhip!" faid Sophia. "Yes indeed you must," answered she laughing; for I had a horrible fufpicion when I first came into the room I vow you must forgive it; but I fufpected it was Mr. Jones himself. " - "Did your Lady ship indeed? blushing, and affecting a laugh. دو دو دو دو دو دو دو دو وو "Yes, I vow I did," anfwered fhe; "I can't imagine what it into my head: for, put head for, give the fellow his due, he was genteelly dreft; which, I think, dear Sophy, is not commonly the case with your friend. "This raillery, cries Sophia," is a little cruel, Lady Bellaston, after my promise to your Lady ship.” "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 muft I think, my dear Sophy, if you cannot bear a little ridicule even on his dress? I fhall begin to fear " you are very far gone indeed; and almost question whether have dealt ingenuously with me. دو رو you " "Indeed, Madam, " cries Sophia, "your Ladyship mistakes me, if you imagine I had any concern on his account. دو "On his account? "ànswered the Lady: "You must have mistaken me; I went no farther than his dress; for I would not injure your taste by , any other comparison —I don't imagine, my dear Sophy, if your Mr. Jones had been fuch a fellow as this دو دو “I thought,” says Sophia, fays Sophia, "your Ladyship had allowed him to be handsome. "Whom, pray?" cries the Lady hastily. "Mr. Jones, anfwered Sophia; -and immedi "ately recollecting herfelf, "Mr. Jones! no, "no; I ask your pardon; -I mean the gentleman دو دو who was just now here. "O Sophy! Sophy!" cries the Lady; "this Mr. Jones, I am afraid, ftill runs in your head." "Then upon my honor, Madam, "faid Sophia, ,, Mr. Jones is as entirely indifferent to me, as the gentleman who juft now left us. دو دو دو Upon my honor, faid Lady Bellaston, “I believe it. Forgive me, therefore, a little innocent raillery; but I promise you I will never mention his name any more. And now the two Ladies feparated, infinitely more to the delight of Sophia than of Lady Bellafton, who would willingly have tormented her |