rival of poor Mr. Jones, to have pressed him son with you, I concluded your goodness

on board a ship. I assure them, I don't know who they will press next. Mr. Nightingale here hath seen the officer himself, who is a very pretty gentleman, and hath told him all, and is very sorry for what he undertook; which he would never have done, had he known Mr. Jones to have been a gentleman; but he was told that he was a common strolling vagabond.'

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Allworthy stared at all this, and declared he was a stranger to every word she said. Yes, sir,' answered she, I believe you are. It is a very different story, I believe, from what those fellows told the lawyer.'

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had prompted you to send him thither.'And did you not send him thither?" says Mrs. Miller. Indeed I did not,' answered Allworthy; 'nor did I know he had gone on such an errand till this moment.'-'I see it all!' said Mrs. Miller, upon my soul I see it all! No wonder they have been closeted so close lately. Son Nightingale, let me beg of you to run for these fellows immediately-find them out if they are above ground. I will go myself.'-' Dear madam,' said Allworthy, be patient, and do me the favour to send a servant up stairs to call Mr. Dowling hither, if he be in the house, or if not, Mr. Blifil.' Mrs. Miller went out muttering something to herself, and presently returned with an answer, That Mr. Dowling was gone; but that the t'other," as she called him, 'was coming.'

Allworthy was of a cooler disposition than the good woman, whose spirits were all up in arms in the cause of her friend. He was not, however, without some suspicions which were near a-kin to hers. When Blifil came into the room, he asked him with a very serious countenance, and with a less friendly look than he had ever before given him, Whether he knew any thing of Mr. Dowling's having seen any of the persons who were present at the duel between Jones and another gentleman?'

There is nothing so dangerous as a ques

'What lawyer, madam? What is it you mean?' said Allworthy. Nay, nay,' said she, this is so like you, to deny your own goodness; but Mr. Nightingale here saw him.'-Saw whom, madam? answered he. Why, your lawyer, sir,' answered she, that you so kindly sent to inquire into the affair.'-'I am still in the dark, upon my honour,' said Allworthy. Why then do you tell him, my dear sir,' cries she. 'Indeed, sir,' said Nightingale, I did see that very lawyer who went from you when I came into the room, at an alehouse in Aldersgate, in company with two of the fellows who were employed by Lord Fellamar to press Mr. Jones, and who were by that means present at the unhappy rencounter between him and Mr. Fitzpatrick.' I own sir,' said Mrs. Miller, when Ition which comes by surprise on a man, saw this gentleman come into the room to whose business it is to conceal truth, or to you, I told Mr. Nightingale that I appre- defend falsehood. For which reason those hended you had sent him thither to inquire worthy personages, whose noble office it is into the affair.' Allworthy showed marks to save the lives of their fellow creatures at of astonishment in his countenance at this the Old Bailey, take the utmost care, by news, and was indeed for two or three mi- frequent previous examination, to divine nutes struck dumb by it. At last address- every question which may be asked their ing himself to Mr. Nightingale, he said, 'I clients on the day of trial, that they may be must confess myself, sir, more surprised at supplied with proper and ready answers, what you tell me, than I have ever been which the most fertile invention cannot before at any thing in my whole life. Are supply in an instant. Besides, the sudden you certain this was the gentleman?-I and violent impulse on the blood, occaam most certain,' answered Nightingale, sioned by these surprises, causes frequently 'At Aldersgate?' cries Allworthy. And such an alteration in the countenance, that was you in company with this lawyer and the man is obliged to give evidence against the two fellows?''I was, sir,' said the himself. And such indeed were the alteraother, 'very near half an hour.'- Well, tions which the countenance of Blifil undersir,' said Allworthy, and in what manner went from this sudden question, that we did the lawyer behave? Did you hear all cannot scarce blame the eagerness of Mrs. that passed between him and the fellows?' Miller, who immediately cried out, 'Guilty, -'No, sir,' answered Nightingale; they upon my honour! Guilty, upon my soul! had been together before I came. presence the lawyer said little; but after I had several times examined the fellows, who persisted in a story directly contrary to what I had heard from Mr. Jones, and which I find by Mr. Fitzpatrick was a rank falsehood, the lawyer then desired the fellows to say nothing but what was the truth, and seemed to speak so much in favour of Mr. Jones, that when I saw the same per

In my

Mr. Allworthy sharply rebuked her for this impetuosity; and then turning to Blifil, who seemed sinking into the earth, he said, 'Why do you hesitate, sir, at giving me an answer? You certainly must have employed him; for he would not, of his own accord, I believe, have undertaken such an errand, and especially without acquainting me.'

Blifil then answered, 'I own, sir, I have

been guilty of an offence, yet may I hope your pardon?'' My pardon,' said Allworthy, very angrily. Nay, sir,' answered Blifil, I knew you would be offended; yet surely my dear uncle will forgive the effects of the most amiable of human weaknesses. Compassion for those who do not deserve it, I own is a crime; and yet it is a crime from which you yourself are not entirely free. I know I have been guilty of it in more than one instance to this very person; and I will own I did send Mr. Dowling, not on a vain and fruitless inquiry, but to discover the witnesses, and to endeavour to soften their evidence. This, sir, is the truth; which, though I intended to conceal from you, I will not deny.'

'I confess,' said Nightingale, 'this is the light in which it appeared to me from the gentleman's behaviour.'

'Now madam,' said Allworthy, 'I believe you will once in your life own you have entertained a wrong suspicion, and are not so angry with my nephew as you was.'

Every reader, I believe, will be able to answer for the worthy woman; but they must have a great deal of good-nature, and be well acquainted with friendship, who can feel what she felt on this occasion. Few, I hope, are capable of feeling what now passed in the mind of Blifil; but those who are will acknowledge, that it was impossible for him to raise any objection to this visit. Fortune, however, or the gentleman lately mentioned above, stood his friend, and prevented his undergoing so great a shock; for, at the very instant when the coach was sent for, Partridge arrived, and having called Mrs. Miller from the company, acquainted her with the dreadful accident lately come to light; and hearing Mr. Allworthy's intention, begged her to find some means of stopping him; 'For,' says he, the matter must at all hazards be kept a secret from him; and if he should now go, he will find Mr. Jones and his mother, who arrived just as I left him, lamenting over one another the horrid crime they have ignorantly committed.'

The poor woman, who was almost deprived of her senses at this dreadful news, was never less capable of invention than at present. However, as women are much readier at this than men, she bethought herself of an excuse, and returning to Allworthy, said, 'I am sure, sir, you will be surprised at hearing any objection from me to the kind proposal you just now made; and yet I am afraid of the consequence of

Mrs. Miller was silent; for though she could not so hastily be pleased with Blifil, whom she looked upon to have been the ruin of Jones, yet in this particular instance he had imposed upon her as well as upon the rest; so entirely had the devil stood his friend. And, indeed, I look upon the vulgar observation, that the devil often deserts his friends, and leaves them in the lurch,' to be a great abuse on that gentleman's character. Perhaps he may sometimes desert those who are only his cup ac-it, if carried immediately into execution. quaintance; or who, at most, are but half his; but he generally stands by those who are thoroughly his servants, and helps them off in allextremities, till their bargain expires. As a conquered rebellion strengthens a government, or as health is more perfectly established by recovery from some diseases, so anger, when removed, often gives new life to affection. This was the case of Mr. Allworthy; for Blifil having wiped off the greater suspicion, the lesser, which had been raised by Square's letter, sunk of course, and was forgotten; and Thwackum, with whom he was greatly offended, bore alone all the reflections which Square had cast on the enemies of Jones.

As for that young man, the resentment of Mr. Allworthy began more and more to abate towards him. He told Blifil, 'He did not only forgive the extraordinary efforts of his good-nature, but would give him the pleasure of following his example.' Then turning to Mrs. Miller, with a smile which would have become an angel, he cried, 'What say you, madam? shall we take a hackney-coach, and all of us together pay a visit to your friend? I promise you, it is not the first visit I have made in a prison.'

You must imagine, sir, that all the calamities which have lately befallen this poor young fellow, must have thrown him into the lowest dejection of spirits; and now, sir, should we all on a sudden fling him into such a violent fit of joy, as I know your presence will occasion, it may, I am afraid, produce some fatal mischief, especially as his servant, who is without, tells me he is very far from being well.'

Is his servant without?' cries Allworthy; 'pray call him hither. I will ask him some questions concerning his master.'

Partridge was at first afraid to appear before Mr. Allworthy; but was at length persuaded, after Mrs. Miller, who had often heard his whole story from his own mouth, had promised to introduce him.

Allworthy recollected Partridge the moment he came into the room, though many years had passed since he had seen him. Mrs. Miller, therefore, might have spared here a formal oration, in which, indeed, she was something prolix; for the reader, I believe, may have observed already, that the good woman, among other things, had a tongue always ready for the service of her friends.

'And are you,' said Allworthy to Par

Mr. Allworthy then asked him many questions concerning Jones, as to his health, and other matters; to all which Partridge answered, without having the least regard to what was, but considered only what he would have things appear; for a strict adherence to truth was not among the articles of this honest fellow's morality, or his religion.

tridge, 'the servant of Mr. Jones?'-'I'When your honour conceived that discan't say, sir,' answered he, that I am a pleasure against me, it ended in my ruin regular servant; but I live with him, an't soon after; for I lost my little school; and please your honour at present. Non sum the minister, thinking, I suppose, it would qualis eram, as your honour very well be agreeable to your honour, turned me knows.' out from the office of clerk; so that I had nothing to trust to but the barber's shop, which, in a country place like that, is a poor livelihood; and when my wife died, (for till that time I received a pension of twelve pounds a-year from an unknown hand, which indeed I believe was your honour's own, for nobody that ever I heard of doth these things besides ;) but, as I was saying, when she died, this pension forsook me; so that now, as I owed two or three small debts, which began to be troublesome to me, particularly one which an attorney brought up by law-charges from fifteen shillings to near thirty pounds; and as I found all my usual means of living had forsook me, I packed my little all as well as I could, and went off.

During this dialogue, Mr. Nightingale took his leave, and presently after Mrs. Miller left the room, when Allworthy likewise despatched Blifil; for he imagined that Partridge, when alone with him, would be more explicit than before company. They were no sooner left in private together, than Allworthy began as in the following chapter.

CHAPTER VI.

In which the history is farther continued. 'SURE, friend,' said the good man, 'you are the strangest of all human beings. Not only to have suffered, as you have formerly, for obstinately persisting in a falsehood, but to persist in it thus to the last, and to pass thus upon the world for a servant of your own son? What interest can you have in all this? What can be your motive?'

6

'I see, sir,' said Partridge, falling down upon his knees, that your honour is prepossessed against me, and resolved not to believe any thing I say, and, therefore, what signifies my protestations; but yet there is one above who knows that I am not the father of this young man.'

'How!' said Allworthy, will you yet deny what you was formerly convicted of upon such unanswerable, such manifest evidence? Nay, what a confirmation is your being now found with this very man, of all which twenty years ago appeared against you. I thought you had left the country; nay, I thought you had been long since dead. In what manner did you know any thing of this young man? Where did you meet with him, unless you had kept some correspondence together? Do not deny this; for I promise you it will greatly raise your son in my opinion, to find that he hath such a sense of filial duty, as privately to support his father for so many years.'

If your honour will have patience to hear me,' said Partridge, 'I will tell you all.' Being bid go on, he proceeded thus:

1

"The first place I came to was Salisbury, where I got into the service of a gentleman belonging to the law, and one of the best gentlemen that ever I knew; for he was not only good to me, but I know a thousand good and charitable acts which he did while I staid with him; and I have known him often to refuse business, because it was paltry and oppressive.' You need not be so particular,' said Allworthy; 'I know this gentleman, and a very worthy man he is, and an honour to his profession.' -Well, sir,' continued Partridge, from hence I removed to Lymington, where I was above three years in the service of another lawyer, who was likewise a very good sort of a man, and, to be sure, one of the merriest gentlemen in England. Well, sir, at the end of three years I set up a little school, and was likely to do well again, had it not been for a most unlucky accident. Here I kept a pig; and one day, as ill-fortune would have it, this pig broke out, and did trespass, I think they call it, in a garden belonging to one of my neighbours, who was a proud revengeful man, and employed a lawyer, one-one-I can't think of his name; but he sent for a writ against me, and had me to size. When I came there, Lord have mercy upon me! to hear what the counsellors said. There was one that told my lord a parcel of the confoundedest lies about me: he said, that I used to drive my hogs into other folks' gardens,

clergyman in Dorsetshire, by the villany of an attor*This is a fact which I knew happen to a poor ney, who not contented with the exorbitant costs to which the poor man was put by a single action, brought afterwards another action on the judgment, as it was called; a method frequently used to opattorneys, to the great scandal of the law, of the napress the poor, and bring money into the pockets of tion, of christianity, and even of human nature itself.

Mrs. Waters, without paying any regard to what Partridge said, and almost without taking any notice of him, advanced to Mr. Allworthy. I believe, sir, it is so long since I had the honour of seeing you, that you do not recollect me.'-'Indeed,' answered Allworthy, 'you are so very much altered, on many accounts, that had not this man already acquainted me who you are, I should not have immediately called you to my remembrance. Have you, madam, any particular business which brings you to me?' Allworthy spoke this with great reserve; for the reader may easily believe he was not well pleased with the conduct of this lady; neither with what he had formerly heard, nor with what Partridge had now delivered.

and a great deal more; and at last, he said, | ther of Mr. Jones: I am sure she will ache hoped I had at last brought my hogs to quit me before your honour. Pray, maa fair market. To be sure, one would damhave thought that, instead of being owner only of one poor little pig, I had been the greatest hog-merchant in England. Well,' Pray,' said Allworthy, do not be so particular: I have heard nothing of your son yet.'-'O, it was a great many years,' answered Partridge, before I saw my son, as you are pleased to call him. I went over to Ireland after this, and taught school at Cork, (for that one suit ruined me again, and I lay seven years in Winchester jail.') - Well,' said Allworthy, pass that over till you return to England. Then, sir,' said he, it was about half a year ago that I landed at Bristol, where I staid some time, and not finding it do there, and hearing of a place between that and Gloucester, where the barber was just dead, I went thither, and there I had been about two months when Mr. Jones came thither.' He then gave Allworthy a very particular account of their first meeting, and of every thing, as well as he could remember, which had happened from that day to this; frequently interlarding his story with panegyrics on Jones, and not forgetting to insinuate the great love and respect which he had for Allworthy. He concluded with saying, 'Now, sir, I have told your honour the whole truth.' And then repeated the most solemn protestation, That he was no more the father of Jones than of the Pope of Rome; and imprecated the most bitter curses on his head, if he did not speak the truth.

6

'What am I to think of this matter?' cries Allworthy. For what purpose should you so strongly deny a fact, which I think it would be rather your interest to own?-' 'Nay, sir,' answered Partridge, (for he could hold no longer,) ' if your honour will not believe me, you are like soon to have satisfaction enough. I wish you had mistaken the mother of this young man, as well as you have his father.' And now, being asked what he meant, with all the symptoms of horror, both in his voice and countenance, he told Allworthy the whole story, which he had a little before expressed such desire to Mrs. Miller to conceal from him.

Allworthy was almost as much shocked at this discovery as Partridge himself had been while he related it. Good Heavens!' says he; in what miserable distresses do vice and imprudence involve men! How much beyond our designs are the effects of wickedness sometimes carried!' He had scarce uttered these words, when Mrs. Waters came hastily and abruptly into the room. Partridge no sooner saw her, than he cried, 'Here, sir, here is the very woman herself. This is the unfortunate mo

Mrs. Waters answered, 'Indeed, sir, I have very particular business with you: and it is such as I can impart only to yourself. I must desire, therefore, the favour of a word with you alone; for I assure you, what I have to tell you is of the utmost importance.'

Partridge was then ordered to withdraw; but before he went, he begged the lady to satisfy Mr. Allworthy that he was perfectly innocent. To which she answered, You need be under no apprehension, sir; I shall satisfy Mr. Allworthy very perfectly of that matter.'

Then Partridge withdrew, and that passed between Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Waters which is written in the next chapter.

CHAPTER VII.

Continuation of the history.

MRS. Waters remaining a few moments silent, Mr. Allworthy could not refrain from saying, 'I am sorry, madam, to perceive, by what I have since heard, that you have made so very ill a use- 'Mr. Allworthy,' said she, interrupting him, 'I know I have faults. But ingratitude to you is not one of them. I never can nor shall forget your goodness, which I own I have very little deserved; but be pleased to waive all upbraiding me at present, as I have so important an affair to communicate to you concerning this young man, to whom you have given my maiden name of Jones."

'Have I, then,' said Allworthy, 'ignorantly punished an innocent man, in the person of him who hath just left us? Was he not the father of the child?'-'Indeed he was not,' said Mrs. Waters. You may be pleased to remember, sir, I formerly told you, you should one day know; and I ac

knowledge myself to have been guilty of a guess that she was a relation of mine," cruel neglect, in not having discovered it cried he. Indeed, she was a near one.' to you before. Indeed, I little knew how At which words Allworthy started, and necessary it was.'-'Well, madam,' said she continued: "You had a sister, sir.'Allworthy, be pleased to proceed.''You A sister! repeated he, looking aghast. must remember, sir,' said she, a youngAs there is truth in Heaven,' cries she, fellow, whose name was Summer.'-Very your sister was the mother of that child well,' cries Allworthy; he was the son of you found between your sheets.'-Can it a clergyman of great learning and virtue, be possible?' cries he: Good Heavens !'for whom I had the highest friendship.' 'Have patience, sir,' said Mrs. Waters, 'So it appeared, sir,' answered she; for I and I will unfold to you the whole story. believe you bred the young man up, and Just after your departure for London, Miss maintained him at the University; where, Bridget came one day to the house of my I think, he had finished his studies, when mother. She was pleased to say, she had he came to reside at your house; a finer heard an extraordinary character of me, man, I must say, the sun never shone upon; for my learning and superior understanding for, besides the handsomest person I ever to all the young women there; so she was saw, he was so genteel, and had so much pleased to say. She then bid me come to wit and good-breeding.'-'Poor gentleman,' her to the great house; where, when I atsaid Allworthy, 'he was indeed untimely tended, she employed me to read to her. snatched away; and little did I think he She expressed great satisfaction in my had any sins of this kind to answer for; for reading, showed great kindness to me, and I plainly perceive you are going to tell me made me many presents. he was the father of your child."

'At last she began to catechise me on the 'Indeed, sir,' answered she, 'he was not.' subject of secrecy; to which I gave her How? said Allworthy: to what then such satisfactory answers, that, at last, tends all this preface? To a story, sir,' having locked the door of her room, she said she, which I am concerned falls to my took me into her closet, and then locking lot to unfold to you. O, sir! prepare to that door likewise, she said, she should conhear something which will suprise you, will vince me of the vast reliance she had on grieve you.' Speak,' said Allworthy; I my integrity, by communicating a secret am conscious of no crime, and cannot be in which her honour, and consequently her be afraid to hear.'-'Sir,' said she, that life, was concerned. She then stopped, Mr. Summer, the son of your friend, educa- and, after a silence of a few minutes, during ted at your expense, who, after living a year which she often wiped her eyes, she inin the house as if he had been your own son, quired of me, if I thought my mother might died there of the small pox, was tenderly be safely confided in. I answered, I would lamented by you, and buried as if he had stake my life on her fidelity. She then imbeen your own; that Summer, sir, was the parted to me the great secret which lafather of this child.'-' How!' said Allwor-boured in her breast, and which, I believe, thy: you contradict yourself. That I was delivered with more pains than she do not,' answered she; 'he was indeed the afterwards suffered in child-birth. It was father of this child, but not by me.'-Take then contrived, that my mother and myself care, madam,' said Allworthy, do not, to only should attend at the time, and that shun the imputation of any crime, be guilty Mrs. Wilkins should be sent out of the of any falsehood. Remember there is one way, as she accordingly was, to the very from whom you can conceal nothing, and farthest part of Dorsetshire, to inquire the before whose tribunal falsehood will only character of a servant; for the lady had aggravate your guilt.'-' Indeed, sir,' says turned away her own maid near three she, I am not his mother; nor would I months before; during all which time I now think myself so for the world.'--'I officiated about her person upon trial, as know your reason,' said Allworthy, and she said; though, as she afterwards deshall rejoice as much as you to find it other-clared, I was not sufficiently handy for the wise; yet you must remember, you your-place. This, and many other such things, self confessed it before me.'--'So far, what which she used to say of me, were all I confessed,' said she, 'was true, that these hands conveyed the infant to your bed; conveyed it thither at the command of its mother; at her commands I afterwards owned it; and thought myself, by her generosity, nobly rewarded, both for my secrecy and my shame. Who could this woman be said Allworthy. Indeed, I tremble to name her,' answered Mrs. Waters. By all this preparation, I am to

thrown out to prevent any suspicion which Mrs. Wilkins might hereafter have, when I was to own the child; for she thought it could never be believed she would venture to hurt a young woman with whom she had intrusted such a secret. You may be assured, sir, I was well paid for all these affronts, which, together with being informed of the occasion of them, very well contented me. Indeed, the lady had a