С Н А Р. I X. 1 The Efcape of Sophia. It is now time to look after Sophia; whom the T Reader if he loves her half fo well as I do, will rejoice to find efcaped from the clutches of her paffionate father, and from those of her difpaffionate lover. Twelve times did the iron register of time beat on the fonorous bell-metal, fummoning the ghosts, to rife, and walk their nightly round,-In plainer language it was now twelve o'clock, and all the family, as we have faid, lay buried in drink and fleep, except only Mrs. Western, who was deeply engaged in reading a political pamphlet, and except our Heroine, who now foftly stole down ftairs, and having unbarred and unlocked one of the houfe - doors, fallied forth, and haftened to the place of appointment. с Notwithstanding the many pretty arts, which Ladies fometimes practise, to difplay their fears on every little occafion (almost as many as the other fex uses to conceal theirs) certainly there is a degree of courage, which not only becomes a woman, but is often neceffary to enable her to discharge her duty. It is indeed, the idea of fiercenefs, and not of bravery, which destroys the female character; for who can read the ftory of the juftly celebrated Arria, without conceiving as high an opinion of her gentleness and tenderness, as of her fortitude? At the fame time, perhaps, many a woman, who fhrieks at a mouse or a rat, may be capable of poisoning a husband; or, what is worse, of driving him to poison himself. Sophia, with all the gentleness which a woman can have, had all the spirit which fhe ought to have. When, therefore, she came to the place of appointment, and, instead of meeting her maid, as was agreed, faw a man ride directly up to her, fhe neither fcreamed out, nor fainted away: not that her pulfe then beat with its ufual regularity; for fhe was, at firft, under fome furprise and apprehenfion but thefe were relieved almost as soon as raised, when the man, pulling off his hat, asked her, in a very fubmiffive manner," if her Lady"if ,, fhip did not expect to meet another Lady ?" And then proceeded to inform her, "that he was fent to conduct her to that Lady." دو Sophia could have no poffible fufpicion of any falfhood on this account. She therefore mounted refolutely behind the fellow, who conveyed her safe to a town about five miles diftant, where she had the fatisfaction of finding the good Mrs. Honor for as the foul of the waiting - woman was wrapt up in thofe very habiliments which used to enwrap her body, fhe could by no means bring herself to truft them out of her fight. Upon these, therefore, fhe kept guard in perfon, while fhe detached the aforefaid fellow after her Mistress, They now debated what course to take, in order to avoid the purfuit of Mr. Western, who, they knew, would send after them in a few hours. The London road had fuch charms for Honor, that she was defirous of going on directly; alledging, that as Sophia could not be miffed till eight or nine the next morning, her pursuers would not be able to overtake her, even though they knew which way fhe had gone. But Sophia had too much at stake to venture any thing to chance; nor did she dare truft too much to her tender limbs, in a contest which was to be decided only by swiftness. She refolved, therefore, to travel across the country, for at least twenty or thirty miles, and then to take the direct road to London. So, having hired horses to go twenty miles, one way, when she intended to go twenty miles the other, fhe fet forward with the fame guide, behind whom she had riden from her father's houfe; the guide haying now taken up behind him, in the room of Sophia, a much heavier, as well as much less lovely burden; being, indeed, a huge portmanteau, well stuffed with the outfide ornaments, by means of which the fair Honor hoped to gain many conquefts, and, finally, to make her fortune in London city. When they had gone about two hundred paces from the inn, on the London road, Sophia rode 1 up to the guide, and with a voice much fuller of honey than was ever that of Plato, though his mouth is fuppofed to have been a bee-hive, begged him to take the first turning which led towards Bristol. Reader, I am not fuperftitious, nor any great believer of modern miracles. I do not, therefore, deliver the following as a certain truth; for, indeed, I can scarce credit it myself: but the fidelity of an hiftorian obliges me to relate what has been confidently afferted. The horse, then, on which the guide rode, is reported to have been fo charmed by Sophia's voice, that he made a full ftop, and expreft an unwillingness to proceed any farther. Perhaps, however, the fact may be true, and lefs miraculous than it has been reprefented; fince the natural cause seems adequate to the effect: for as the guide at that moment defifted from a conftant application of his armed right heel (for, like Hudibras, he wore but one fpur) it is more than poffible, that this omiffion alone might occafion the beast to stop, especially as this was very frequent with him at other times. But if the voice of Sophia had really an effect on the horse, it had very little on the rider. He anfwered somewhat furlily, "That Meafter had ordered him to go a different way, and that he fhould lofe his place, if he went any other than that he was ordered.' دو دو Sophia finding all her perfuaffons had no effect, began now to add irrefiftible charms to her voice; charms, which, according to the proverb, makes the old mare trot, instead of standing still; charms to which modern ages have attributed all that irresistible force, which the ancients imputed to perfect oratory. In a word, fhe promised she would reward him to his utmost expectation. The lad was not totally deaf to these promises; but he difliked their being indefinite: for tho' perhaps he had never heard that word, yet that in fact was his objection. He faid, "gentlevolks did not confider the cafe of poor volks; that he ,, had like to have been turned away the other day, for riding about the country with a gentleman from Squire Allworthy's, who did not reward him as he fhould have done." دو دو دو "With whom?" fays Sophia eagerly "With a gentleman from Squire Allworthy's," repeated the lad; "the Squire's fon, I think they call 'un". Whither? which way did he go?" fays Sophia. Why a little o' one fide o' Bristol, about twenty miles off, anfwered the lad." Guide me, fays Sophia, "to the fame place and I'll give thee a guinea, or two if one is not fufficient. be certain," faid the boy, "it is honeftly worth » two, when your Ladyfhip confiders what a ,, risk I run; but, however, if your Ladyship will promife me the two guineas, I'll e'en venture: » to be certain it is a finful thing to ride about دو دو σε Το |