• but I muft let you into the whole Secret, "Tom. My Father hath provided a Match 'for me, with a Woman I never saw, and

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fhe is now coming to Town, in order for me to make my Addreffes to her.'

At thefe Words Jones burst into a loud Fit of Laughter; when Nightingale cried, -Nay, prithee don't turn me into Ridicule. The Devil take me if I am not half mad about this Matter! My poor Nancy! Oh Jones, Jones, I wish I had a • Fortune in my own Poffeffion.'

I heartily wish you had,' cries Jones; for if this be the Cafe, I fincerely pity both: But furely you don't intend to go away without taking your Leave of her.'

you

'I would not,' answered Nightingale, undergo the Pain of taking Leave for ten thousand Pound; befides, I am convinced, instead of anfwering any good Purpose, it would only ferve to inflame my poor Nancy the more. I beg therefore, you would not mention a Word of it to-day, and in the Evening or to-morrow morning I intend to depart."

Joness

Jones promifed he would not, and said, upon Reflection he thought, as he had determined and was obliged to leave her, he took the most prudent Method. He then told Nightingale, he should be very glad to lodge in the fame House with him; and it was accordingly agreed between them, that Nightingale fhould procure him either the Ground Floor, or the two Pair of Stairs; for the young Gentleman himself was to occupy that which was between them.

This Nightingale, of whom we fhall be prefently obliged to fay a little more, was in the ordinary Tranfactions of Life a Man of ftrict Honour, and what is more rare among young Gentlemen of the Town, one of ftrict Honefty too; yet in Affairs of Love he was fomewhat loofer in his Morals; not that he was even here as void of Principle as Gentlemen fometimes are, and oftner affect to be; but it is certain he had been guilty of fome indefenfible Treachery to Women, and had in a certain Mystery called making Love, practiced many Deceits, which if he had ufed in Trade he would have been counted the greatest Villain upon Earth.

But

But as the World, I know not well for what Reason, agree to fee this Treachery in a better Light, he was fo far from being afhamed of his Iniquities of this Kind, that he gloried in them, and would often boast of his Skill in gaining of Women, and his Triumphs over their Hearts, for which he had before this time received fome Rebukes from Jones, who always expreft great Bitterness against any Misbehaviour to the fair Part of the Species, who, if confidered, he faid, as they ought to be, in the Light of the dearest Friends, were to be cultivated, honoured, and careffed with the utmoft Love and Tenderness; but if regarded as Enemies, were a Conqueft of which a Man ought rather to be ashamed than to value himself upon it.

CHA P.

CHA P. V.

A bort Acccount of the Hiftory of Mrs. Miller.

JON

ONES this Day eat a pretty good Dinner for a fick Man, that is to fay, the larger Half of a Shoulder of Mutton. In the Afternoon he received an Invitation from Mrs. Miller to drink Tea: For that good Woman having learnt, either by Means of Partridge, or by fome other "Means natural or fuper-natural, that he had a Connection with Mr. Allworthy, could not endure the Thoughts of parting with him in an angry Manner.

Jones accepted the Invitation; and no fooner was the Tea-kettle removed, and the Girls fent out of the Room, than the Widow, without much Preface, began as follows: Well, there are very furprizing Things happen in this World; but certainly it is a wonderful Business, that I fhould have a Relation of Mr. Allworthy in my House, and never know any Thing of the Matter. Alas! Sir, you little imagine what a Friend that best of Gentle

Gentlemen hath been to me and mine. Yes, Sir, I am not ashamed to own it it is owing to his Goodness, that I did not long fince perish for Want, and leave my poor little Wretches, two deftitute, helplefs, friendlefs Orphans, to the Care, or rather to the Cruelty of the World.

• You must know, Sir, though I am :< now reduced to get my Living by letting Lodgings, I was born and bred a Gentle woman. My Father was an Officer of the Army, and died in a confiderable Rank: But he lived up to his Pay; and as that expired with him, his Family, at his Death, became Beggars. We were three Sisters. One of us had the good Luck to die foon afterwards of the Smallpox: A Lady was fo kind to take the fecond out of Charity, as fhe faid, to wait upon her. The Mother of this Lady had been a Servant to my Grandmother; and having inherited a vaft Fortune from her Father, which he had got by Pawnbroking, was married to a Gentleman of great Eftate and Fashion. She used my Sifter so barbarously, often upbraiding her with her Birth and Poverty, calling her in Derifion a Gentlewoman, that I believe he at length broke the Heart of

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