The Company had now ftaid fo long, that Mrs. Fitzpatrick plainly perceived they all defigned to stay out each other. She therefore refolved to rid herself of Jones, he being the Vifitant, to whom he thought the leaft Ceremony was due. Taking therefore an Opportunity of a Ceffation of Chat, the addreffed herfelf gravely to him, and faid, Sir, I fhall not poffibly be able to give you an Answer To-night, as to that Bufinefs; but if you please to leave • Word where I may fend to you To-mor• row'

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Jones had natural, but not artificial good Breeding. nftead therefore of communicating the Secret of his Lodgings to a Servant, he acquainted the Lady herfelf with it particularly, and foon after very ceremoniously withdrew.

He was no fooner gone, than the great Perfonages who had taken no Notice of him prefent, began to take much Notice of him in his Abfence; but if the Reader hath already excufed us from relating the more brilliant Part of this Converfation, he will furely be very ready to excufe the Repetition of what may be called vulgar A

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bufe: Though, perhaps, it may be material to our History to mention an Obfervation of Lady Bellafton, who took her Leave in a few Minutes after him, and then said to Mrs. Fitzpatrick, at her Departure. I • am fatisfied on the Account of my Cou • fin, she can be in no Danger from this • Fellow.'

Our History fhall follow the Example of Lady Bellafton, and take Leave of the present Company, which was now reduced to two Perfons; between whom, as nothing paffed, which in the leaft concerns us or our Reader, we fhall not fuffer ourfelves to be diverted by it from Matters which must seem of more Confequence to all those who are at all interested in the Affairs of our Heroe.

CHAP.

CHAP. V.

An Adventure which happened to Mr. Jones, at his Lodgings, with fome Account of a young Gentleman who lodged there, and of the Mistress of the Houfe, and her two Daughters.

TH

HE next Morning as early as it was decent, Jones attended at Mrs. Fitzpatrick's Door, where he was answered that the Lady was not at Home; an Answer which furprised him the more, as he had walked backwards and forwards in the Street from Break of Day; and if she had gone out, he must have feen her. This Anfwer, however, he was obliged to receive, and not only now, but to five feveral Vifits which he made her that Day. To be plain with the Reader, the noble Peer had from fome Reafon or other, perhaps from a Regard for the Lady's Honour, infifted that the fhould not fee Mr. Jones, whom he looked on as a Scrub, any and the Lady had complied in making that Promise to which we now see her fo strictly adhere.

more;

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But

But as our gentle Reader may poffibly have a better Opinion of the young Gentleman than her Ladyfhip, and may even have fome Concern, fhould it be apprehended, that during this unhappy Separation from Sophia, he took up his Refidence either at an Inn, or in the Street; we fhall now give an Account of his Lodging, which was indeed in a very reputable Houfe, and in a very good Part of the Town.

Mr. Jones then had often heard Mr. Allworthy mention the Gentlewoman at whose Houfe he ufed to lodge when he was in Town. This Perfon, who as Jones likewife knew, lived in Bond-Street, was the Widow of a Clergyman, and was left by him at his Deceafe, in Poffeffion of two Daugh, ters, and of a compleat Set of Manufcript Sermons.

Of these two Danghters, Nancy, the elder, was now arrived at the Age of feventeen, and Belty, the younger, at that of

ten.

Hither ones had difpatched Partridge, and in this House he was provided with a Room

Room for himself in the fecond Floor, and with one for Partridge in the fourth.

The first Floor was inhabited by one of thofe young Gentlemen, who, in the laft Age were called Men of Wit and Pleafure about Town, and properly enough: For as Men are ufually denominated from their Business or Profeffion, fo Pleafure may' be faid to have been the only Business or Profeffion of thofe Gentlemen to whom Fortune had made all useful Occupations unneceffary. Play-Houfes, Coffee-I-Ioufes and Taverns were the Scenes of their Rendezvous. Wit and Humour were the Entertainment of their loofer Hours, and Love was the Bufinefs of their more ferious Moments. Wine and the Mufes conspired to kindle the brightest Flames in their Breafts; nor did they only admire, but fome were able to celebrate the Beauty they admired, and all to judge of the Merit of fuch Compofitions.

Such therefore were properly called the Men of Wit and Pleasure; but I question whether the fame Appellation may, with the fame Propriety, be given to thofe young Gentlemen of our Times, who have the fame

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