difagreeable house where I found you, and procured a lodging, which I hope you'll approve. But remember, coufin, the bill must be paid; here it is. The fum total (for it is to little purpofe to regard apothecary's Items) is only, a trifle, let me fee-only twenty-five pounds; but it must be paid, coufin, and I fuppofe in your prefent exigencies that may be a larger fum than you are mistress of." Oh, cried Caroline, was there ever so black a scheme! malicious worthless man! to caft your evil on others, to contrive fuch a method to diftrefs me, and all under the colour of the highest friendship! Twenty-five pounds for a few paltry drugs, not worth so many fhillings! But give me the bill, and let me have leave to go, and you fhall have your money, if that will fatisfy you; true, in my prefent exigencies, I am not mistress of so much; but know, fir, that the wretched find friends, and real ones, too." "I do not doubt, mifs, but a young lady of your perfon and merits may find friends enough, faid Mr. Dookalb; but that is the very reason why I am fo anxiously concerned for your felicity; it is pity, great pity, so beautiful and amiable a young creature as yourself fhould be fo early given up, abandoned, and deftroyed; and I must honeftly confefs, that your fituation when I heard it, very much alarmed and aroufed B 5 aroufed me; fince I am no ftranger to the intrigues and arts of that gentleman, whom, I am forry to fay, you falfly imagined your friend." "That gentleman, faid Caroline, well deferves your cenfure; 'tis the fure ftamp of his excellence; and know, that the smalleft grain of his worth would out-weigh all that you ever had, or ever will have in your whole life; but I fhall not attempt to say any thing in his behalf; he is beft able to justify himself. For myself, fir, I beg leave to inform you, that I would rather fuffer the mifery of being conftantly tormented by you, than be that abandoned prostituted wretch you long fince would have made me, and now villainously fufpect me to be. All your arts are and I defy you. in vain ; virtue is on my fide, Either therefore set me at full liberty, and you fhall receive your demand, or let me affure you, that however you may distress me, you fhall never conquer me, though my life be the confequence, and my blood fpilt rife up in judgment against you." "You grow perfectly tragical, coufin, faid Dookalb; I think you was caught at a tragedy: Well, well, your high ftomach will, nay must come down, and you will fpeedily fee your real interest: it fhall be my endeavour to fhew it you. I'll not forfake you now, and I'll warrant you fhall ferve me no more more flippery tricks. Look you, madam, you are by the laws fully and intirely in my power; and if you will confult your advantage, you will readily comply with the prudent meafures I fhall fuggeft. This rant of refolution and stuff we are used to, you know; and I dare fay you do not imagine that I regard it in the least, I must look to myself, and answer well to my friends; and in order thereto I must neither let you go from hence, nor regard any oppofition to the purpose for which you are intended, which is to make. you extremely happy, with all that this world can give: if you are so wayward as to stand out and oppose your own felicity, mine is not the fault; but it would be my fault, if I did not compel you to receive it. If I faw my friend in a fever, and knew a draught that would perfectly cure him, [ fhould be greatly to blame if I did not adminifter it, in spite of all his diflike and oppofition to it.→ So, good coufin, pray think a little on this mat→ ter, till I fee you again. Here is every thing at your command; whatsoever you want, pray or der, and nothing fhall be refused to your wishes." So faying, he fmil'd, bow'd, and departed. CHAP. CHA P. II. Caroline's further distress; a visit to her from a former acquaintance; the confequence of it; Mr. Jaifon's anxiety, diftrefs, and fufferings. CAROLINE fat down overpowered with distress, and, loft in melancholy, had not any reflection of the miserable ftate fhe was in ; benumbed, as it were, and ftupified with her grief. But what a dreadful fummons was it to recollection, to be awakened from this reverie on the appearance and approach of that deteftable: woman, whom fhe fo much abhorred, Mrs. Searchwell! She arofe, and fcream'd out at the fight of her; crying with a piteous voice " Then I am undone ; then I am miferable indeed.". "Are you fo in good truth," quoth the Beldame, clapping her arms a-kembo, pronouncing a moft emphatical hum, and darting keen firebrands from her little red eyes. For there is just the fame love and tenderness found prefiding in the bofoms of fuch gentle ladies, to women of a contrary difpofition, in the bofoms of bawds to females of modefty and virtue, that there is found in the heart of a favage and hungry wolf, to an innocent lamb. Their contrariety is no lefs than their antipathy; and no wonder whence we we cannot be furprized, that Mrs. Searchwell's spirit was fomewhat fir'd at fuch a reception from mifs Caroline, whom the fo much defpifed, as being utterly in her power, and so much hated, as being abfolutely averfe to her wicked intentions and practices. It was indeed contrary to Mr. Dookalb's orders, that the old lady made fo fudden and abrupt a vifit: he had directed that no interruption should be given to Caroline for fome little time, and that all imaginable respect and deference should be paid to her. But Mrs. Searchwell had fo great an opinion of her own addrefs and management, and besides so strong a curiofity to fee and examine this wayward fair one, that she scrupled not at all to break through Mr. Dookalb's injunctions, and to vifit the young lady immediately upon his departure. She was ignorant, that Caroline had heretofore been at her house; as how indeed could the remember any thing at that time, when the reader may recollect, fhe was in fuch a dreadful confufion and fury of difappointment? She expected however, by no means, fuch a reception, and was perfectly confounded at Caroline's behaviour, on her entrance into the room; yet speedily rallying, she fate down, and begged of the young lady to be feated too; profeffing herself perfectly amazed, that there could be any thing in her appearance fo |