CHA P. IX.

Containing Love-Letters of feveral Soris.

MR

R. Jones at his Return Home, found the following Letters lying on his Table, which he luckily opened in the Order they were fent.

LETTER I.

Surely I am under fome ftrange Infa⚫tuation; I cannot keep my Refolutions a Moment, however ftrongly made or justly founded. Laft Night I refolved never to fee you more; this Morning I am willing to hear if you can, as you fay, clear up this Affair. And yet I know that to be impoffible. I have faid every Thing to myself which you can invent.

Perhaps not. Perhaps your Inven ⚫tion is stronger. Come to me therefore the Moment you receive this. If you can forge an Excufe, I almoft promise you to believe it. Betrayed to - -I will think no more.-Come to me directly.-This is the third Letter I have writ, the two former are burnt-I am almost • inclined

• inclined to burn this toc-I wish I

• ferve my Senfes.-

fently.'

pre

Senfes.--Come to me pre

LETTER II.

If you ever expect to be forgiven, or even fuffered within my Doors, come to me this Inftant.

LETTER III.

'I now find you was not at Home when my Notes came to your Lodgings. The • Moment you receive this let me fee you; -I fhall not ftir out; nor fhall any Body be let in but yourself. Sure nothing can ⚫ detain you long.'

Jones had just read over these three Billets, when Mr. Nightingale came into the Room. Well, Tom,' faid he, any News from Lady Bellafton, after laft Night's • Adventure?' (for it was now no Secret to any one in that Houfe who the Lade was.) • The Lady Bellafton ? answered Jones very gravely. Nay, dear Tom,' cries Nightin gale, don't be fo referved to your Friends. Though I was too drunk to see her laft Night, I faw her at the Masquerade. Do

-

· you

y

you

think I am ignorant who the Queen of the Fairies is?' And did you really then know the Lady at the Masquerade?' faid Jones. Yes, upon my Soul,did I,' faid Night ingale, and have given you twenty Hints of it fince, though you feemed always fo tender on that Point, that I wou'd not fpeak plainly. I fancy, my Friend, by your extreme Nicety in this Matter, you are not fo well acquainted with the Cha'racter of the Lady, as with her Perfon. Don't be angry, Tom, but, upon my Honour, you are not the firft young Fellow fhe hath debauched. Her Reputation is in, no Danger, believe me.'

Though Jones had no Reason to imagine the Lady to have been of the vestal Kind when his Amour began, yet as he was tho roughly ignorant of the Town, and had very little Acquaintance in it, he had yet no Knowledge of that Character which is vul garly called a Demirep; that is to fay, a Woman who intrigues with every Man fhe likes, under the Name and Appearance Virtue; and who, though fome over-nice Ladies will not be feen with her, is vifited, (as they term it) by the whole Town; fhort, whom every Body knows to be what no Body calls her.

of

in

When

When he found, therefore, that Nightin gale was perfectly acquainted with his Intrigue, and began to fufpect, that fo fcrupulous a Delicacy as he had hitherto observed, was not quite neceffary on the Occafion, he gave a Latitude to his Friend's Tongue, and defired him to speak plainly what he knew, or had ever heard of the Lady.

Nightingale, who in many other Inftances, was rather too effeminate in his Difpofition, had a pretty strong Inclination to TittleTattle. He had no focner, therefore, received a full Liberty of speaking from Jones, than he entered upon a long Narrative concerning the Lady; which, as it contained many Particulars highly to her Dishonour, we have too great a Tendernefs for all Women of Condition to repeat; we would cautiously avoid giving an Opportunity to the future Commentators on our Works, of making any malicious Application; and of forcing us to be, against our Will, the Author of Scandal, which never entered into our Head.

VOL. V.

N

Jones

Jones having very attentively heard all that Nightingale had to fay, fetched a deep Sigh, which the other obferving, cried, • Heyday! Why thou art not in Love I hope! Had I imagined my Stories would have affected you, I promise you should never have heard them.' 'O my dear Friend,' cries Jones, I am fo entangled with this Woman, that I know not how to extricate myfelf.' In Love indeed? No, my Friend, but I am under Obligations to her, and very great ones. Since you know • fo much, I will be very explicit with

you.

It

is owing perhaps folely to her, that I have not, before this, wanted a Bit of Bread.. "How can I poffibly defert fuch a Woman? • And yet I must defert her, or be guilty of the blackest Treachery to one, who deferves infinitely better of me than she can: A Woman, my Nightingale, for whom I have a Paffion which few can have an Idea of. I am half distracted with Doubts how to act.' And is this other, pray, anhonourable Miftrefs?' cries Nightingale.' Honourable?' anfwered Jones;

No

" Breath ever yet durft fully her Reputa tion. The fweetest Air is not purer, the limpid Stream not clearer than her Ho

nour.