no fooner does a dog of fagacity open his mouth than they immediately do the fame, and without the guidance of any scent, run directly forwards as fast as they are able. In the fame manner, the very moment Mr. Maclachlan had mentioned his apprehenfion, Mr. Fitzpatrick instantly concurred, and flew directly up ftairs to furprise his wife, before he knew where fhe was; and unluckily (as fortune loves to play tricks with thofe gentlemen who put themselves entirely under her conduct) ran his head against several doors and posts to no purpose. Much kinder was she to me, when she suggested that fimile of the hounds, juft before inferted; fince the poor wife may, on thefe occafions, be fo juftly compared to a hunted hare. Like that little wretched animal fhe pricks up her ears to liften after the voice of her purfuer; like her, flies away trembling when fhe hears it; and like her, is generally overtaken and had deftroyed in the end.

This was not however the cafe at prefent; for after a long fruitless search, Mr. Fitzpatrick returned to the kitchen, where, as if this had been a real chace, entered a gentleman hallowing as hunters do when the hounds are at a fault. He was just alighted from his horse, and had many attendants at his heels.

Here, Reader, it may be neceffary to acquaint thee with fome matters, which, if thou doft know already, thou art wifer than I take thee to be. And this information thou fhalt receive in the next Chapter.

С Н А Р. V I I.

In which are concluded the Adventures that happened at the Inn at Upton.

IN the first place then, this gentleman just arrived

was no other perfon than Squire Western himself, who was come hither in pursuit of his daughter; and had he fortunately been two hours earlier, he had found not only her, but his niece into the bargain; for fuch was the' wife of Mr. Fitzpatrick, who had run away with her five years before, out of the custody of that fage Lady Madam Western.

Now this Lady had departed from the inn much about the fame time with Sophia: for having been waked by the voice of her husband, she had fent up for the landlady, and being by her apprised of the matter, had bribed the good woman, at an extravagant price, to furnifh her with horfes for her efcape. Such prevalence had money in this family; and though the Miftrefs would have turned away her maid for a corrupt huffy, if she had known as much as the Reader, yet fhe was no more proof against corruption herself than poor Sufan had been.

Mr. Western and his nephew were not known to one another; nor indeed would the former have taken any notice of the latter, if he had known him; for this being a ftolen match, and confequently an unnatural one in the opinion of the good Squire, he had, from the time of her committing it, aban

doned the poor young creature, who was then no more than eighteen, as a monfter, and had never fince fuffered her to be named in his prefence.

The kitchen was now a fcene of univerfal confufion. Western inquiring after his daughter, and Fitzpatrick as eagerly after his wife, when Jones entered the room, unfortunately having Sophia's muff in his hand.

As foon as Western faw Jones, he fet up the fame holla as is used by sportsmen when their game is in view. He then immediately run up and laid hold of Jones, crying, we have got

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the dog fox, I warrant the bitch is not far off. The jargon which followed for fome minutes, where many spoke different things at the fame time, as it would be very difficult to defcribe, fo it would be no lefs unpleasant to read.

Jones having, at length, fhaken Mr. Western off, and some of the company having interfered between them, our Hero protested his innocence as to knowing any thing of the Lady; when parfon Supple stepped up, and faid, "It is folly to deny it; for why, the marks of guilt are in thy hands. " I will myself affeverate and bind it by an oath, that the muff thou bearest in thy hand belongeth unto Madam Sophia; for I have frequently obferved her, of latter days, to bear ,, it about her.." My daughter's muff! ❞ cries the Squire, in a rage. "Has he got my daughter's

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muff! Bear witnefs, the goods are found I'll have him before a Juftice of

» upon him.

» peace this inftant.

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lain?"

«Sir,

Where is my daughter, vilfaid Jones, "I beg you would be pacified. The muff, I acknowledge, is the ,, young Lady's, but, upon my honor, I have » never feen her. At these words Western loft all patience, and grew inarticulate with rage.

Some of the fervants had acquainted Fitzpatrick who Mr. Western was. The good Irishman therefore thinking he had now an opportunity to do an act of service to his uncle, and by that means might poffibly obtain his favor, ftept up to Jones, and cried out, Upon my conscience, Sir, you may be ashamed of denying your having feen the gentleman's daughter before my face, when you know I found you there upon the bed together." Then turning to Western, he offered to conduct him immediately to the room where his daughter was; which offer being accepted, he, .the Squire, the parfon, and fome others, afcended directly to Mrs. Waters's chamber, which they entered with no lefs violence than Mr. Fitzpatrick had done before.

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The poor Lady started from her fleep with as much amazement as terror, and beheld at her bed - fide a figure which might very well be fuppofed to have efcaped out of Bedlam. Such wildnefs and confufion were in the looks of Mr. Western; who no fooner faw the Lady, than he

ftarted back, fhowing fufficiently by his manner, before he spoke, that this was not the perfon fought after.

So much more tenderly do women value their reputation than their perfons, that though the latter feemed now in more danger than before, yet as the former was fecure, the Lady fcreamed not with fuch violence as fhe had done on the other occafion. However, fhe no fooner found herself alone, than fhe abandoned all thoughts of further repofe; and as fhe had fufficient reason to be diffatisfied with her present lodging, she dressed herself with all poffible expedition.

Mr. Western now proceeded to search the whole houfe, but to as little purpose as he had disturbed poor Mrs. Waters. He then returned difconfolate into the kitchen, where he found Jones in the cuftody of his fervants.

This violent uproar had raised all the people in the house, though it was yet fcarcely day light. Among these was a grave gentleman, who had the honor to be in the commiffion of the peace for the county of Worcester. Of which Mr. Western was no fooner informed, than he offered to lay his complaint before him. The Juftice declined executing his office, as he faid he had no clerk present, nor any book about justice - business; and that he could not carry all the law in his head about stealing away daughters, and fuch fort of things.