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crifice every thing to the possession of my So. 6 phia, but Sophia herself.'

Though the reader may have already conceived no very sublime idea of the virtue of the lady in the mask; and though possibly she may hereafter appear not to deserve one of the first characters of her sex; yet, it is certain, these generous sentiments made a strong impression upon her, and greatly added to the affection she had before/conceived for our young hero.

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The lady now, after a silence of a few moments, said, 6 She did not see his pretensions to Sophia, so much in the light of presumption, as of imprudence. Young fellows,' says she, can 6 never have too aspiring thoughts. I love ambition in a young man, and I would have you cultivate it as much as possible. Perhaps you may succeed with those who are infinitely superior in fortune; nay, I am convinced there are women- -but don't you think me a strange creature, Mr. Jones, to be thus giving advice. to a man, with whom I am so little acquainted, and one with whose behaviour to me I have so little reason to be pleased?'

Here Jones began to apologize, and to hope he had not offended in any thing he had said of her cousin. To which the mask answered,

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And are you so little versed in the sex, as to ima. gine you can well affront a lady more, than by entertaining her with your passion for another woman? If the Fairy Queen had conceived no better opinion of your gallantry, she would scarce have appointed you to meet her at a 6 masquerade.'

Jones had never less inclination to an amour than at present; but gallantry to the ladies was among his principles of honour; and he held it

as much incumbent on him to accept a challenge to love, as if it had been a challenge to fight. Nay, his very love to Sophia made it necessary for him to keep well with the lady, as he made no doubt but she was capable of bringing him into the presence of the other.

He began, therefore, to make a very warm answer to her last speech, when a mask, in the character of an old woman, joined them. This mask was one of those ladies who go to a masquerade only to vent ill-nature, by telling people rude truths, and by endeavouring, as the phrase is, to spoil as much sport as they are able. This good lady, therefore, having observed Jones and his friend, whom she well knew, in close consultation together in a corner of the room, concluded she could no where satisfy her spleen better than by interrupting them. She attacked them, therefore, and soon drove them from their retirement; nor was she contented with this, but pursued them to every place to which they shifted to avoid her; till Mr. Nightingale, seeing the distress of his friend, at last relieved him, and engaged the old woman in another pursuit.

While Jones and his mask were walking to. gether about the room, to rid themselves of the teazer, he observed his lady speak to several masks, with the same freedom of acquaintance as if they had been bare-faced. He could not help expressing his surprise at this; saying, 'Sure, 6 madam, you must have infinite discernment, to know people in all disguises.' To which the lady answered, 'You cannot conceive any thing

more insipid and childish than a masquerade to the people of fashion, who in general know < one another as well here, as when they meet in an assembly or a drawing-room; nor will

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any woman of condition converse with a person with whom she is not acquainted. In short, 'the generality of persons whom you see here, may 6 more properly be said to kill time in this place, 'than in any other; and generally retire from hence more tired than from the longest sermon. C To say the truth, I begin to be in that situa'tion myself; and if I have any faculty at guess'ing, you are not much better pleased. I protest it would be almost charity in me to go home for your sake.'—' I know but one charity equal to it,' cries Jones, and that is, to suffer me C to wait on you home.'~' Sure,' answered the łady, you have a strange opinion of me, to imagine, that, upon such an acquaintance, I would let you into my doors at this time o'night. I fancy you impute the friendship I have shown 6 my cousin to some other motive. Confess, honestly; don't you consider this contrived interview as little better than a downright assignation? Are you used, Mr. Jones, to make these sudden conquests?' I am not used, madam,' said Jones, to submit to such sudden conquests; but as you have taken my heart by surprise, the rest of my body hath a right to follow: so ' you must pardon me, if I resolve to attend you wherever you go.' He accompanied these words with some proper actions; upon which the lady, after a gentle rebuke, and saying their familiarity would be observed, told him, 'She was going to sup with an acquaintance, whither she hoped he would not follow her; for if you should,' said she, I shall be thought an unaccountable creature, though my friend, indeed, is not ' censorious; yet I hope you won't follow me: I protest I shall not know what to say if you ' do.'

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The lady presently after quitted the masque. rade; and Jones, notwithstanding the severe prohibition he had received, presumed to attend her. He was now reduced to the same dilemma we have mentioned before, namely, the want of a shilling; and could not relieve it by borrowing as before. He therefore walked boldly on after the chair in which his lady rode, pursued by a grand huzza from all the chairmen present, who wisely take the best care they cau to discountenance all walking afoot by their betters. Luckily, however, the gentry who attend at the Opera-house were too busy to quit their stations; and, as the lateness of the hour prevented him from meeting many of their brethren in the street, he proceeded, without molestation, in a dress which, at another season, would havé certainly raised a mob at his heels.

The lady was set town in a street not far from Hanover-square; where the door being presently opened, she was carried in; and the gentleman, without any ceremony, walked in after her.

Jones and his companion were now together in a very well-furnished and well-warmed room; when the female, still speaking in her masquerade voice, said, she was surprised at her friend, who must absolutely have forgot her appointment; at which, after venting much resentment, she suddenly expressed some apprehension from Jones, and asked him, what the world would think of their having been alone together in a house at that time of night? But, instead of a direct answer to so important a question, Jones began to be very importunate with the lady to unmask; and at length having prevailed, there

appeared not Mrs. Fitzpatrick, but the Lady Bellaston herself.

It would be tedious to give the particular conversation, which consisted of very common and ordinary occurrences, and which lasted from two till six o'clock in the morning. It is sufficient to mention all of it that is any wise material to this history. And this was a promise, that the lady would endeavour to find out Sophia, and in a few days bring him to an interview with her, on condition that he would then take his leave of her. When this was thoroughly settled, and a second meeting in the evening appointed at the same place, they separated; the lady returning to her house, and Jones to his lodgings.

CHAP. VIII.

Containing a scene of distress, which will appear very extraordinary to most of our readers.

JONES, having refreshed himself with a few hours sleep, summoned Partridge to his presence; and, delivering him a bank-note of fifty pounds, ordered him to go and change it. Partridge re ceived this with sparkling eyes, though, when he came to reflect farther, it raised in him some suspicions not very advantageous to the honour of his master; to these, the dreadful idea he had of the masquerade, the disguise in which his master had gone out and returned, and his having been abroad all night, contributed. In plain lan. guage, the only way he could possibly find to account for the possession of this note, was by

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