Jones, ever fince the arrival of lady Bellafton, had been ready to fink with fear. He fat kicking his heels, playing with his fingers, and looking more like a fool, if it be poffible, than a young booby 'fquire, when he is first introduced into a polite affembly. He began, however, now to recover himfelf; and taking a hint from the behaviour of Lady Bellafton, who, he faw, did not intend to claim any acquaintance with him, he refolved as entirely to affect the ftranger on his part. He faid, Ever fince he had the pocket-book in his poffeffion, he had ufed great diligence in enquiring out the lady whofe name was writ in it; but never till that day could be fo fortunate to difcover her.'

Sophia had, indeed, mentioned the lots of her pocket-book to lady Bellafton; but as Jones, for fome reafon or other, had never once hinted to her that it was in his poffeffion, fhe believed not one fyllable of what Sophia now faid, and wonderfully admired the extreme quicknefs of the young lady, in inventing fuch an excufe. The reafon of Sophia's leaving the playhouse met with no better credit; and though fhe could not account for the meeting between these two lovers,' the was firmly perfuaded it was not accidental.

With an affected smile, therefore she said—' Indeed, Mifs Western, you have had very good luck in recovering your money. Not only as it fell into the hands of a gentleman of honour, but as he happened to difcover to whom it belonged. I think you, would not confent to have it advertifed.--It was great good fortune, Sir, that you found out to whom the note belonged.'

' O Madam,' cries Jones, it was inclosed in a pocket book, in which the young lady's name was "written.'

That was very fortunate indeed,' cries the lady ; —And it was no lefs fo, that you heard Mifs Weftern was at my houfe; for fhe is very little known.' Jones had at length perfectly recovered his fpirits; and as he had conceived he had now an opportunity of fatisfying Sophia, as to the queftion fhe had asked him. juft before lady Bellafton came in, he proceeded thus: Why, Madam,' anfwered he, it was by the luckieft

• chance

chance imaginable I made this difcovery. I was men. tioning what I had found, and the name of the owner, the other night to a lady at the masquerade, who told me, the believed fhe knew where I might fee. Mifs Western; and if I would come to her house the next morning fhe would inform me. I went accor ding to her appointment, but the was not at home;nor could I ever meet with her till this morning, when The directed me to your ladyfhip's houfe. I came accordingly, and did myself the honour to ask for your ladyfhip; and upon my faying that I had very parti, cular business, a fervant fhewed me into this room; where I had not been long before the young lady "returned from the play.'

Upon his mentioning the mafquerade, he looked very flily at lady Bellafton, without any fear of being remarked by Sophia: for she was vifibly too much confounded to make any obfervations. This hint a littlealarmed the lady, and fhe was filent; when Jones, who faw the agitations of Sophia's mind, refolved to take theonly method of relieving her, which was by retiring: but before he did this, he faid, I believe, Madam, it is cuftomary to give fome reward on these occafions; -I must infiit on a very high one for my honesty; • —It is, Madam, no less than the honour of beingpermitted to pay another visit here.'

Sir,' replied the lady, I make no doubt that you are a gentleman, and my doors are never fhut to people of fafhion.'

Jones then, after proper ceremonials, departed, highly to his own fatisfaction, and no less to that of Sophia; who was terribly alarmed left lady Bellafton fhould discover what the knew already but too well.

Upon the ftairs Jones met his old acquaintance. Mrs. Honour, who, notwithstanding all fhe had faid against him, was now fo well-bred to behave with great civility. This meeting indeed proved a lucky circumflance, as he communicated to her the house where he lodged, with which Sophia was acquainted.

C. H.A. P..

XII.

CHAP.

In which the thirteenth book is concluded.

THE elegant lord Shaftsbury fomewhere 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 fo 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 function, nay, I may fay, the neceflity of cuf tom, by which they re refrained, not from fubmitting to the honeft impulfes of nature (for that would be a foolish prohibition,) but from owning them.

We are not, therefore, afhamed to fay, that our heroine now purfued the dictates of the abovementioned right honourable 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 expence 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.'

Nor I neither, Madam,' cries Sophia, I must fay 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.'

6

I did not take much notice of him,' answered Sobut I thought he feemed rather aukward and ungenteel than otherwife.'

phia,

You are extremely right,' cries lady Bellafton: you may fee, by his manner, that he hath not kept good company. Nay, notwithflanding his returning your note, and refufing the reward, I almost question whether he is a gentleman.I have al'ways obferved there is a fomething in perfons well

• born,

born, which others can never acquire.- -I think • I will give orders not to be at home to him.' Nay fure, Madam.' anfwered Sophia,

6 one can't

fufpect after what he hath done;-- befides, if your ladyfhip obferved him, there was an elegance in his difcourfe, a delicacy, a prettiness of expreffion, that, that—

I confefs,' faid lady Bellafton, the fellow hath words And indeed, Sophia, you must forgive me; indeed you must.'

I forgive your ladyfhip!' faid Sophia.

Yes indeed you muft, anfwered fhe laughing;

⚫ for I had a horrible fufpicion when I first came into I vow you must forgive it; but I fufpected it was Mr. Jones himfeif."

the room

Did your ladyfhip indeed?' cries Sophia, blushing, and affecting a laugh.

Yes, I vow I did,' answered she; I can't imagine what put it into my head; for, give the fellow his due, he was genteelly dreft, which I think, dear Sophy, is not commonly the cafe with your •friend.'

This raillery,' cries Sophia, is a little cruel, lady Bellafton, after my promise to your ladyship.' Not at all, child!' faid the lady. It would • have been cruel before; but, after you promifed 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 so entirely got the better. What must I think, my dear Sophy, if you cannot bear a little ridicule even on his drefs? I fhall begin to fear you are very far gone indeed; and almost question whether you have dealt ingenuously with me.'

Indeed Madam' cries Sophia, ' your ladyship mistakes me, if you imagine I had any concern on his account.'

On his account?' answered the lady: You must have mistaken me; I went no farther than his drefs; for I would not injure your tafte by any

• other comparison-I don't imagine, my dear Sophy, if your Mr. Jones had been fuch a fellow as this-'

I thought,' fays Sophia,' your ladyship had allowed him to be handsome.'

Whom, pray? cried the lady, haftily.

• Mr. Jones,' answered Sophia;—and immediately recollecting herfelf, Mr. Jones !-no, no; I afk your pardon; I mean the gentleman 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 honour, Madam,' faid Sophia, Mr. Jones is as entirely indifferent to me, as the gentleman who just now left us.'

Upon my honour,' faid lady Bellafton, I believe it. Forgive me, therefore, a little innocent raillery; but I promise you I will never mention his 6 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 rival a little longer, had not bufinefs of more importance called her away. As for Sophia, her mind was not perfectly eafy under this first practice of deceit: upon which, when she retired to her chamber, fhe reflected with the higheft uneasiness and confcious fhame. Nor could the peculiar hardship of her fituation, and the neceffity of the cafe, at all reconcile her mind to her conduct; for the frame of her mind was too delicate to bear the thought of having been guilty of a false hood, however qualified by circumftances. Nor did this thought once fuffer her to close her eyes during the whole fucceeding night.

VOL. VIII

Hh

THE