CHA P. VII.

A pathetic fcene between Mr All-worthy and Mrs Miller.

M

RS Miller had a long difcourfe with Mr Allworthy, at his return from dinner, in which fhe acquainted him with Mr Jones's having unfortunately loft all which he was pleased to bestow on him at their fepa ration, and with the diftreffes to which that lofs had fubjected him of all which fhe had received a full account from the faithful retailer Partridge. She then explained the obligations fhe had to Jones; not that he was entirely explicit with regard to her daughter; for though she had the utmost confidence in Mr Allworthy, and though there could be no hopes of keeping an affair fecret, which was unhappily known to more than half a dozen, yet the could not prevail with herfelf to mention thofe circumftances which reflected moft on the chastity of poor Nancy,. but fmothered that part of her evidence as cautiously as if she had been before a judge, and the girl was now on a trial for the murder of a baftard.

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Allworthy faid, there were few characters fo abfolutely vicious as not to have the leaft mixture of good in them: However,' fays he, I cannot deny but that you had fome obligations to the fellow, bad as he is, and I fhall therefore excufe what hath paft already, but muft infift you never mention his name to me more; for I promise you it was upon the fulleft and plaineft evidence that I refolved to take the measures I have taken.' 'Well, Sir,' fays fhe, I make not the leaft doubt, but time will fhew all matters in their true and natural colours, and that C. you will be convinced this poor young man deferves better of you than fome other folks that shall be nameless.'

Madam,' cries Allworthy, a little ruffled, I will not hear any reflections on my nephew; and if you ever fay a word more of that kind, I will depart from < your house that inftant. He is the worthieft and best of men; and I once more repeat it to you, he hath carried his friendship to this man to a blameable length, by too long concealing facts of the blackcft dye. The ingratitude of the wretch to this good young man is:

what I most refent: for, Madam, I have the greatest reafon to imagine he had a plot to fupplant my nephew in my favour, and to have difinherited him.'

I am fure, Sir,' anfwered Mrs Miller, a little frightened, (for though Mr Allworthy had the utmost sweetnefs and benevolence in his fmiles, he had great terror in his frowns), I fhall never fpeak against any gentleman < you are pleased to think well of. I am fure, Sir, fuch behaviour would very little become me, especially when the gentleman is your neareft relation; but, Sir, you must not be angry with me, you must not indeed, for my good wishes to this poor wretch. Sure I may

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-I am

call him fo now, though once you would have been angry with me if I had fpoke of him with the leaft difrefpect. How often have I heard you call him your fon? how often have you prattled to me of him, with all the fondness of a parent? nay, Sir, I cannot forget the many tender expreffions, the many good things you have told me of his beauty, and his parts, and his virtues; of his good nature and generofity.fure, Sir, I cannot forget them, for I find them all true. I have experienced them in my own caufe. They have preferved my family. You muft pardon my tears, Sir, indeed you muft, when I confider the cruel reverse of fortune which this poor youth, to whom I am fo much obliged hath fuffered: when I confider the lofs of your favour, which I know he valued more than his life, I muft, I muft lament him. If you had a dagger in your hand, ready to plunge into my heart, I must lament the mifery of one whom you have loved, and I fhall ever love.'

Allworthy was pretty much moved with this fpeech, but it feemed not to be with anger: for after a fhort filence, taking Mrs Miller by the hand, he faid very affectionately to her, Come, Madam, let us confider a little about your daughter. I cannot blame you for rejoicing in a match which promifes to be advantageous ⚫ to her; but you know this advantage, in a great mea fure, depends on the fathers reconciliation. I know Mr Nightingale very well, and have formerly had concerns with him; I will make him a vifit,, and endeavour to ferve you in this matter. I believe he is a worldly

man; but as this is an only fon, and the thing is now 'irretrievable, perhaps he may in time be brought to reafon. I promise you I will do all I can for you.'

Many were the acknowledgments which the poor woman made to Allworthy, for this kind and generous of fer; nor could fhe refrain from taking this occafion again to exprefs her gratitude towards Jones, to whom, faid fhe, I owe the opportunity of giving you, Sir, this prefent trouble.' Allworthy gently stopped her; but he was too good a man to be really offended with the effects of so noble a principle as now actuated Mrs Miller; and indeed, had not this new affair inflamed his former anger against Jones, it is poffible he might have been a little foftened towards him, by the report of an action which malice itself could not have derived from an evil motive.

Mr Allworthy and Mrs Miller had been above an hour together, when their converfation was put an end to by the arrival of Blifil, and another perfon, which other perfon was no less than Mr Dowling, the attorney, who was now become a great favourite with Mr Blifil, and whom Mr Allworthy, at the defire of his nephew, had made his fteward: and had likewife recommended him to Mr Western, from whom the attorney had received a promife of being promoted to the fame office upon the first vacancy; and, in the mean time, was employed in tranfacting fome affairs which the fquire then had in London, in relation to a mortgage.

This was the principal affair which then brought Mr Dowling to town; therefore he took the fame opportunity to charge himself with fome money for Mr Allworthy, and to make a report to him of fome other bufinefs; in all which, as it was of much too dull a nature to find any place in this hiftory, we will leave the uncle, nephew, and their lawyer concerned, and refort to other matters.

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CHA P. VIII.

Containing various matters.

EFORE we return to Mr Jones, we will take one'. more view of Sophia,

mar.

Though that young lady had brought her aunt into great good humour by thofe foothing methods, which we have before related, she had not brought her in the leaft to abate in her zeal for the match with Lord FellaThis zeal was now inflamed by Lady Bellafton, who had told her the preceding evening, that he was well fatisfied from the conduct of Sophia, and from her carriage to his lordship, that all delays would be dangerous, and that the only way to fucceed, was to prefs the match forward with fuch rapidity, that the young lady. fhould have no time to reflect, and be obliged to confent, while fhe scarce knew what he did. In which manner, fhe faid, one half of the marriages among people of condition were brought about. A fact very probably true, and to which I fuppofe is owing the mutual tenderness which afterwards exifts among fo many happy couples.

A hint of the fame kind was given by the fame lady, to Lord Fellamar; and both thefe fo readily embraced the advice, that the very next day was, at his Lordship's requeft, appointed by Mrs Weftern for a private interview between the young parties. This was communicated to Sophia by her aunt, and infifted upon in fuch high terms, that, after having urged every thing the could poffibly invent against it, without the leaft effect, fhe at laft agreed to give the highest inftance of complaifance which any young lady can give, and confented to fee his Lordship.

As converfations of this kind afford no great enter tainment, we shall be excufed from reciting the whole that paft at this interview; in which, after his Lordship had made many declarations of the most pure and ardent paffion, to the filent blufhing Sophia; he at laft collected all the spirits fhe could raife, and with a trembling low voice faid, My Lord, you must be yourself confcious whether your former behaviour to me hath been confiftent with the profeffions you now make.' Is • there,' answered he, no way by which I can atone for • madness? what I did, I am afraid, must have too plainly convinced you, that the violence of love had depri• ved me of my fenfes.' Indeed, my Lord,' faid fhe, it is in your power to give me a proof of an affection:

which I much rather wish to encourage, and to which I fhall think myfelf more beholden.' Name it, Madam,' faid my Lord, very warmly. My Lord,' fays fhe, looking down upon her fan,. I know you must be fenfible how uneafy this pretended paffion of yours hath made me.'- Can you be fo cruel to call it pretended?" fays he. Yes, my Lord,' answered Sophia, all profeffions of love to thofe whom we perfecute, are moft infulting pretences. This purfuit of yours is to me a moft cruel perfecution; nay, it is taking a moft ungenerous advantage of my unhappy fituation. Moft lovely, moft adorable charmer, do not accufe me,' cries he, of taking an ungenerous advantage, while I have no thoughts but what are directed to your honour and intereft, and while I have no view, no hope, no ambition, but to throw myfelf, honour, fortune, every thing, " at your feet' 6 My Lord,' fays fhe, it is that fortune, and thofe honours, which give you the advantage of which I complain. Thefe are the charms which have feduced my relations, but to me they are things ⚫ indifferent. If your Lordship will merit my gratitude, there is but one way.' Pardon me, divine creature,' faid he, there can be none. All I can do for you is fo much your due, and will give me fo much pleafure, that there is no room for your gratitude.'• Indeed, my Lord,' answered fhe, you may obtain my gratitude, my good opinion, every kind thought and with which it is in my power to bestow; nay, you may obtain them with eafe; for fure to a generous mind it must be easy to grant my request. Let me beseech you then, to cease a purfuit in which you can never • have any fuccefs, For your own fake, as well as mine, I intreat this favour: for fure you are too noble to have any pleasure in tormenting an unhappy creature. What can your Lordship propofe but uneafinefs to yourself, by a perfeverance, which, upon my honour, upon my foul, cannot, fhall not prevail with me, whatever diftreffes you may drive me to? Here my Lord fetched a deep figh, and then faid, Is it then, Madam, that I am fo unhappy to be the object of your diflike and scorn; or will you pardon me if I fufpect there is fome other'- Here he hesitated, and Sophia