CHAP. XXI.

The Short continuance of friendship amongst the vicious, which is coeval only with mutual fatisfaction.

My fon's account was too long to be delivered at once, the first part of it was begun that night and he was concluding the reft after dinner the next day, when the appearance of Mr. Thornhill's equipage at the door feemed to make a pause in the general fatisfaction. The butler who was now become my friend in the family, informed me with a whisper that the 'Squire had already made fome overtures to Mifs Wilmot, and that her aunt and uncle feemed highly to approve the match. Upon Mr. Thornhill's entering, he feemed at feeing my fon and me to start back; but I readily imputed that to surprise and not difpleasure. However, upon our advancing to falute him, he returned our greeting with the most apparent candour; and after a fhort time his prefence ferved only to increase the general good humour.

After tea he called me afide to inquire after my daughter; but upon my informing him that my inquiry was unfuccefsful, he feemed greatly furprised; adding, that he had been fince frequently at my houfe in order to comfort the reft of my family, whom he left perfectly well. He then asked if I had communicated her misfortune to Mifs Wilmot or my fon; and upon my replying that I had not told them as yet, he greatly approved my prudence and precaution, defiring me by all means to keep it a fecret: For at beft,' cried he, it is but divulging one's own infamy; and perhaps Mifs Livy may not be fo guilty as we all imagine.' We were here interrupted by a feryant who came to ask the 'Squire

in, to ftand up at country dances; fo that he left me quite pleafed with the intereft he feemed to take in my concerns. His addreffes however to Mifs Wilnot were too obvious to be mistaken: and yet the fcemed not perfectly pleafed, but bore them rather in compliance to the will of her aunt than from real inclination. I had even the fatisfaction to fee her lavish fome kind looks upon my unfortunate fon, which the other could neither extort by his fortune nor affiduity. Mr. Thornhill's feeming compofure however not a little furprised me: we had now continued here a week at the preffing inftances of Mr. Arnold; but each day the more tenderness Mifs Wilmot thewed my fon, Mr. Thornhill's friendship fcemed proportionably to increafe for him.

He had formerly made us the most kind affurances of ufing his intereft to ferve the family; but now his generofity was not confined to promifes alone: the morning I defigned for my departure, Mr. Thornhill came to me with looks of real pleasure to inform me of a piece of fervice he had done for his friend George. This was nothing less than his having procured him an enfign's commiffion in one of the regiments that was going to the Weft Indies, for which he had promifed but one hundred pounds, his interest having been fufficient to get an abatement of the other

two.

As for this trifling piece of fervice,' continued the young gentleman, 'I defire no other reward but the pleasure of having ferved my friend; and as for the hundred pounds to be paid, if you are unable to raise it yourselves, I will advance it, and you fhall repay me at your leifure.' This was a favour we wanted words to exprefs our fenfe of: I readily there-. fore gave my bond for the money, and teftified as much gratitude as if I never intended to pay.

George was to depart for town the next day to fecure his commiffion, in purfuance of his generous patron's directions, who judged it highly expedient

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to use dispatch, left in the mean time another should step in with more advantageous propofals. The next morning therefore our young foldier was early prepared for his departure, and feemed the only perfon among us that was not affected by it. Neither the fatigues and dangers he was going to encounter, nor the friends and miftrefs, for Mifs Wilmot actually loved him, he was leaving behind, any way damped his fpirits. After he had taken leave of the rest of the company, I gave him all I had, my bleffing. And now, my boy,' cried I, thou

art going to fight for thy country, remember how thy brave grandfather fought for his facred King, ' when loyalty among Britons was a virtue. Go, my boy, and imitate him in all but his misfortunes, if it was a misfortune to die with Lord Falkland. Go, my boy, and if you fall, though diftant, expofed, and unwept by thofe that love you, the moft precious tears are thofe with which heaven bedews the unburied head of a foldier.'

The next morning I took leave of the good family, that had been kind enough to entertain me fo long, not without feveral expreffions of gratitude. to Mr. Thornhill for his late bounty. I left them in the enjoyment of all that happiness which affluence and good breeding procure, and returned towards home, defpairing of ever finding my daughter more, but fending a figh to heaven to fpare and to forgive her. I was now come within about twenty miles of home, having hired a horse to carry me, as I was yet but weak, and comforted myfelf with the hopes of foon feeing all I held dearest upon earth. But the night coming on, I put up at a little public-house by the road fide, and asked for the landlord's company over a pint of wine. We fate befide his kitchen fire, which was the best room in the house, and chatted on politics and the news of the country. We happened, among other topics, to

talk

talk of young 'Squire Thornhill, who the hoft affured me was hated as much as his uncle Sir William, who fometimes came down to the country, was loved. He went on to obferve, that he made it his whole ftudy to betray the daughters of fuch as received him to their houfes, and after a fortnight or three weeks poffeffion, turned them out unrewarded and abandoned to the world. As we continued our difcourfe in this manner, his wife, who had been out to get change, returned, and perceiving that her husband was enjoying a pleasure in which fhe was not a fharer, the asked him in an angry tone, what he did there, to which he only replied in an ironical way, by drinking her health. Mr.

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Symmonds,' cried fhe, you use me very ill, and I'll bear it no longer. Here three parts of the bufinefs is left for me to do, and the fourth left unfinished; while you do nothing but foak with the guests all day long, whereas if a spoonful of liquor were to cure me of a fever I never touch a drop.' I now found what fhe would be at, and immediately poured her out a glass, which the received with a courtfey, and drinking towards my good health, Sir,' refumed fhe, it is not fo much for the value of the liquor I am angry, but one cannot help it when the house is going out of the windows. If the cuftomers or guefts are to be dunned all the burthen lies upon my back, he'd as lief eat that glafs as budge after them himself. There now above ftairs, we have a young woman 'who has come to take up her lodgings here, and • I don't believe she has got any money by her overcivility. I am certain fhe is very flow of pay"ment, and I wifh fhe were put in mind of it.'"What fignifies minding her,' cried the hoft, if 'fhe be flow fhe is fure. I don't know that,' replied the wife; but I know that I am fure she has been here a fortnight and we have not yet • feen

feen the cross of her money.' I fuppofe, my ' dear,' cried he, we fhall have it all in a lump.'• In a lump !' cried the other, I hope we may get it any way; and that I am refolved we will this very night, or out the tramps bag and baggage.'Confider, my dear,' cried the husband,fhe is a gentlewoman, and deferves more refpect. As

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⚫ for the matter of that,' returned the hoftefs, 'gentle or fimple, out fhe fhall pack with a faffarara. Gentry may be good things where they take; but for my part I never faw much good of them at the 'fign of the Harrow.'-Thus faying, the ran up a narrow flight of ftairs that went from the kitchen to a room over-head, and I foon perceived by the loudness of her voice, and the bitterness of her reproaches, that no money was to be had from her lodger. I could hear her remonftrances very diftinctly Out I fay, pack out this moment, tramp thou infamous ftrumpet, or I'll give thee a mark "thou won't be the better for this three months. What! you trumpery, to come and take up an honeft houfe without crofs or coin to blefs your'felf with; come along I fay.' O dear madam,' cried the ftranger, pity me, pity a poor • abandoned creature for one night, and death will 'foon do the reft.I inftantly knew the voice of my poor ruined child Olivia. I flew to her rescue, while the woman was dragging her along by the hair, and I caught the dear forlorn wretch in my arms. Welcome, any way welcome, my dearest loft one, my treasure, to your poor old 'father's bofom. Though the vicious forfake thee, there is yet one in the world that will never for'fake thee; though thou hadst ten thousand crimes to answer for, he will forget them all.'-' O my own dear,'-for minutes fhe could no more

my own deareft good papa! Could angels be kinder! How do I deferve fo much! The vil

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