Departure of Sophia. He now addressed himself to the Waiting-woman belonging to Mrs. Fitzpatrick; who told him the dif agreeable News, that the Lady was gone, but could not tell him whither; and the fame Answer he afterwards received from Mrs. Fitzpatrick herself. For as that Lady made no doubt but that Mr. Jones was a Perfon detached from her Uncle Western, in Pursuit of his Daughter, fo fhe was too generous to betray her.

Though Jones had never seen Mrs. Fitzpatrick, yet he had heard that a Cousin of Sophia was married to a Gentleman of that Name. This, however, in the present Tumult of his Mind, never once recurred to his Memory: But when the Footman, who had conducted him from his Lordship's, acquainted him with the great Intimacy be tween the Ladies, and with their calling each other Coufin, he then recollected the Story of the Marriage which he had formerly heard; and as he was prefently convinced that this was the fame Woman, he became more furprized at the Answer which he had received, and very earnestly defired' Leave to wait on the Lady herfelf; but she as pofitively refufed him that Honour.

Jones,

Jones, who, though he had never feen a Court, was better bred than most who frequent it, was incapable of any rude or ab. rupt Behaviour to a Lady. When he had received, therefore, a peremptory Denial, he retired for the prefent, faying to the waiting Woman, That if this was an impro

per Hour to wait on her Lady, he would return in the Afternoon; and that he then hoped to have the Honour of feeing her.", The Civility with which he uttered this, added to the great Comeliness of his Perfon, made an Impreffion on the Waiting-Woman, and he could not help anfwering; Perhaps, Sir, you may: And, indeed, the afterwards faid every Thing to her Mistress, which fhe thought most likely to prevail on her to admit a Vifit from the handfome young Gentleman; for fo fhe called him.

Jones very fhrewdly fufpected,. that Sophia herfelf was now with her Coufin, and was denied to him; which he imputed to her Refentment of what had happened at Upton. Having, therefore, difpatched Partridge to procure him Lodgings, he remained all Day in the Street, watching the Door where he thought his Angel lay concealed;

but

Book XIII. but no Perfon did he fee iffue forth, except a Servant of the Houfe. And in the Evening he returned to pay his Vifit to Mrs. Fitzpatrick, which that good Lady at last condefcended to admit.

There is a certain Air of natural Gentility, which it is neither in the Power of Dress to give, nor to conceal. Mr. Jones. as hath been before hinted, was poffeffed of this in a very eminent Degree, He met, therefore, with a Reception from the Lady, fomewhat different from what his Apparel feemed to demand; and after he had paid her his proper Refpects, was defired to fit down.

The Reader will not, I believe, be defirous of knowing all the Particulars of this Converfation, which ended very little to the Satisfaction of poor Jaxes. For though Mrs. Fitzpatrick foon difcovered the Lover, (as all Women have the Eyes of Hawks in those Matters) yet fhe ftill thought it was fuch a Lover, as a generous Friend of the Lady fhould not betray her to. In short, The fufpected this was the very Mr. Blifil, from whom Sophia had flown, and all the Answers which the artfully drew from Jones, concerning Mr. Allworthy's Family, con

firmed

firmed her in this Opinion. She therefore ftrictly denied any Knowledge concerning the Place whither Sophia was gone; nor could Jones obtain more than a Permiffion to wait on her again the next Evening.

When Jones was departed, Mrs. Fitzpatrick communicated her Sufpicion concerning Mr. Blifil, to her Maid; who anfwered, Sure, Madam, he is too pretty a Man, in my Opinion, for any Woman in the World to run away from. I had ra ther fancy it is Mr. Jones.'--Mr. Jones,' faid the Lady, what Jones?' For Sophia had not given the leaft Hint of any fuch Perfon in all their Converfation: But Mrs. Honour had been much more communica tive, and had acquainted her Sifter Abigail with the whole Hiftory of Jones, which this now again related to her Mistress.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick no fooner received this Information, than fhe immediately agreed with the Opinion of her Maid; and, what is very unaccountable, faw Charms in the gallant, happy Lover, which fhe had overTooked in the flighted Squire. Betty,' fays fhe, you are certainly in the right: He is a very pretty Fellow, and I don't wonder that my Coufin's Maid fhould tell

' you

you so many Women are fond of him. I am forry now I did not inform him where my Coufin was: And yet if he be fo terrible a Rake as you tell me, it is a Pity she should ever fee him any more; for what but her Ruin can happen from marrying a Rake and a Beggar against her Father's Confent. I proteft, if he be 'fuch a Man as the Wench defcribed him

to you, it is but an Office of Charity to keep her from him; and, I am fure, it • would be unpardonable in me to do otherwife, who have tafted fo bitterly of the • Misfortunes attending fuch Marriages.'

Here she was interrupted by the Arrival of a Vifitor, which was no other than his Lordship; and as nothing paffed at this Vifit either new or extraordinary, or any Ways material to this Hiftory, we fhall here put an End to this Chapter.