up by law-charges from 15s. to near 301. and as I found all my usual means of living had forsook me, I packed up my little all as well as I could, and went off.

"The first place I came to was Salisbury, where I got into the service of a gentleman belonging to the law, and one of the best gentlemen that ever I knew; for he was not only good to me, but I know a thousand good and charitable acts which he did while I staid with him; and I have known him often refuse business, because it was paltry and oppressive."-"You need not be so particular," said Allworthy; "I know this gentleman, and a very worthy man he is, and an honour to his profession."" Well, sir," continued Partridge, "from hence I removed to Lymington, where I was above three years in the service of another lawyer, who was likewise a very good sort of a man, and to be sure one of the merriest gentlemen in England. Well, sir, at the end of the three years I set up a little school, and was likely to do well again, had it not been for a most unlucky accident. Here I kept a pig; and one day, as ill fortune would have it, this pig broke out, and did a trespass, I think they call it, in a garden belonging to one of my neighbours, who was a proud, revengeful man, and employed a lawyer, one-one -I can't think of his name; but he sent for a writ against me, and had me to size. When I came there, Lord have mercy upon me-to hear what the counsellors said! There was one that told my lord a parcel of the confoundedst lies about me; he said, that I used to drive my hogs into other folks gardens, and a great deal more: and at last he said, he hoped that I had at last brought my hogs to a fair market. To be sure one would have thought, that instead of being owner of only one poor little pig, I had been the greatest hog-merchant in England. Well"-" Pray," said Allworthy, "do not be so particular. I have heard nothing of your son yet."-" O it was a great many years," answered Partridge, "before I saw my son, as you are pleased to call him. I went over to Ireland after this, and taught school at Cork, (for that one suit ruined me again, and I lay seven years in Winchester gaol)."—" Well," said Allworthy, pass that over, till you return to England."" Then, sir," said he, "it was about half a-year ago that I landed at Bristol, where I staid some time, and not finding it do there, and hearing of a place between that and Gloucester, where the barber was just dead, I went thither, and there I had been about two months when Mr Jones came thither." He then gave Allworthy a very particular account of their first meeting, and of every thing, as well as he could remember, which had happened from that day to this; frequently interlarding his story with panegyrics on Jones, and not forgetting to insinuate the great love and respect which he had for Allworthy. He concluded with saying, "Now,

66

sir, I have told your honour the whole truth;" and then repeated a most solemn protestation, that he was no more the father of Jones than of the Pope of Rome; and imprecated the most bitter curses on his head if he did not speak truth.

"What am I to think of this matter?" cries Allworthy: "For what purpose should you so strongly deny a fact which I think it would be rather your interest to own?"-" Nay, sir," answered Partridge, (for he could hold no longer,) "if your honour will not believe me, you are like soon to have satisfaction enough. I wish you had mistaken the mother of this young man, as well as you have his father."-And now, being asked what he meant, with all the symptoms of horror, both in his voice and countenance, he told Allworthy the whole story, which he had a little before expressed such a desire to Mrs Miller to conceal from him.

Allworthy was almost as much shocked at this discovery as Partridge himself had been while he related it. "Good heavens!" says he, "in what miserable distresses do vice and imprudence involve men! How much beyond our designs are the effects of wickedness sometimes

carried!"

He had scarce uttered these words when Mrs Waters came hastily and abruptly into the room. Partridge no sooner saw her than he cried, "Here, sir, here is the very woman herself. This is the unfortunate mother of Mr Jones: I am sure she will acquit me before your honour. Pray, madam

Mrs Waters, without paying any regard to what Partridge said, and almost without taking any notice of him, advanced to Mr Allworthy: "I believe, sir, it is so long since I had the honour of seeing you, that you do not recollect me. "-" Indeed," answered Allworthy, "you are so very much altered on many accounts, that had not this man already acquainted me who you are, I should not have immediately called you to my remembrance. Have you, madam, any particular business which brings you to me?"-Allworthy spoke this with great reserve; for the reader may easily believe he was not well pleased with the conduct of this lady, neither with what he had formerly heard, nor with what Partridge had now delivered.

Mrs Waters answered, "Indeed, sir, I have very particular business with you; and it is such as I can impart only to yourself. I must desire, therefore, the favour of a word with you alone; for, I assure you, what I have to tell you is of the utmost importance."

Partridge was then ordered to withdraw; but before he went he begged the lady to satisfy Mr Allworthy that he was perfectly innocent. To which she answered, "You need be under no apprehension, sir; I shall satisfy Mr Allworthy very perfectly of that matter."

Then Partridge withdrew; and that passed

tr

CHAP. VII.

Continuation of the History.

MRS WATERS remaining a few moments silent, Mr Allworthy could not refrain from saying, "I am sorry, madam, to perceive, by what I have since heard, that you have made so very ill a use-" "Mr Allworthy," says she, interrupting him, "I know I have faults; but ingratitude to you is not one of them. I never can nor shall forget your goodness, which, I own, I have very little deserved; but be pleased to waive all upbraiding of me at present, as I have so important an affair to communicate to you concerning this young man, to whom you have given my maiden name of Jones."

"Have I then," said Allworthy, " ignorantly punished an innocent man in the person of him who hath just left us? Was he not the father of the child?"-" Indeed, he was not," said Mrs Waters: "You may be pleased to remember, sir, I formerly told you, you should one day know; and I acknowledge myself to have been guilty of a cruel neglect in not having discovered it to you before: Indeed, I little knew how necessary it was."-" Well, madam,' said Allworthy, "be pleased to proceed.". "You must remember, sir," said she," a young fellow, whose name was Summer.' "Very well," cries Allworthy: "He was the son of a clergyman of great learning and virtue, for whom I had the highest friendship."-" So it appeared, sir," answered she; " for I believe you bred the young man up, and maintained him at the university; where, I think, he had finished his studies when he came to reside at your house. A finer man, I must say, the sun never shone upon; for, besides the handsomest person I ever saw, he was so genteel, and had so much wit and good breeding."- Poor gentleman!" said Allworthy," he was, indeed, untimely snatched away; and little did I think he had any sins of this kind to answer for; for I plainly perceive you are going to tell me, he was the father of your child.'

"Indeed, sir," answered she, "he was not." "How!" said Allworthy," to what then tends all this preface?"-" To a story, sir," said she, "which I am concerned falls to my lot to unfold to you. O, sir, prepare to hear something which will surprise you; will grieve you."

Speak," said Allworthy; "I am conscious of no crime, and cannot be afraid to hear."-" Sir," said she," that Mr Summer, the son of your friend, educated at your expence, who, after living a year in the house as if he had been your own son, died there of the small-pox, was tenderly lamented by you, and buried as if he had

ther of this child."-" How!" said Allworthy; "you contradict yourself."-" That I do not,' answered she; "he was indeed the father of this child, but not by me."-" Take care, madam," said Allworthy: "Do not, to shun the imputation of any crime, be guilty of falsehood. Remember there is One from whom you can conceal nothing, and before whose tribunal falsehood will only aggravate your guilt."-" Indeed, sir,” said she," I am not his mother; nor would I now think myself so for the world."-" I know your reason," said Allworthy," and shall rejoice as much as you to find it otherwise; yet, you must remember, you yourself confessed it before me."-" So far what I confessed,” said she, " was true, that these hands conveyed the infant to your bed; conveyed it thither at the command of its mother. At her commands I afterwards owned it; and thought myself, by her generosity, nobly rewarded, both for my secrecy and my shame."-" Who could this woman be?" said Allworthy." Indeed, I tremble to name her," answered Mrs Waters." By all this preparation I am to guess that she was a relation of mine," cried he.-" Indeed, she was a near one. At which words Allworthy started, and she continued, "You had a sister, sir." "A sister!" repeated he, looking aghast."As there is truth in heaven," cries she, "your sister was the mother of that child you found between your sheets." "Can it be possible?" cries he: "Good heavens!" "Have patience, sir," said Mrs Waters, " and I will unfold to you the whole story. Just after your departure for London, Miss Bridget came one day to the house of my mother. She was pleased to say, she had heard an extraordinary character of me for my learning and superior understanding to all the young women there; so she was pleased to say. She then bid me come to her to the great house; where, when I attended, she em◄ ployed me to read to her. She expressed great satisfaction in my reading, shewed great kindness to me, and made me many presents. At last she began to catechise me on the subject of secrecy; to which I gave her such satisfactory answers, that at last, having locked the door of her room, she took me into her closet, and then locking that door likewise, she said she should convince me of the vast reliance she had on my integrity, by communicating a secret in which her honour, and consequently her life, was concerned. She then stopped, and, after a silence of a few minutes, during which she often wiped her eyes, she inquired of me, if I thought my mother might safely be confided in. I answered, I would stake my life on her fidelity. She then imparted to me the great secret which laboured in her breast; and which, I believe, was delivered with more pains than she afterwards suffered in child-birth. It was then contrived, that my mother and myself only should attend

6

at the time, and that Mrs Wilkins should be sent out of the way, as she accordingly was, to the very furthest part of Dorsetshire, to inquire the character of a servant; for the lady had turned away her own maid near three months before, during all which time I officiated about her person upon trial, as she said, though, as she afterwards declared, I was not sufficiently handy for the place. This, and many other such things which she used to say of me, were all thrown out to prevent any suspicion which Wilkins might hereafter have, when I was to own the child; for she thought it could never be believed she would venture to hurt a young woman with whom she had entrusted such a secret. You may be assured, sir, I was well paid for all these affronts; which, together with being informed of the occasion of them, very well contented me. Indeed, the lady had a greater suspicion of Mrs Wilkins than of any other person; not that she had the least aversion to the gentlewoman, but she thought her incapable of keeping a secret, especially from you, sir: for I have often heard Miss Bridget say, that if Mrs Wilkins had committed a murder, she believed she would acquaint you with it. At last the expect ed day came, and Mrs Wilkins, who had been kept a week in readiness, and put off from time to time, upon some pretence or other, that she might not return too soon, was dispatched. Then the child was born, in the presence only of myself and mother, and was, by my mother, conveyed to her own house, where it was privately kept by her till the evening of your return, when I, by the command of Miss Bridget, conveyed it into the bed where you found it. And all suspicions were afterwards laid asleep by the artful conduct of your sister, in pretending illwill to the boy; and that any regard she shewed him was out of mere complaisance to you."

sister to carry this secret with her out of the world."

I promise you, sir," said Mrs Waters, "she always professed a contrary intention, and frequently told me she intended one day to communicate it to you. She said, indeed, she was highly rejoiced that her plot had succeeded so well, and that you had, of your own accord, taken such a fancy to the child, that it was yet unnecessary to make any express declaration. Oh! sir, had that lady lived to have seen this poor young man turned like a vagabond from your house e; nay, sir, could she have lived to hear that you had yourself employed a lawyer to prosecute him for a murder of which he was not guilty?-Forgive me, Mr Allworthy, I must say it was unkind. Indeed you have been abused; he never deserved it of you."—"Indeed, madam," said Allworthy, "I have been abused by the person, whoever he was, that told you so.' "Nay, sir,” said she, “I would not be mistaken, I did not presume to say you were guilty of any wrong. The gentleman who came to me, proposed no such matter: he only said, taking me for Mr Fitzpatrick's wife, that if Mr Jones had murdered my husband, I should be assisted with any money I wanted to carry on the prosecution, by a very worthy gentleman, who, he said, was well apprized what a villain I had to deal with. It was by this man I found out who Mr Jones was; and this man, whose name is Dowling, Mr Jones tells me, is your steward. I discovered his name by a very odd accident; for he himself refused to tell it me; but Partridge, who met him at my lodgings the second time he came, knew him formerly at Salisbury."

"I need not, madam," said Allworthy, "express my astonishment at what you have told me; and yet surely you would not, and could not, have put together so many circumstances to evidence an untruth. I confess, I recollect some passages relating to that Summer, which formerly gave me a conceit that my sister had some liking to him. I mentioned it to her: for I had such a regard to the young man, as well on his own account as on his father's, that I should willingly have consented to a match between them; but she expressed the highest disdain of my unkind suspicion, as she called it: so that I never spoke more on the subject. Good Heavens! Well! the Lord disposeth all things.-Yet sure it was a most unjustifiable conduct in my

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.

Farther continuation.

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 a-just coming to, nay, when she had, in a manner, promised me to do as I would ha' her, and when I was hoped to have had nothing more to do than to have sent for the lawyer, and finish ed all-what do you think I have found out? that the little b hath been 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 patience 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, tomorrow 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 Dr Faustus! shan't I do what I will with my own daughter, expecially when I desire nothing but her own good?"-"Well, neighbour," answered Allworthy, "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 enquire, or to do any thing in that matter?"-" Not I,” answered Western, "he mentioned it to me just now of his own ac cord."—"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 lodgings; for there

is to be a meeting of lawyers there this morning, about a mortgage.-Icod! I shall lose two or three 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, and 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 n'arrow 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 villainy, 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 solemn private affiance, whatever the world may call her, hath little to charge on her own conscience."-" I am sorry, madam," said Allworthy, "you made so ill an 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 stript 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 virtues; 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 heaven, ready to receive a penitent sinner, yet a continued repentance will at length obtain mercy even with 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 then effectual." Mrs Waters fell now upon her knees before him, and, in a flood of tears, made him many most passionate acknowledgments 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 council at Mr Western's lodgings; but, however, thought it his duty to call and acquaint him with the opinion of council, upon the case which he had before told him, which was, that the conversion 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 questions. Do you know this lady?"-"That lady, sir?" answered Dowling, with great hesitation. Allworthy then, with the most solemn voice, said, "Look you, Mr Dow

VOL. I.

"And

"I am

ling, 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 enquire, sir, about Mr Jones."-" And who sent you to enquire about him?"-" Who, sir? why, sir, Mr Blifil sent me."-" And what did you say to the lady concerning that matter?""Nay, sir, it is impossible to recollect every word." "Will you please, madam, to assist the gentleman's memory?" He told me, sir," said Mrs Waters, "that if Mr Jones had murdered my husband, I should be assisted with any money I wanted to carry on the prosecution by a very worthy gentleman, who was well apprized what a villain I had to deal with. These, I can safely swear, were the very words he spoke."-" Were these the words, sir ?" said Allworthy.-"I cannot charge my memory exactly," cries Dowling, "but I believe I did speak to that purpose.' did Mr Blifil order you to say so?"sure, sir, I should not have gone on my own accord, nor have willingly exceeded my authority in matters of this kind. If I said so, I must have so understood Mr Blifil's instructions."-" Look you, Mr Dowling," said Allworthy, "I promise you before this lady, that whatever you have done in this affair by Mr Blifil's order, I will forgive; provided you now tell me strictly the truth: for I believe what you say, that you would not have acted of your own accord, and without authority, in this matter.-Mr Blifil then likewise sent you to examine the two fellows at Aldersgate ?"-" He did, sir."—" Well, and what instructions did he then give you? Recollect as well as you can, and tell me, as near as possible, the very words he used."- Why, sir, Mr Blifil sent me to find out the persons who were eye-witnesses of this fight. He said he feared they might be tampered with by Mr Jones, or some of his friends. He said, blood required blood; and that not only all who concealed a murderer, but those who omitted any thing in their power to bring him to justice, were sharers in his guilt. He said, he found you was very desirous of having the villain brought to justice, though it was not proper you should appear in it."-" He did so ?" said Allworthy. Yes, sir," cried Dowling, "I should not, I am sure, have proceeded such lengths for the sake of any person living but your worship." -"What lengths, sir?" said Allworthy." Nay, sir," cries Dowling, "I would not have your worship think I would, on any account, be guilty of subornation or perjury; but there are two ways of delivering evidence. I told them, therefore, that if any 2 H

66