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There was no farther Evidence neceffary to convince Lord Fellamar how justly the Cafe had been reprefented to him by Lady Bellafton; and now at her Return into the Room, a Scheme was laid between those two noble Perfons, which, though it appeared in no very heinous Light to his Lordship, (as he faithfully promised, and faithfully refolved too, to make the Lady all the subsequent amends in his Power by Marriage ;) yet many of our Readers, we doubt not, will fee with juft Detestation..

The next Evening at feven was appointed for the fatal Purpose, when Lady Bellafton undertook that Sophia fhould be alone, and his Lordship should be introduced to her. The whole Family were to be regulated for the Purpose, most of the Servants dispatched out of the Houfe, and for Mrs. Honour who, to prevent any Sufpicion, was to be left with her Mistress till his Lordship's Aṛrival, Lady Bellafton herself was to engage her in an Apartment as diftant as poffible from the Scene of the intended Mischief, and out of the Hearing of Sophia.

Matters being thus agreed on, his Lordfhip took his Leave, and her Ladyfhip re

tired

tired to Reft, highly pleased with a Project of which he had no reafon to doubt the Succefs, and which promised fo effectually to remove Sophia from being any future Obstruction to her Amour with Jones, by a Means of which she should never appear to be guilty, even if the Fact appeared to the World; but this fhe made no doubt of preventing by huddling up a Marriage, to which the thought the ravished Sophia would easily be brought to confent, and at which all the rest of her Family would rejoice.

But Affairs were not in fo quiet a Situa tion in the Bofom of the other Confpirator. His Mind was tost in all the the distracting Anxiety fo nobly defcribed by Shakespear.

Between the Acting of a dreadful Thing,
And the first Motion, all the Interim is
Like a Phantafia, or a hideous Dream:
The Genius and the mortal Inftruments
Are then in Council; and the State of Man,
Like to a little Kingdom, fuffers then
The Nature of an Infurrection.

Though the Violence of his Passion had made him eagerly embrace the first Hint of this Defign, especially as it came from

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a Relation of the Lady, yet when that Friend to Reflection, a Pillow, had placed the Action itself in all its natural black Colours before his Eyes, with all the Confequences which muft, and those which might probably attend it; his Refolution began to abate, or rather indeed to go over to the other Side; and after a long Conflict which lafted a whole Night between Honour and Appetite, the former at length prevailed, and he determined to wait on Lady Bellafton and to relinguish the Design.

Lady Bellafton was in Bed, though very late in the Morning, and Sophia fitting by her Bedside, when the Servant acquainted her that Lord Fellamar was below in the Parlour, upon which her Ladyfhip defired him to stay, and that he would fee him presently; but the Servant was no fooner departed than poor Sophia began to intreat her Coufin not to encourage the Visits of that odious Lord (fo fhe called him though a little unjustly) upon her Account. fee his Defign,' faid fhe, for he made downright Love to me Yesterday Morning; but as I am refolved never to admit it, I beg your Ladyfhip not to leave us alone together any more, and to order • the

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La! Child,' fays Lady Bellafton, you Country Girls have nothing but SweetHearts in your Head; you, fancy every • Man who is civil to you is making Love. He is one of the most gallant young Fellows about Town, and I am convinced means no more than a little Gallantry. • Make Love to you indeed! I wish with • all my Heart he would, and you must be ⚫ an arrant mad Woman to refuse him.'

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• But as I fhall certainly be that mad Woman,' cries Sophia, I hope his Vifits fhall not be intruded upon me.

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O Child,' faid Lady Bellafton, need not be fo fearful, if you refolve to run away with that Jones, I know no Perfon who can hinder you,'

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Upon my Honour, Madam,' cries Sophia, your Ladyship injures me. I will ⚫ never run away with any Man; nor will I ever marry contrary to my Father's Inclinations.'

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Well, Mifs Western, faid the Lady, if you are not in a Humour to fee Company this Morning, you may retire to your own Apartment; for I am not frightned at his Lordship, and must fend for him up into my Dreffing-Room.

Sophia thanked her Ladyship and withdrew; and presently afterwards Fellamar was admitted up Stairs.

CHA P. IV.

By which it will appear how dangerous an Advocate a Lady is, when he applies her Eloquence to an ill Purpose.

W young Lord's Scruples, the treated

HEN Lady Bellafton heard the

them with the fame Difdain with which one of thofe Sages of the Law, called Newgate Solicitors, treats the Qualms of Confcience in a young Witness. My dear Lord,' faid fhe, you certainly want a Cordial. I must fend to Lady Edgely for one of her best Drams. Fie upon it! have more Refolution. Are you frightned by the Word Rape? Or are you apprehenfive -? Well, if the

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