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have mentioned comes; for I expect hin every mi nute; pay he may be, perhaps, already in the

house.'

Allworthy then stepped to the door, in order to call a servant, when in came, not Mr. Dowling, but the gentleman who will be seen in the next chapter.

CHAP. VIII,

THE gentleman who now arrived was no other

than Mr. Western. He no sooner saw Allworthy, than without considering in the least the presence of Mrs. Waters, he began to vociferate in the following manner: Fine doings at my house! A rare kettle of fish I have discovered at last! Who the devil would be plagued with a daughter?'--What's the matter, neighbour?" said Allworthy. 'Matter enough,' answered Western; when I thought she was just a coming to; nay, when she had in a manner promised to do as I would ha' her, and when I was a hoped to have had nothing more to do than to have sent for the lawyer, and finished all; what do you think I have found out? that the little b hath bin playing tricks with me all the while, and carrying on a correspondence with that bastard of yours. Sister Western, whom I have quarrelled with upon her account, sent me word o't, and I ordered her pockets, to be searched when she was asleep, and here I have got un signed with the son of a whore's own name. I have not had pa tience, to read half o't, for 'tis longer than one of Parson Supple's sermons; but I find plainly it is all about love; and indeed what should it be else? I have packed her up in chamber again, and to-morrow morning down she goes into the country unless she consents to be married directly, and there she shall live in a garret upon bread and water all her

days; and the sooner such a b breaks her heart, the better; though, d--n her, that I believe is too tough. She will live long enough to plague me.'-Mr. Western,' answered Allworthy, you know I have always protested against force, and you yourself consented that none should be used.'' Ay," cries he, that was only upon condition that she would consent without. What the devil and Doctor Faustus! shan't I do what I will with my own daughter, especially when I desire nothing but her own good? Well, neighbour,' answered Allwor thy, if you will give me leave, I will undertake once to argue with the young lady.' Will you,' said Western; why that is kind now and neighbourly, and mayhap you will do more than I have been able to do with her; for I promise you she hath a very good opinion of you.' Well, sir,' said Allworthy, if you will go home, and release the young lady from her captivity, I will wait upon her within this half hour.' But suppose,' said Western, she should run away with un in the mean time? For Lawyer Dowling tells me, there is no hopes of hanging the fellow at last; for that the man is alive, and like to do well, and that he thinks Jones will be out of prison again presently.'---How!' said Allworthy, what did you employ him then to inquire, or to do any thing in that matter? Not I,' answered Western: he mentioned it to me just now of his own accord. Just now!" cries Allworthy; why, where did you see him then? I want much to see Mr. Dowling.'. Why you may see un an you will presently at my lodg. ings; for there is to be a meeting of lawyers there this morning, about a mortgage. 'Icod! I shall lose two or dree thousand pounds, I believe, by that honest gentleman, Mr. Nightingale. Well, sir,' said Allworthy, I will be with you within the half hour. And do for once,' cries the 'squire, take a fool's advice; never think of dealing with her by gentle methods; take my word for it those will

never do: I have tried 'um long enough. She must be frightened into it; there is no other way. Tell her, I'm her father; and of the horrid sin of disobedience, and of the dreadful punishment of it in t'other ⚫ world; and then tell her about being locked up all her life in a garret in this, and being kept only on bread and water. I will do all I can,' said Allworthy; for I promise you, there is nothing I wish for more than an alliance with this amiable creature. Nay, the girl is well enough for matter o'that,' cries the 'squire; a man may go farther and meet with worse meat; that I may declare o' her, thof she be my own daughter. And if she will be but obedient to me, there is narrow a father within a hundred miles o' the place, that loves a daughter better than I do; but I see you are busy with the lady here, so I will go huome and expect you; and so your humble servant.'

As soon as Mr. Western was gone, Mrs. Waters said, I see, sir, the 'squire hath not the least remembrance of my face. I believe, Mr. Allworthy, you would not have known me neither. I am very considerably altered since that day when you so kindly gave me that advice, which I had been happy had I followed... Indeed, madam,' cries Allworthy, it gave me great concern when I first heard the contrary. Indeed, sir, says she, I was ruined by a very deep scheme of villany; which, if you knew, though I pretend not to think it would Justify me in your opinion, it would at least mitigate my offence, and induce you to pity me: you are not now at leisure to hear my whole story; but this I assure you, I was betrayed by the most solemn promises of marriage; nay, in the eye of Heaven I was married to him; for after much reading on the subject, I am convinced that particular ceremonies are only requisite to give a legal sanction to marriage, and have only a worldly use, in giving a woman the privileges of a wife; but that she who lives constant to one man, after a most solemn private VOL. II. Y

affiance, whatever the world may call her, hath lit tle to charge on her own conscience.'. I am sorry, madam,' said Allworthy, you have made o ill a use of your learning. Indeed, it would have been well that you had been possessed of much more, or had remained in a state of ignorance. And yet, madam, I am afraid you have more than this sin to answer for.' During his life,' answered she, which was above a dozen years, I most solemnly assure you, I had not. And consider, sir, on my behalf, what is in the power of a woman stripped of her reputation, and left destitute; whether the good-natured world will suffer such a stray sheep to return to the road of virtue, even if she was never so desirous. I protest then, I would have chose it, had it been in my power; but necessity drove me into the arms of Captain Waters, with whom, though still unmarried, I lived as a wife for many years, and went by his name.. I parted with this gentleman at Worcester, on his march against the rebels, and it was then I accidentally met with Mr. Jones, who rescued me from the hands of a villain. Indeed, he is the worthiest of men. No young gentleman of his age is, I believe, freer from vice, and few have the twentieth part of his vir tues; nay, whatever vices he hath had, I am firmly persuaded he hath now taken a resolution to abandon them. I hope he hath,' cries Allworthy, 'and I hope he will preserve that resolution. I must say, I have still the same hopes with regard to yourself. The world, I do agree, are apt to be too unmerciful on these occasions; yet time and perseverance will get the better of this their disinclination, as I may call it, to pity; for though they are not, like Hea ven, ready to receive a penitent sinner, yet a continued repentance will at length obtain mercy even. from the world. This you may be assured of, Mrs. Waters, that whenever I find you are sincere in such. good intentions, you shall want no assistance in my power to make them effectual,'

Mrs. Waters fell upon her knees before him, and, in a flood of tears, made him many most passionate acknowledgements of his goodness, which, as she truly said, savoured more of the divine than human nature,

Allworthy raised her up, and spoke in the most tender manner, making use of every expression which his invention could suggest to comfort her, when he was interrupted by the arrival of Mr. Dowling; who, upon his first entrance, seeing Mrs. Waters, started, and appeared in some confusion; from which he soon recovered himself as well as he could, and then said, he was in the utmost haste to attend counsel at Mr. Western's lodgings; but, how. ever, thought it his duty to call and acquaint him with the opinion of counsel, upon the case which he had before told him; which was, that the con version of the monies in that case, could not be questioned in a criminal cause; but that an action of trover might be brought, and if it appeared to the jury to be the monies of plaintiff, that plaintiff would recover a verdict for the value.

Allworthy, without making any answer to this, bolted the door, and then, advancing with a stern look to Dowling, he said, Whatever be your haste, sir, I must first receive an answer to some ques tions. Do you know this lady? That lady, sir!! answered Dowling, with great hesitation. Allwor thy theo, with the most solemn voice, said, Look you, Mr. Dowling, as you value my favour, or your continuance a moment longer in my service, do not hesitate nor prevaricate; but answer faithfully and truly to every question I ask. Do you know this lady? Yes, sir,' said Dowling, I have seen the lady? Where, sir? At her own lodgings.' ⚫ Upon what business did you go thither, sir; and who sent you?' I went, sir, to inquire, sir, about Mr. Jones.' And who sent you to inquire about him? Who, sir? why, sir, Mr. Blifil sent me.'... And what did you say to the lady concerning that

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