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and greatly added to the Affection she had before conceived for our young Heroe.

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The Lady now, after a Silence of a few Moments, faid, She did not fee his 'Pretenfions to Sophia fo much in the Light of Prefumption, as of Imprudence. Young Fellows, fays fhe, can ne ver have too afpiring Thoughts. I love 'Ambition in a young Man, and I would • have you cultivate it as much as poffible: Perhaps you may fucceed with those who are infinitely fuperior in Fortune, nay, I am convinced there are Women, • but don't you think me a ftrange 'Creature, Mr. Jones, to be. thus giving Advice to a Man, with whom I am fo little acquainted, and one with whole Behaviour to me I have fo little Reason to be pleased?'

Here Jones began to apologize, and to hope he had not offended in any thing he had faid of her Coufin. To which

the Mask answered, And are you fo little verfed in the Sex, to imagine you 'can well affront a Lady more, than by entertaining her with your Paffion for another Woman? If the Fairy Queen had D 6. • had

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The HISTOY of

Book XIII.

had no better Opinion of your Gallantry, The would fcarce have appointed you to meet her at a Masquerade.'

Jones had never lefs Inclination to an Amour than at prefent; but Gallantry to the Ladies was among his Principles of Honour ; and he held it as much incumbent on him to accept a Challenge to Love, as if it had been a Challenge to Fight. Nay, his very Love to Sophia made it neceffary for him to keep well with the Lady, as he made no doubt but she was capable of bringing him into the Prefence of the other.

He began therefore to make a very warm Answer to her laft Speech, when a Mask, in the Character of an old Woman, joined them. This Mask was one of those Ladies who go to a Masquerade only to vent Ill-nature, by telling People rude Truths, and by endeavouring, as the Phrase is, to spoil as much Sport as they are able. This good Lady therefore, having obferved Jones, and his Friend, whom the well knew, in clofe Confultation together in a Corner of the Room, concluded fhe could no where fatisfy her Spleen better than by interrupting them. She attacked them therefore, and foon drove them from their

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Retirement; nor was fhe contented withi this, but purfued them to every Place which they fhifted to avoid her; till Mr. Nightingale feeing the Diftrefs of his Friend, at laft relieved him, and engaged the old: Woman in another Pursuit..

While Jones and his Mask were walking together about the Room, to rid themselves of the Teazer, he obferved his Lady speak. to several Masks, with the fame Freedom. of Acquaintance as if they had been barefaced. He could not help expreffing his Surprise at this, faying, Sure, Madam,. you must have infinite Difcernment to know People in all Difguifes.' To which the Lady anfwered, You cannot conceive any Thing more infipid and childish than a Masquerade to the People of Fashion, 'who in general know one another as well here, as when they meet in an Affembly or a Drawing-room; nor will any Wo. man of Condition converfe with a Perfon • with whom she is not acquainted. In fhort, the Generality of Perfons whom $ you fee here, may more properly be faid to kill Time in this Place, than in any other ; and generally retire from hence more tired than from the longest Sermon. To say the Truth, I begin to

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be in that Situation myself, and if I have any Faculty at gueffing, you are not much better pleased. I protest it would ⚫ be almost Charity in me to go Home for your Sake.' I know but one Charity equal to it, cries Jones, and that is to fuffer me to wait on you Home. Sure, an• fwered the Lady, you have a strange O. 'pinion of me, to imagine, that upon fuch an Acquaintance, I would let you into my Doors at this Time o'Night. I fancy you impute the Friendship I have shewn my Coufin, to fome other Motive. Confefs honestly; don't you confider this • contrived Interview as little better than a • downright Affignation? Are you used, Mr. Jones, to make these fudden Conquefts? I am not used, Madam, faid Jones, to fubmit to fuch fudden Conquefts; but as you have taken my Heart by Surprize, the rest of my Body hath a Right to follow; fo

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you must pardon me if I refolve to attend you

• wherever you go. He accompanied thefe Words with fome proper Actions; upon which the Lady, after a gentle Re buke, and faying their Familiarity would be obferved, told him She was going to fup with an Acquaintance, whither fhe

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⚫ hoped

hoped he would not follow her; for if you should, faid fhe, I fhall be thought an unaccountable Creature, though my • Friend indeed is not cenforious, yet I hope you won't follow me: I protest I 'fhall not know what to fay, if you do.

The Lady prefently after quitted the Masquerade, and Jones, notwithstanding the fevere Prohibition he had received, prefumed to attend her. He was now reduced to the fame Dilemma we have mentioned before, namely, the Want of a Shilling, and could not relieve it by borrowing as before. He therefore walked boldly on after the Chair in which his Lady rode, purfued by a grand Huzza from all the Chairmen prefent, who wifely take the best Care they can to discountenance all walking afoot by their Betters. Luckily however the Gentry who attend at the OperaHouse were too bufy to quit their Stations, and as the Lateness of the Hour prevented him from meeting many of their Brethren in the Street, he proceeded with-out Molestation, in a Drefs, which, at another Season, would have certainly raised a Mob at his Heels:

The

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