The history of Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy : in three volumes

F. K".^. Sl' F. A.N. '^

THE

HISTORY

Jemmy and Jenny Jejfamj.

VOL. IL

Jujl pubHJlfd,

Ty T. Gardner, at Coi-vUfs Head in the Strand,

( Price Bound Ten ShiUings )
■In TWO VOLUMES, Octavo,
v/New Edition of

Epifiles for the Ladies,

By the AUTHORS of

The FEMALE SPECTATOR.

* The Chavafter of this Work ii, in general fo well

* knovvn, as not to need a Recommendation ; but

* as fome particularPerfons may be unacquainted

* with it, it is hoped it will not ofleiid the Mo-

* deily of its Authors, juft to cite a few of th«

* Epithets given to it by fome of the moll diftin-

* guilliing Judges of the prefent Age. — As— -
.*• That it is the bel> adapted for improving the
*' Morals, and refining the Talle.— -That a juft
■" and proper Spirit breathes through theVv''hole.
** — That it imperceptibly makes its Readers
•* wifer. — T hat it exalts the Ideas, — That it is a
*' polite and elegant Advocate for private Virtue.
" — Ihattho' itfeeqis by the J itie to be princi-
" pally intended for the Service of the Fair Sex,
" yet there is not a Man of the greateft Genius
*• but may be pleafingly amufcd — ' hat its Lan-
** guage is elegant, clear, and fonfpicuous. —
*' That lis Stpri^s are fo afFettingly related, that
** whoever reads them v/ill f nd the Paffions fm-
" gularly moved.— That it is judiciouily b'end-
•* ed with InflruOion and Entertainment. — That
" it infenfibly difcovers the Means of being
*< happy in ourfelves. — That it is an admirable
*' Leifon for the Young and Unexperienced.—
" That it points out fuch Foibles in ourfelves, as
*• for want of being obferv'd, frequently entail
*' the greatcfl Uneafinelles. — That it is peculiar-

, «' ly adapted to the reigning Habits of theprefeftt

THE

HISTORY

O F

Jemmy and Jenny Jejfamy.
V o L. II.

By the AUTHOR cf
The History of Befjy Ikougbtij},

L O N D O N:

Printed for T. G a r d x e R, SLtCowhy^s Head,
facing St. Clcment\ Church, in the Strand ;
and Ibid by all Bookfellers in Town and
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iti:

CONTENTS

T O T H E

Second Volume.

CHAP. I.
*T| IS CO VE R S fometbing which may ferva
*^ to prove, that though love is the original
fource from which jealoufy is derived, yet thg
latter ofthefe pajftons is the ?no/I di^cult of tht
two to be concealed, and filfo lefs under tbe go-
vernment of reafon. p. i

CHAP. II.

Contains a farther confirmation of the pofition ad-

vanced in the preceding chapter, and alfo fon^

nther particulars exciting the curiofity of the

reader. I \

CHAP. III.

Completes the charaSler of a modern fine gentle-
man, or a pretty fellow for the ladies. 25

C H A P. IV.

Relates fome paffages fubfequent to the preceding

adventure. 3^4

C H A P. V.

Contains, among other things, an account of a

very extraordinary, and no lefs fevere trial

of female fortitude and moderation. 46

A CHAP.

ii CONTENTS.

CHAP. VI.

Xreats df inany things as unexpe^ed hy the per-^

t ^^. fans ccncernd in than, as they can he by the

reader hitiifelf. 57

CHAP. VII.

Co7iiai/is a hriif recital of the rej'olutions taken on
the forcgcing advice. 72

CHAP. vm.

Ssrves orjy to render the caiije more intricate^ and
ifivolve the patties concerned in It in frefo per-
plexities. 8 1
CHAP. IX.

lias in it fome things cf no fmall importance .^ tho'
at frejc.4 they may appear too iufignijicant to
be injcricd. 90

C H A P. X.

Is a digreffion of no confequence tothehiflory^ and
may ihet efore either be read or omitted at dif-
cretion. IGO

CHAP. XI.

Is a contiiiuation of the fame digrejjion^ ivhich
bhvevcr infignificant it may appear at prefcnt^
the reader will hereafter perhaps be glad to.
turn back to the pages it contains. 1 09

CHAP. XII.
Concludes the dijlrefsful narrative. 1 1 7

CHAP. XIII.

May properly cnotigh come under the denomination
of an appendix to the three tajl preceding chap-
ters^ as containing fome things which ought to
have been inferted in them. 131

CHAP.

CONTENTS. ili

CHAP. XIV.

Contains much matter for edification^ hut "Jery.
".*' little for entertainment. 1 4 3

C H A P. XV.

Cannot fail of giving a very agreeable fenfation
to every boneji and good-natur'd reader. 151

■'■' CHAP. XVI.

Treats of more things than one. 1 65

CHAP. XVII.

\jfiJfords frejh matter to employ the fpeculation of
every curious reader. J 74

CHAP. XVIII.

Is dull enough to pleafe thoje vjho take an ill-na^
tur'd delight in findir.g fomeihing to condemn ;
yet is net vjiihout occurrences X'jhich ivill keep
awake the attention of fuch who read with a
defire of being agreeably amufed, 1 85

CHAP, xix:

Returns to what has doubtlefs been long ago ex^
peSicd^ and opens a new fcer.e of various and
entertaining occurrences. 196

CHAP. XX.

Is very Jljort^ but pithy, 207

C H A P. XXI.

Difcovers Celia of the woods on her firfi acquain-
tance ivith Jemmy., and alfo fame other parti-
culars of equal importance. 213.

CHAP..

ir CONTENTS.

CHAP. XXII.

In which, among other things, it will be found
highly proper that fame pajfages formerly in^
fer ted Jhou Id he re-capitulated, in order to form
the better underfianding of thofe which are now
upon the tapis. 226

CHAP. XXIII.

Contains only fuch accidents as are too common to
excite much wonder, 235

CHAP. XXIV.

The hiflory of Celia in the woods profecuted in that
of lady Hardy, related by h erf elf to feinmy.

241
CHAP. XXV.
Ccyitains the fequel of lady Hardy s Jhry, with
other matters of fame confequence. 25.0

CHAP. XXVI.

f^ill, in feme meafure, contribute to reconcile
Jemmy to thofe who may have been offended
with him. 261

CHAP. XXVII.

Contains, among other particulars, a more full

explanation offemmy^s innocence in fome things

which had very much the appearance of being

criminal. 253

CHAP. XXVIII.

Treats of fuch things as the author is pretty well
convinced, from a long feries of ohfervations on
the human mind, will afford more pleafure tharr
offence, even among fome of thofe who moji af-
feM a contrary fenfatien. 292

I S T O R Y

O F

Jemmy and Jenny Jejfamj-

VOL. IL

CHAP. I.

Difcovers fomething which may ferve to
prove ^ that though love is the original
fource from which jealoufy is derived ,
yet the latter of thefe pajftom is the
moft difficult of the two to be con-
ceal'd^ and alfo lefs under the govern-
ment ofreafon.

HERE are fo many fecret
windings, fuch obfcure re-
ceffes in the human mind,
that it is very difficult, if
not wholly impofiible, for
fpeculation to arrive at the

real fpring or firll mover of any aftion

whatfoever.
Vofc. II. B How

2 rhe HISTORY oj

How indeed fhould it be otherwife, as
the moil virtuous and the moft vicious
propenfities of nature are frequently in a
more or lefs degree lod2;ed and blended
together in the fame compofition, and
both equally under the influence of a thou-
fand different paflions, which difguife and
vary the face of t ".eir operations, lb as not
to be diftinguifli'd even by the perfons
themfdves.

It has already been obferv'd, that there
v;ere fome peculiarities in the humour and
condu(5l of lady Speck, which flie had po-
licy and prudence enough to conceal en-
tirely from the world ; and though not
the moft intimate of her acquaintance,
nor even her filler, could ever penetrate
into the fecrit motives of a behaviour,
which to them feem'd frequently pretty
ftraisge, it is fit the reader fliould not be
deny'd that fatisfadlion, at leafc as far as
the above-mentioned premifes will admit.

As her ladyfhip had found very little
happinefs in marriage, fhe had been too
much rejoiced at being releafed^ from that
bondage by the de^th of her husband,
ever to think of entering into the fame
Hate a fecond time •, but having obferv'd
that this was commonly the profefTion of

all

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. -^
all widows, and as commonly ridiculed
by thole who heard it, flie forbore ma-
king any mention of her refolution in
this point.

She had very little vanity in her com-
pofition, but loved a variety of company j
— fhe was pleas'd to find herfelf conti-
nually furroundrd by a crowd of gentle-
men ; but had been equally, if not m.orc
fo, if they had vifited her on any other
fcore than that of courcfhip : fhe behaved
to each of them fo much alike, thatjea-
loufy was a thing unknown among thefe
rivals ; and as none of them had any
great caufe to hope, fo likewife none of
them thought he had caufe to defpair
of being one day the happy man ; and
her youth, — her beauty, — her wit, — her
fortune, made her appear too valuable a
prize not to perfevere in the purfuit of.

Thus eafy, thus happy in herfelf, and
delightful to all that faw her, did fhe live
and reign the general toafl and admira-
tion of the town ; when Celandine arriv'd
from his travels, full frought with all
thofe fuperficial accomplilhments fo en-
chanting to the unthinking part of the
fair fex.

B 2 What

4 "Th^ HISTORY of

What attracts the eye is too apt to
have an influence over the heart i— his
agreeable perfon, — his gaudy equipage,
and the fhew he made, dazzled the fenfes
of even thofe who moft afFefted to be
•t lought wits i — he was the theme of every
tea-table, and the chief objedt for whom
the arts of the toylet were employed.

Lady Speck had heard much of him
before fhe faw him, but he was foon in-
troduced to her acquaintance by a lady
who frequently vifited her, and had aK
ways fpoke wonders in his praife -, whe-
ther it were that fhe was prepolTefs'd by
the good opinion fhe found others had
of him, or whether it was to himfelf
alone he was indebted for the imprefTion
he made on her is uncertain j but nothing
can be more true, than that at firfl fight
Ihe felt for him what fhe had never
done for any man after whole years of
afliduity.

It is alfo altogether as impoflible to
determine if it was by any kind looks
he perceived in her towards him, or by
the great confidence he had in his own

merits, that he was emboldened to declare
himfelf her lover -, it was, however, either
to the one or tie other thit ilie owed

the

Jemmy and Jennv Jessamv. 5'

the triumph of this new conqiieft, and
he had not made her many vifits before
fhe was confirm'd of it by the moft vio-
lent proteftations that tongue could utter.

It feem'd, notwithftanding, extremely
ftrange to her, that amidft all the tefli-
monies he endeavour'd to give her of
his love, he never once m.ention'd mar-
riage i but, on the contrary, would fre-
quently in her prefencc ridicule the in-
ftitution, — fay it was a clog upon incli-
nations, and only fit to link two people
together who had no notion of the true
joys of love, or of living politely in tiie
world.

He often had the impudence even to
repeat to her, in juftification of his pro-
phane pofition, all the lines he could
remember from any of the poets who
had exercifed their talents in fatirifing
that facred ceremony •, particularly thefe
of mr. Dryden :

Marriage, thou curfe of love, and fnare

of hfe !
That firft debased a miftrefs to a wife !
Love, like a fcene, at diftance fhould

appear.
But marriage views the grofs-daub'd

iandfcape near.

B 3 Love's-

6 rhe HISTORY of

Love's naufeous cure ! thou cloy'ft

whom thou fhould'ft p]eafe,
/ind when that's cur'd, then thou art

the difeafe \
Vv'hen hearts are Icofe, thy chain our

bodies ties -,
I.ove couples friends, but marriage

enemies.

But his behaviour on this fcorc gave
her not the lead difeuft towards him •,
— Ihe w'as herfelf an enemy to marriage ;
— and befides his eftate, though large, was
not an equivalent for that fhe was in
pofieffion of; nor was any part of his
characSter fuch as fhe thought becoming
a man whom fhe would make a husband
of; — Ihe neverthelefs loved him, nor took
any pains to repel the kindnefs which
every day grew llronger tor him in-ncr
heart : — fhe was amufed with his conver-
fation, delighted with his addreffes, look'd
on him as a pretty plaything, — a charm-
ing toy which it would be doing too great
a violence to her humour to throw
away.

All this will doubtlefs give the rea-
der no very favourable idea of her vir-
tue ', but v/e v/ill fuppofe it was only a
platonic liking ihe had for him : — how
lar indeed, the dangerous liberties fhe

allow 'd

Jemmy and Jenny Jr?samy. 7
allow'd hcrfclf to take with him might
have carried her, if they had been con-
tinued, much longer, no one can pretend
to fay.

She was not, however, fo much lod in
the tender folly flie indulg'd, as not to
be perfe6lly fcnfible that the manner in
which fhe converfed with Celandine
could not, if knov/n to the v/ovld, but
occafion a great deal of difcourle,
little to the advantage of her reputation ;
and that it behoved her, above all things,
to keep this fecret of her foul from ta-
king air : — to do this, flie put in praflice
all the arts that a jull fear of cenfurc;
could infpire her with. — When Celandine
was prefent with other company ihe
affe6ted to rally, and turn into bagatelle
every thing he faid or did ; and when
he was abfent, to ridicule thofe vanities
and fopperies which fhe had underftand-
ing enough to fee in him, though not in
reality to condemn him for. — She not
only treated thofe gentlemen, who before
made their addreffes to her, with a greater
fhew of favour than flie had been accuf-
tomed to do •- but alfo encouraged every
new offer of that kind that v/as prefented
to her ; and this conduct proved effec-
tual for the purpofe Cnt intended it, that
no one perfon fufpe6led Celandine v/as
B 4 among.

S ne HISTORY of

among the number of her lovers, much
lefs that he was the darling favourite
of her bofom.

Being in this fituation, it is eafy to
conceive what racks of mi nd fhe mud
Ibfcain on the account that had been jufl

given by mrs. M •, — to be told that

Celandine had an amour, and to hear it
averr'd by the very woman who had
been her rival, was a mere trifle in com-
parifon with what follow*d •, — that he
was found in the clofe arbour with Jenny
was the thing that flung her to the
quick, when fhe remember'd that Celan-
dine had met herfelf and filler in the
walks, and how inftead of fquireing them
as ufual, he had only made a flight
compliment and abruptly left them ;
and that Jenny had excufed herfelf from
going out on account of fome letters fhe
faid fhe had to write, it appear*d plainly
to her, that he went not from the walks
but with a deflgn of going to Jenny ;
— that flie fl:ay*d not at home but in ex-
pedation of his coming, and the appoint-
ment was previoufly agreed upon between
them.

Mofl; women have naturally fo good
an opinion of themfelves, as not to be-
lieve eafily that the man who has once

lov'd

Jemmy arid Jenny JessamV. g
lov'd them can transfer his afFedions to
another, without fome very extraordinary
arts put in pradice for that purpofe by
the new objedl. — Lady Speck thought
herfelf as handfome as Jenny, and there-
fore concluded that the amorous incUna-
tion which Celandine had all at once tef-
tified for that young lady, could be
owing to nothing but fome advances
made to him on her part.

How unjuft and how cruel a paflion
is that of jealoufy ! — it deftroys all the
nobler principles of the foul, — ^it eraces
thence all the ideas of virtue, religion,
and morality •, it makes us not only con-
demn the innocent, and acquit the guilty,
but alfo infpires us with the mod lavage
and inhuman fentiments,— Lady Speck
now hated her fair friend more than ever
fhe had loved her -, — her beauty, — her
wit, — all thofe accompHfhments v/hich
had excited her efteem, render' d her now
the objed of her averfion ; — Ihe was al-

m.oft tempted to wilh mrs. M had

perpetrated her outrageous defign, if
not to the deftruilion of her life, yet,
to the defacing of thofe charms which
had triumph'd over her in the heart of
Celandine •, and was little leis angry v/ith
him for having prevented the fatal blow
B /J aimed

JO T/j^ HISTORY cf

aimed againft' her rival, than Ihe was
for his talfhood to herfelf.

Of all the various agitations which by-
turns convulfe and rend the human heart,
there are none which inftigate to more
pernicious purpofes, or bring on, if con-
tinued, more difaftrous confequences; but
the flame, however violent it may flafh
for the prefent, can have no long exiftence
in a mind not wholly divefted of all
good nature and generofity ; — cooler and
more reafonable fentiments, on a little
refledlion, foon abated the force of thofe
turbulent emotions v»/hich had taken pof-
fefiion of this lady's bofom ; but as yet
were not powerful enough to fupprefs
them entirely -, what elfecfrs followed, cither
of the one or the other, will hereafter
appear, — but the confiid between them
v/as for this time interrupted, by fome
company coming m, whom lady Speck
was oblig'd to go down to receive, as
they were more her guefts than herfifter's,
and altogether ftrangers to Jenny.

CHAP,

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy: ri

CHAP. II.

Contains a Jarther confirmation of t! e
pofition advanced in the preceding
chapter^ and alfo fome other par-
ticulars exciting the cnriofity of the
reader.

1 AD Y Speck afilimed a countenance
*-^ as ferene as poffible to entertain, with
her ufual poHtenefs, the perfons who came
to viiit her •, but in Ipice oF all her en-
deavours to appear entirely eafy, The
Gould not keep herfelf from darting
fuch ill-natur'd glances on Jenny, when-
ever ^Ihe look'd towards her, as mail
have been taken notice of by that young
lady, if llie had not been too much en-
grofs'd by hej: own thoughts to be capa-
ble of penetrating into thofe of anotJier.

The company ftay'd foliate, that the-
inftant they v/ere gone the ladies retir'd
to their refpedive chambers; Jenny, who
had her mind no lefs employed than ^ady
Speck, vs^ith the adventures of the day,
was equally pleafed to be alone and iii-
dulge meditation on what had pafs'd.

B 6 The

12 ■ The HISTORY of

The hiftory of mrs. M had dwelt

very much upon her mind -, but what
made the mofl deep impreflion, was that
part of it wherein fhe related the firft
motive which occafion'd her fall at once
from happinefs and from virtue, and con-
fequentiy drew on her all thofe dreadful
misfortunes with which at prefent fhe
was encompafs'd.

I believe the reader will eafily remem-
ber, as the thing is of a pretty particular
nature, how that unhappy woman in order
to revive thofe ardors ot affedlion in her
husband, which fhe imagin'd were be-
ginning to decay, had recourfe to the
dangerous flratagem of giving him a
rival i and alfo how by coquetting with
Celandine, and treating him with a fhew
of liking, the counterfeited flame kindled
by degrees into ^ real one, and ended at
length in her utter ruin and confufion.

The notions Jenny had of honour and
generofity were too refin'd and delicate,
not to make her look with the utmoft
contempt on all kinds of artifice, on what
pretences foever they were put in
practice : — this conduct of mrs. M — ^s,
though confidering what enfued, the
leail guilty part of her character, feem*d

to

Jemmy^W Jennv Jessamt; 13
to her fo highly criminal, as well as weak
and mean, that fhe could not he|p think-
ing it worthy of all the punifhments it
met with.

' How is it ppfTibie, cried fhe within

* herfelf, that a woman who truly loves

* virtue can be capable of putting on an

* appearance fo much the reverfe of it ?

* What if at that time fhe had no inten-

* tions of gratifying the amorous inclina-

* tions of the man Ihe fported with, to
' encourage them in him was a manifcft
' violation, not- only of modefty but

* likewife of religion, honour, and thofe

* folemn obligations Ihe had enter'd into.

' Befides, continued fhe, this wretched

* creature feems not to want fenfe enough

* to knov/ the heinoufnefs of the fault

* Ihe was guilty of, even in this firfl flep

* to perdition ; — yet fhe run boldly into

* it, and abfolv'd herfelf on account of
' the good end fhe propos'd by it, — to

* regain the afFeftions of her husband : —
« Oh ! how ridiculous was fuch an attempt

* for doing fo; as if any man of common ■

* reafon would love his wife the better

* for fufpeding fhe was about to commit
« the worfl and mofl fhameful adion a

* woman can be guilty of !

I

14 r/^d- HISTORY o/

« I have feen fome young ladies, went
' fhe iXiW on, that have made ufe of thefe
' httle tricks to infpire jeaioufy in their
' lovers •, either to make trial of their

* conftancy, or fhew their own power by
' giving pain-, this is certainly filly as well

* as cruel -, but what is no more than

* vanity and folly in them, is downright

* wickednefs in a married woman.'

Thus did fhe pafs fome time in cen-

furing the condud of mrs. M ; but

as fne was of that happy turn of mind,
to convert every thing which fhe either
faw or heard of to her own advantage,.
and to make frelh improvements in her-
felf by the misbehaviours of others, her
refieftions carried her yet farther, and
remembrance prefented her with an in-
cident which happen'd long before flie
had the power of judging^ but which
llie had heard much diicourfe of in her
extreme youth, — it was this :

A perfon of great diflinftion happen'd
to be married to a lady very young and
beautiful •, flie was a celebrated wit with-
out being wife, and had the mod: roman-
tick turn of mind-, — fancying herfelf a
Statyra, flie expefted her husband fliould
approach her with the obfequioufnefs of

an

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 15

an Oroondates ;— he was little verfed in
hiftories of this nature •, and though he
loved her very well, treated her as mere
woman; — the epithets of angel and god-
defs were ftrangers to his mouth ; and
thofe he ufually faluted her with were
plain madam, or my dear ; — this difguft-
ed her even in the firft days of their
marriage, — fhelook'd on fuch a behaviour
as an indignity to her charms -, — her heart
reproach'd the indelicacy of his man-
ners, and half defpifed him for his want
of tafte •, nor did her tongue reftrain it-
felf from teftifying how much fhe was
difatisfy'd at every thing h^ faid or did.

The fafhion in which he found him-
felf ufed by her gave him fome difquiet
at firft, but it lafted not long ; — though
a man of fenfe, he was naturally indolent
to an excefs ; — he loved his eafe too well
to part with it on any confideration
whatever j — he never thought any thing
worth attempting the purfuit of, which
was likely to be attended with difficulty ;,
— and as he had never taken the pains to
examine what it was that his wife ex-
pedled from him, fo he would have been
equally negligent in gratifying her hu-
mour, if he had been better acquainted
with it.

Their

i6 Ty&f H I S T O R Y 5/

Their v/ay of living together grew
every day ftill worfe and worfe j as her
haughty fullenefs increafed, his carelelT-
nefs of it increafed in proportion •, — all
the love they once had for each other
turn'd into a mutual indifference, or ra-
ther a mutual averfion -, — Ihe fought the
food for her vanity among thole who
were ot a difpofition to indulge it ; and
Ihe found not a few to whom the glory
of pleafing a lady of her beauty, birth,
and accomplifhments did not feem well
worth all the flatteries they could addrefs
her with-, the husband, in the mean
time, made himfelf not wretched on ac-
count of the gallantries fhe received, but
,fied for confolation to the arms -gf a more
obliging and endearing fair.

They continued to live together, how-
ever, in the fame houfe •, but flept not
in the fame bed, nor eat at the fame
table, except for decency fake, when
company was there ; before whom they
always behaved to each other with the
greatefl good manners and politenefs
imaginable.

o

But this was a conftralnt which neither
of them could long fupport, — they parted
by confent -, — after v/hich her amours be-
came

Jemmy an^i Jehhy Jessamy. 17"

came the general topic of converfation ;
till Ihunned by all her kindred, defpifed
by her acquaintance, and flighted by
thofe for whofe fake fhe had facrificed her
reputation, fhe became fenfible of her
follies, and fought a reconciliation with
her husband ; but all her endeavours
for that purpofe being in vain, fhe hated
a place where Ihe no longer had either
friends or admirers, and went a volun-
tary exile into foreign parts, where grief
and remorfe foon put an end to her
life.

This incident threw Jenny into the
moft ferious contemplations on the hu-
man fyfbem -, — the many obfervations ihe
had made, convinc*d her that vanity was
in a more or lefs degree inherent to the
whole fpecies j and that men as well as
women were not exempt from it : and
immediatly recolledling fome palTages
Ihe had {ccn which demonftrated this
truth, ' Good God, cried fhe, how can

* any one be fo fond of this idol frame,
' this poor machine, liable to be wither'd

* by every inclement blaft that iiTues
' from the firmament ! Let the proud of

* heart read Gulliver's Voyages to the
' Houghims, and fome other pieces of
' the fame excellent author, and they
' will fee and be aihamed to admire a

* body

i8 777^- HISTORY 0/

' body which requires fuch means to be

' fuftain'd.- — No, continu'd fiie, it is the

* mind which ought to be the chief ob-

* jeO: of our attention ; it is there alone

* we are either beautiful or deform'd ;

* and the pains v/e take to ornament and

* embellifli that nobler part of us will

* not be thrown away.'

She was fo taken up with thefe philo-
sophic refledions, that flie went not to
bed till the beams of Aurora darting
through the window curtains, reminded
her how much fhe had loft of the time
commonly alotted for repofe.

It was fomewhat more late than ordi-
nary when flie rofe the next morning •, —
on her coming down ftairs fhe found the
ladies already in the room where they
always breakfaftediand guefTing, by fome
circumftances, that fhe had made them
wait, was beginning to apologize for her
tardinefs.

' Indeed, my dear, cried mifs Wing-

* man interrupting her, we were afraid
' you were not well, and were juft go-
' ing to fend to your chamber : — But
« pray, continued fhe very gaily, let me
' examine your countenance, a nd fee if
« that will tell me whether you are quite

* got

Jemmv <;z«J Jenny Jessamy. 19

* got over the fright that terrible wo-

* man put you into yefterday.'

Jenny was about to make fome an-
fwerj but lady Speck, who could not
forgive her for the part fhe bore in that
adventure, took up the word before the
other had time to open her mouth, 'The

* fright was of little confequence,' faid
fhe with an air which had fomething
of derifion in it, ' as fhe was deliver'd
' from the danger before fhe could ha'^'e
' any apprehenfions of it -, — but, there
' were other particulars that happen'd

* afterwards, which perhaps were of a
' yet more difagreeable nature, and might
' make a deeper impreflion.'

Thefe words, and the tone in which
they were fpoke, gave Jenny an infinity
of furprife, but without paufing to form
any conjedture on the matter, ' You will
' pardon me, madam, cried fhe innocent-
' ly, if I am not able to comprehend
' your ladyfhip's m.caning •, — I know of

* no accident that happen'd afterwards ;
« or indeed, in which I had the ieaft

* concern.'

' How weak is it, reply'd Jady Speck,

* in people to endeavour to conceal a
' pafTion, which in fpite of all they can

' do

2b The HISTORY of

« do will break out in every look and
« gellure ! I pity you from my foul, and

* had I fooner known the fituation of

* your heart, would liave contriv'd fome

* way or other to have prevented mrs.

* M from being quite fo open in

* her narrative ; — it muft certainly be a
' very great fhock to you to hear fome

* paf^iges flie related j — but, alafs, I was

* intirely ignorant tliat Celandine loved
' you, or that you loved Celandine -, and

* little fufpeded that it was for his fake

* you fo refolutely rejed:edthe offers of fir
« Robert Manley.*

• I fhould be forry, madam, repJy'd

* Jenny very difdainfully, that your lady-

* Ihip, or any one elfe, fhould have fo

* contemptible an opinion of my judg-
' ment. — I know but little of the gen-

* tlemen, yet know enough to make a

* juft diftindion between them -, and were

* my hand and heart at my difpofal

* fhould not hefitate one moment to

* which of them I fhould give the pre-

* ference.'

' How cunning now you think you

* are, faid lady Speck with an affeded
*laugh, — you fpeak the truth but avoid
^mentioning the name: I will however

do

Jemivty and Jenny Jessamy. ± i

do it for you, and anfwer in fomewhat
like the poet's words :

'Tis Celandine your heart would leap

to meet,
\yhile Manley lay expiring at your

feet.

Scarce had Jenny the power to re-
ftrain her paffion within the bounds of
decency, on finding lady Spech perfift-
,ed info injurious an accufation ; — fcorn
and anger overwhelm'd her foul, — tears
gufli'd from her eyes, — and rifing hailily
from her feat, — ' I will not imagine, ma-

* dam, faid flie, that you are really in
' earneft in fuppofmg fuch a thing j but

* the jefl is of fuch a nature as I do not

* think it becomes me to hear the con-

* tinuancc of.*

In fpeaking thefe words Hie was about
to quit the room -, but mifs Wingman,
who had been a good deal aflonilh*d at
what her filler had faid, ran and pulled
her back j — but all her perfuafions would
have been incffe(5tual to have detain'd
her, if lady Speck, having vented her ill
humour ; and now repenting (he had
gone fo far, had not added her intreaties,

* My

22 The HISTORY of

' My dear creature, cried fhe, 1 had

« not the leaft defign to affront you; I only

' meant to rally you a little on your

' (laying at home, when fo fine a day

* called every body to the walks.' — ' I
' Ihould have deferved it, madam, an-
' Iwer'd fhe, if I had deny'd myfelf the
' pleafure of attending your ladyfhip on
' any other motive than what I really

* did ;. — but I affure you I wrote no lels
' than five letters, as your own man can
' witncfs, whom, my own being out of
' the way, [ took the- liberty to fend
' with them to the poll- office.'

' I believe it, faid lady Speck, I be-
« iieve it, and heartily aflc your pardon.'
— She was goino; to add fomethino more
by v/ay or reparation for the vexation
llie had given to that young lady, when
Ihe was prevented by her woman, who
having been fent to a milliner's for fome
things fhe wanted, came running into
the iOom with a countenance as con^'us'd
and wild as if fhe had met fome fped:re
or apparition in her way :

* Oh madam ! cried fhe to her lady,

* I have the ftrangeft thing to tell you, —
' the oddcft accident-, — to be fure I was
» never fo much furprifed in all my life.'

* Prithee

Jemmy ^W Jennv Jessamv. 23

' Prithee at wliat, denianded lady Speck ?
' — Lord, madam, return'd (he, 1 could
' not have thought fuch a thing of two
' llich civil well behaved gendemen.—
' What gentlemen, faid lady Speck ? ex-
' plain the, myftery at once, and do not
' keep us in fufpence by your unfeafon-
' able exclamations.

* Lord, madam, replied llie, your

* ladyinip will wonder when you know
' all as well as I •, — for my part I was fo
' confounded ihat I fcarce know which
'way I got home. — juft as I was ftep-

* ping into the milliner's, — blefs me, I
' fliall never forget rt •, but I will tell
' your ladyfhip as fad as I can : — Juft
' as I was going into the fliop, as I was
' faying, I heard a great noife in the
' ftreet, and the found of feveral men's
' voices crying out, — Bring them along,
' — bring them along, — I turn'd about,
'as any one would do, — out of mere
' curiofity, — and,— v/ould your ladyfhip
' believe it pofTible ? — who fhould I fee
' but mr. Lovegrove and mr. Celandine
* in the hands of I know not how many
' rough fellows, and followed by a huge
' croud of all forts of people. — I fancy
' they had been fighting, for botii their
' fwords were drawn and carri d by one
' of the men that had hold of mr. Love-

* grove ;

5^ "The HISTORY of

* grove-, I cannot directly fay how that
» matter was j but there was a Grange
' confufed noife among the mob ; — one
' cried it was a fad thing fuch broils

* fhould happen ; — and another that it

* would be a great prejudice to the
' town : — and all I could hear diftinftly

* was, that they were going to carry the

* gentlemen before a juftice of peace.'

All the ladies were very much con-
cern'd at hearing this intelligence ; but
lady Speck feem'd the moft affeded with
it ; nor did the others at all wonder at
her being fo, as mr. Lovegrove was her
declared admirer, and was allow*d by all
that knew him to deferve more of her
favour than he had as yet experienced-

They were all extremely impatient to
know both the occafion and the confe-
quence of this affair j and lady Speck's
woman either having not enquir'd, or
jiot been able to learn to what magiftrate
the gentlemen were carried, footmen were
immediatly difpatch'd to every quarter
of the town, in hopes of bringing home
that information, which the reader fhall
prefently be made acquainted with.

CHAP.

Jemmy tfW Jennv Jessamv. 25

CHAP. Ill,

Compleats the charaBer of a modern
file gentleman, or a pretty fellow
for the ladies.

T Believe there are none into whofe
-■■ hands thefe vokimes fhall happen to
fall, at leaft if they confider the ftory of

rnrs. M with any attention, but will

eafily perceive there was enough in it to
give a very great alarm to a man lb
much enamour'd as mr. Lovegrove.

He had obferved, that for fome time
before,' as well as fince their coming
•down to Bath, Celandine had been a con-
ftant dangler after lady Speck. = — Love
and jcaloufy are quick-fighted pafTions :

• — he thought alfo, that though ilie ridi-
culed and laugh'd at his afliduitles, fhe

• was not fo much difpleafed with them
; as flie ought to have been.

This had frequently given him fome

i uneafy apprehenfions ; but as there were

' feveral other gentlemen of worth and

honour who made their addreffes to lady

Speck, as well as liimfelf ; and flie had

Vol. II. C never

26 The HISTORY of

never given him any aflfurance of diflin-
guilliing hiiTi above his competitors, he
thought it would be too prefuming in
him to call her ladylhip's condud in
queftion -, efpecially in regard to a man
who did not publickly profels himfelf her
lover, and whole peribn, charader, and
behaviour fhe always afFeded to delpife.

But now to be told, that he had im-
pudently boalled his coming down to
Bath was on the invitation of a woman
of quality, from v/hom he gave fome
hints of having received very extraordi-
nary favours ; and to hnd that the per-
fon to whom he faid this had any reafon
to guefs the woman of quahty he men-
tion'd was no other than lady Speck,
was fuch a fliocking corroboration of
his former fufpicions as fired him with
the extremefl rage.

Whether lady Speck had in reality
granted any favours to Celandine, or
whether it was his own idle vanity alone,
which had made him talk in the manner
he had done, this generous lover thought
it would become him to chaftife the in-
folence of luch a braggadociaj but in
what manner he fliould do fo very much
perplcx'd him : to fend him a challenge
on this account he feared would make
too great a noife^ and conlequently dif-

pieafe

Jemmy <2?7^/ Jenny Jessamy. 27

pleafe the lady whofe honour he meant
to defend. — After much debating within
himfelf, an expedient came into his mind,
which he immediately put in execution.

He found, by what he had heard
Jenny fay to mrs. M , that Celan-
dine had taken the liberty to treat that
young lady in a manner very unworthy
of her character j — this feem'd to him a
good pretence for covering the face of
his defign; and therefore refolv'd to
make her quarrel appear as the chief
motive of his refentment, touching only
obliquely on that he had conceiv'd againft
him in regard of lady Speck.

Having well confider'd on all the con-
fequences that might probably attend the
' .ftep he was abo^at to take, and fully de-
termin'd with himfelf to purfue it, he
wrote to Celandine that fame evening in
fhe following terms :

To R. Celandine, Efqj

" Sir,

*' "VT" O U have affronted a young ladf
'* -*• of diftinguifli'd merit, at prefenc
*' under the proteftion of the woman I
" adore ; and, it is faid, hxvQ given room
** for fufpicion of your having alfo en-
C 2 <* ifcrtain'^

£ 8 r/'^ H I S T O R Y 0/

"** tcrtain'd thoughts of herfelf altogether
'" unbecoming of you ; — I think it there^
■*' fore a duty incumbent on me to de-
*' mand that fatisfaftion which ev^ry
"*' gentleman has a right to exped, when
" injured in the perfons of thofe he pro-
" ft^fles to eftecm. — I fliall be glad to fee
*' you to-morrow morning about fix, in
*' the firft field at the end of the walks,
" where I flatter myfelf you will not
*' long fuffer yourfelf to be waited for,

" Yours,

*' E. LOVEGROVE.'*

" p. S. I fhall come alone, for I fee
" no need that any friends, either
" of yours or mine, fhould be in-
*' volv'd in this difpute."

This billet he fent by one of his fer-
vants ; who, after ftaying a confiderable
time, return'd with an anfwer containing
-thefe lines :

To E. LOVECROVE, Efq;

" Sjr,

" T A M forry you fhould defire any
■" A thing of me which fuits not my
** Jiumour to comply with j — lady

" Speck

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 2g
*■' Speck and mifs Jefiamy are both ot"
" them very Ene women ; but upon m/
*^' foul 1 think neither of them, or an/
'' other woman, worth drav.ing my
*' fword for •, — fo muft ohre you will
^' excufe my refufing to meet you oiv
" this fcore ^ on any other you may
'* command

** Your?,.

'-' R. Cela\dine '^

It would be difficult to decide, whether
anger or contempt was the moft predo-
minant paffion in the mind of mr. i.ov;-
grove on reading the above : — he refolved,
however, not to fuffer the infolence o;
that bad man to go unpunifh'd, but wen-
very early the next morning to his lodg-
ings, in order either to force from hini;
the fatisfaclion he required ; or ftill per-
fifting to refufe it, to give him fuch
treatment as men are ordinarily ac-
cuftom'd to receive after behaving in the
manner he had done.

As he was going towards the hou'e
he perceived, while at fome diilance, a
poil-chaife waiting at the door ; and be-
fore he could well reach it, faw Celandine
juft ready to ftep in \ — on this he fprung
forward with all the fpeed he could, and.
C 3 catching

30 lie HISTORY of

catching Celandine by the arm, — ^ Stay,
' fir, cried he, you iniift not think to

* leave this town without making feme

* atonement for your behaviour in it.'

* Sir, repHedthe other, with fome hefi-

* tation in his voice, — I give an account

* of my anions to no man, — nor has any
' man a right to infped into them.' —

* Every man of honour has a right to in-
' fpe6t into the aftions of a villain,

* rejoin'd mr. Lovegrove fiercely, and

* it you are guilty of fuch as you have

* neither the juftice to acknowledge, nor
' the courage to defend, you know the

* recompence you are to expect.'

' I dare fight,' faid Celandine, and im-
mediately drew his fword, as did mr.
Lovegrove his at the fame time ; but
both were prevented by a great poflee of
people, who in an inftant were gather'd
about them, drawn thither by the out-
cries of Celandine's fervants, the pofti-
lion, and the people of the houfe who
were come to the door to take leave of
their lodger -, and it was the expeftation
of this feafonable interruption, which
doiibtlefs inlpired the antagonift of mr.
Lovegrove witji fo much boldnefs on a
fudden-

They

Jemmv jWJsnny Jessamy. 3!

They had fcarce time to make one
pufh before they were difarm'd by the
populace i and a confbabJe, who hved
hard by, coming to interpofe his autho-
rity to put an end to the fray, took
poffeflion of both their fwords, and told
them they muft give him leave to con-
du6t them to a magiftrate ; — they readily
fubmitted, and were follow'd by a con-
tinually increafing crowd, as lady Speck's
woman had defcribed.

They fbon arrived at the houfe of a
gentleman in commiffion of the peace,
who happen'd to be a perlbn of great
worth and honour. — Celandine exhibited
a mod pitious complaint againfb his ad-
verfary •, — firfb, tor lending him a chal-
lenge to fight on account of tlungs which
he faid he knew nothing of ; and after-
wards for affaulting hmi in the ftreets,
putting a ftop to his j urney, and occa-
Tioning a riot and difturbance in the
town. — Mr. Lovegrove was entirely
fiient till the other had left off fpeaking,
and then related the whole which had
pafs'd between them naturally as it was.
— The magiftrate could fcarce forbear
fmiling, but defired to fee both the let-
ters ; on which Celandine produced the
challenge \ but mr. Lovegrove, being
C 4 unwilling

32 Ihe HISTORY of

J-iiiwilling to expofe the names of the
ladies, which the other had indifcrcetly
mention'd in his anfwer, faid he had it
not about him, and behev'd he had loft
it.

After having heard both parties, x\vt
woifliipful gentleman began to expatiate,
in terms beiitting his characler, on the
bad cuilom of duelHng •, — he faid, that
though the too frequent pra<5tice of it
had rendcr'd it not difhonourable, yet it
was direcftly contrary to the rules both
of religion and morahty, and to the
laws of fociety as well as thofe of the
land i — after which he recomme'nded to
them, and even exadted their mutual
promife, to regard each other from that
time forward, not as enemies, if they
could not do fo as friends.

' I v/ill not take his word, fir, cried
' Celandine haltily, — I am convinced he

* has malice againft me in his heart ; I
' go in danger of my hfe by him, and

* defire I may be admitted to make oath
« of it, and that he may be bound over.*

This could not be refufed, and the

booi<: was immediately prefented to
him.'

Ai^

Jemmy ^«c/ Jenny Jess amy: 3.3:

' Are you, fir, of the fame way of '

* thinking too, faid the juiiice to mr.

' Lovegrove,' — 'No,up n my honour, fir, ,

* repiy'd he •, I am- not under the leafb.

* apprehenfion-s on the Icore at this gen-
" tleman •, and dare anfvver for liim., that.
'• if there were as little danger in his •
*■ tongue as thtre is to be fear'd from

* his fword, he would be the mofl ua-
*• hurtful creature breathing.'

It was with dilBcuky the juftice re-
flrain'd hinifelf from laughing ; but pre- ■
ferving as much an air of gravity as he ■
could on the occafion — ' Well then, fir, .
'- faid he, I am compell'd, by the duties

* of my office, to difcharge your adver-
' fary, and oblige you to give fccurity
' for your future beha\iGur ti. wards him.'

On this Celandine thank'd him, and
took his leave •, — fcveral of the croud, who
had burll into the hall, follow'd him
with a thoufand fcurril jefts and fleers at
his cowardice •, but he was too much a
man of peace to take any notice of wliat
they faid ; and making what hafte he
could to the chaife, which ftill waited
for him, fet out for London, probably
wiihing he had not left it to come dcwn
to Bath.

C 5 Mr,

34 T7^^ HISTORY 0/

Mr. Lovegrove fent for lord Huntley
and fir Robert Manley, who immediate-
ly came, and all the little tormalities of
this affair being over, and fettled to the
fatisfadion of the gentleman before whom
they were, he threw off the magiftrate
and alTum'd a charadler more natural to
him, — that of a man perfeflly well bred
and complaifant, — was very pleafant with
them on the conduifl of Celandine, — ■
compeU'd them to ftay breakfaft with
him, and entertain'd them as elegantly
as fuch a repafl would admit.

CHAP. IV.

M'elatesfome pajjages fubfeqiieni to the-
preceding adventure,

AFTER the gentlemen had quitted
thejuftice'^s houfe, each repair'd t
hb refpeftive lodging, in order to drefs
for the remainder of the day -, but meet-
ing again at the coffee houfe,. it was
agreed to adjourn from thence to make
a morning vifit to lady Speck and her fair
companions, without mentioning a word
of V h.t had happen'd ; mr. L-ovegrove
being defirous thac the whole affair Ihould.

he.

Jetvimy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 25
be kept a fecret from them, unlefs chance
Ihould by any way make a difcovery of
it to them.

Thofc ladies were all this while in a
good deal of uneafinefs ; — the fervants
who had been fent out for intelligence
were all return'd without being able to
bring any thing material for the fatis-
fadlion of their curiofity j — mifs Wing-
man and Jenny had both of them a very
great regard for mr. Lovegrove, the ons
as having known him a confiderable
time, and the other as having perceived
in him many indications of his being a
man truly worthy of efteem.

But lady Speck had her own reafons
for being much more perplex'd than
either of them could be-, — fhe had an
high efteem for mr. Lovegrove on ac-
count of the amiable qualifications he
was polTefs'd of, and the long and re-
fpedful court he had made to her ; —
tiie caprice of her deftiny had made her
find fomething in the perfon of Celan-
dine v/hich had attrafted but too much
of the more tender inclinations of her
heart •, and to think that any danger-
threatened either of thofe gentlemen was
an extreme trouble to her.

€ 6 But

Z6 The BIS TORY of

But what touch'd her yet the more
deeply, was the concern (he had for her
own reputation •, — flie doubted not but
that- the quarrel between them was on
h'^r fcore ; nor indeed could' fhe well
affign any other probable motive for it-,
efpecially when fhe reflected that mr.

Lovegrove, on hearing rars. M fay

that Celandine had come to Bath on the
invitation of a woman of quality, had-
given her not only fome looks. but alfo .
feveral hints, that he entertain'd the
moft jealous apprehenfions that herfelf-
was the woman ot quality whofe favours
thLt fop had fo impudently boaftedoff
— fhe had. good reafon therefore to be
fearful, that- an affair of this nature might
occafion her name to be brought in
queflion, and perhaps too, not in the
moil: honourable fai^iion.

Sufpence is a kind of magnifying glafs,
which rcprefents whatever ill we dread
in its moil formidable Ihape •, — this pcor
lady figur'd to herfelf a thoufand di-
iirading images -, and though fhe fpoke
but little, gave fuch vifible demonftra-
tions of her inward diforders, as could
r:ot but be taken notice of, both by
Jenny and mifs Wingman.

As .

JtMMY and Jenny Jessamy. 37

As neither of thefe young ladies as'
y£t had ever harbour'd the leall lufpicion >
of her having a particular regard for.
any man, much lefs of the fentimcnts
that Celandine had infpired her v/,ith,
they imagined they had now made a
diicovery ; but it was in favour of mr.
Lovegrove, and both of them cried out
al molt at the fame time. — ' How happy
'would mn Lovegrove think himfelf, if
'he faw how your ladylhip is difquieted :
' on his account.'

Though lady Speck affecfted to be a:
little peevifh at their feeming to fuppofe
her capable ot having a tendernefs for
any man ; yet fhe telt as much fatif-
f action as the prefent fituation of her
mind would admit her to enjoy, in find-
ing they mark' d out mr. Lovegrove as
the objeft, and that Celandine was quite
out of the queftion with them on that-
account. .

' Indeed, filler, faid mifs' Wingman,

* it has been always my opinion, and L

* believe all your friends are of the

* fame, that the perfon of mr. Love-

* - grove, his accomplifhments, his for-
'•tune, and long fervices, render him
^-not unworthy of your acceptance ; and

* I

5^ i:Be H IS TORY of

" I think you need neither be angry nor
' afliamed that this accident has dilcover'd

* your fenfibility of his paflion..*

' Lord, my dear, how very filly youi
are, faid lady Speck •, — no one man
has any charms for me above another^
— I am only vex'd that men fhould
fall out, — fight, — and kill one ano-
ther ; — and all this too for nothing,
perhaps, or what is next to nothing,,
— fome idle puni51ilio of imaginary ho-
nour.'

Juft as fhe had ended thefe words the
door was fuddenly thrown open by a
footman, and lord Huntley, fir Robert
Manley, and mr. Lovegrove, came alto-
gether into the room. — ^ What, ladies,'
cried the latter of thefe gentlemen, with
an air more than ordinarily gay, — ' not
*■ yet drefs'd ? — we came to attend you
' to the walks, and you are flill in your
»- defliabillee."

• We muft have been flrangely infen-
' fible, replied lady Speck, to have
' thought of drefs when we were told

* that two of our acquaintance were going

* to imbrue their hands in each other's
'" blood.'

« Our

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 39

' Our hands are all clean, I think,.
» madam, faid mr. Lovegrove -,* — * But

* can you add, rejoin'd Ihe haftily, that

* your heart is alfo fo ? — Can you fay
' you did not rife this morning with anr

* intention to deftroy, or be deftroyed
' yourfelf ?*

Here mr. Lovegrove appearing a little
eonfufed, as debating within himfelf whe-
ther it was moft proper for him to confefs^
or to deny the faft, lord Huntley imme-
diately took up the word ; — * No, faith,,
' madam, faid his lord (hip with a fmile,
' I dare anfwer fo far for my friend, that

* he arofe not this morning with the
' leaft animofity to any thing worthy of

* his fword.'

» No ambiguities,, good my lord, re-
' fumed Ihe •, — I expeft a plain anfwer

* to my queftion •, — therefore tell me at
' ©nee,, mr. Lovegrove, how happened
*■ your quarrel with ' elandine, and which.

* ol you was the aggreffor ? — You find,

* continued Ihe, perceiving he was ftill
*" filent, that we are no ftrangers to the

* main point ; and confequently have a

* right to expe<5l you fliould gratify our
*• curiofity with the particulars.'

•It

40 The H I STORY V^

'It never/has- been my pra6lice yet,
'" madam, reply'd mr. Lovegrove, alter
« a little paufe, to difobey your ladylhip
' in any thin^, nor mud I now do it in
*•' this ; — you command me to tell you
'• the motive of my quarrel with Celan-
'^dine, and I muft anfwer it was on the-
' fcore of juftice and of virtue. — You .
«^^ alfo aili who vv-as the aggreflbr ; to
' which I muft alfo anfwer-, that it was.

* Celandine ; who by affronting a perfon
' lov'd and efteem'd by you, juftly me-
' rited chaftifement, not only from me
' but from .all who have the honour of
*' being acquainted with your ladylhip.*

'So then, fai-d Jenny, I find that ail.

* this buftle is to be placed on my ac-r
' count; — but I would not have you
*' imagine, mr. Lovegrove, continued
' fhe laughing, that you are entitled to.
' any acknowledgments from me, fince
'I am indebted for what you have done
' entirely to the friendiliip I am honour^
' ed with by lady Speck,'

Mr. Lovegrove was about to make
fome reply, but v,fas prevented by fir
Robert Man ley, who, approaching her
with the moft refpeftful air,r— ' Madam,

* faid he, if others had been as early.

* acquainted

Jemmy ^7//^ Jenny Jessamy. 41

* acquainted with tiie perfumption of

* Celandine, the glory of being your
•• champion would certainly not have
' fallen to the lot of mr. Lovegrove.'

* I am glad then, return'd Jenny, that

* it happened as it did -, becaufe other-

* wife I Ihould have been laid under an
' obligatton which it was not in my

* power to requite.' — ' It is of no im-

* portance, my dear, interrupted lady
^ Speck, either who is the obliger or

* the obliged •, — I only want to be fully

* informed in the particulars of this
' foolilh tranfadion.*

On this mr. Lovegrove repeated all
that pafs'd between himfelf and Celan-
dine, till their being carried before a ma-
gittrate •, and would have gone through
the whole, but lord Huntley and fir Ro-
bert Manley aflifted him in the red, and
gave lb pleafant a detail of Celandine's
behaviour on that occafion as was highly
diverting to the ladies.

But though lady Speck laugh'd as
well as her fifter and Jenny, and affe<51:ed
to appear equally unconctrn'd at what
fhe heard j yet there ftill remain'd fome-
thing on her fpirits which fhe could not

forbear

42 77;f H I S T O R Y ^

forbear teftifying in thefe or the like
terms :

The little narrative being concluded,

* — I am very glad, faid fhe, that no

* worfe confequences attended this adven-

* tore •, — yet I cannot help being a little

* concern'd, that any thing fliould hap-

* pen to occafion my name, or that of

* mifs Jeffamy, to be mentioned before

* a magiftrate, and fuch a mob of people

* as generally croud in to be witnelles

* of the decifion he gives in cafes of this

* nature.'

* No, madam, reply' d mr. Lovegrove

* hadily, — I do affure your ladyfhip rhat
' neither of you have any caufe to be in
' pain on that fcore •, — your names v/ere

* held too facred to be quoted as the

* fubjeds of a quarrel -, and it was for
' this reafon I refufed to produce Celan-
' dine's anfwer to the billet I fent Kim,
' — he having imprudently, I might fay

* impudently too, inferted them in that
' fcrawL'

' How, cried lady Speck with the
' utmoft impatience in her voice and
< eyes, — let us fee on what pretence the
« creature prefumedto take that liberty ?'

Though

Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamy, 43

Though it is more than probable that
mr. Lovegrove was far from being dif-
pleafed at having this opportunity of con-
vincing lady Speck in what manner fne
had been fpoken of by Celandine, yet
he fuffer'd her to repeat her demand fe-
veral times over before he compIy*d
with it i and at laft feem'd to do fo with
an extreme reluilance.*

' I intended, madam, faid he, that no

* eyes but my own fhould have been

* witnefles of the unparallei'd audacity

* it contains •, — but as your ladyfhip
' commands I fhould deliver it to you,

* I neither can nor dare be difobedient, *

With thefe words he took the letter
he had received from Celandine out of
his pocket and prefented it to her, —
adding, at the fame time,- — ' This, ma^

* dam, however will fcrve to prove, that
' befides the firft motive of my relent-

* ment to him he fubjoin'd another, not

* lefs defer ving the puniihment I defign'd.*

Her ladyiliip fnatch'd it out of his
hand with emotions which it was not in
her power to conceal ; but having flight-
ly look'd it over to herfelf grew a good
deal more compos'd j and forcing her

countenance

44 'T'he HISTORY of

countenance into a half fmile, — * I doubt

* not, faid ihe, — but what mr. Love-
' grove has faid of this billet has raifed^
' a curiofity in you all for the contents ;

* — I will therelore read it aloud for the

* advantage of the company.'

* Well, ladies, — cried lord Huntley as^

* foon as fhe had done, — though you

* have not the good fortune to have ycun
*" merits peculiarly diftinguifli'd by this

* fine gentleman, you ought not to fall

* under too great humiliation, for you

* find ^he includes your whole fex ; and

* plainly avows he looks upon no wo-

* man worthy venturing the tremendous
' difcompofure of his well-tied fword

* knot.'

Here follow'd much merriment among
them, which had perhaps continued lon-
ger, as they were all perfons of wit, and
had fo ample a field for ridicule ; but
it was now almofl noon, and the ladies
were not yet drefs'd, for which reafon
the gentlemen thought proper to with-
draw, and leave them to confult their
glafles on thole charm^s that Celandine
had affetfted to defpife.

Jenny and mils. Wingman thought
little of "this adventure afterwards j but

it

Jemmy rtW Jenny Jessamy. 45
Tt made a very deep impreflion on the
mind of lady Speck •,-— the delicacy mr.
Lovegrove had iliewn in laying the llrefs
of his refentment on the affront Celan-
dine had offer'd to her friend, and not
on the jealoufy which flie plainly faw he
had conceived of herfeif, open'd her eyts
to thofe merits in him to which her par-
tial inclination for the other had made
her fo long blind -, and Ihe now beheld
both the men fuch as they truly were,
and not fuch as her unjudging fancy had
lately painted them.

Alhamed of her paft folly fhe had no
confolation but in the care fhe had al-
ways taken to conceal it from the world :
— as for mr. Lovegrove, whole good
opinion flie was now mofl concern' d to
preferve, fhe relblved to behave towards
him for the future in fuch a manner as
fhould intirely diflipate whatever fufpi-
cions he might have entertain' d -to her
prejudice.

It was undoubtedly the good genius,
or better angel of this lady, which had
■brought about, however fortuitious they
:might feem, fuch a happy concurrence
of events as could not fail of awakening
in her a juft fenfe of what fhe owed to

her

46 1}je HISTORY of

Jier charader, and that efteem Ihe was
naturally fo ambitious of maintaining.

What advantages fhe received from
this change of humour, and the emana-
tions fhe was at prefent enlightened with,
will hereafter be demonftrated ; — in the
mean time there are things of a yet more
interefting nature which , demand the
attention of the reader.

C H A P. V.

Contains^ among other things^ an ac»
count of a very extraordinary^ and
no lefs fever e trial of jemaie forti-
tude and moderation,

ACCORDING to all the obfer-
vations which reafon and a long ex-
perience has enabled me to make, hap-
pinefs is a thing which ought to be to-
tally erafed out of the vocabulary of fub-
lunary enjoyments \ — the human heart is
Hable to fo many paflions, and the events
of fortune fo uncertain and precarious,
that life is little more than a continued
feries of anxieties and fufpence : — what
we purfue as the ultimate of our defires,
the fummum bonum of all our wifhes,

fleets

Jemmv ^W Jenny Jessamy. 47

fleets before us, dances in the wind,
feems at fometimes ready to meet our
grafp, at others foaring quite out of
reach -, or, when attain'd, deceives our
expedtations, baffles our high-raifed hopes,
and fhevvs the fancy/d heaven a mere
vapour.

Nor is this to be wondered at, or in-
deed much to be pitied in thofe who
place their happinefe in the gratification
of their pafTions, which all of them in
general tend to the acquifition of what
is far from being a real good ; — but
there are fome, though I fear an incon-
fiderable number, who, compos'd of more
equal elements, wifely avoid the reftlefs
aims, the giddy vain purfuits with which
they fee fo many of their fellow creatures
fo intoxicated and perplex'd ; — v/ould
fain fit down contented with their lot,
whatever it happens to be, and obferving
this maxim of the poet,

'Nt)t tofs and turn about their fe-

verifli will.
But know their eafe muft come by

lying ftill. '

Yet not even thefe can find an afylum
from cares •, ■ — though the foul, like a
J^ermit in his cell, fits quiet in the be

fom,

^8 The HISTORY of
fom, unruffled by any tempeft: of its own y
it fuffers from the rude blafts of others
faults \ — envy and detradlion are fure to
taint it with their envenom' d breath ; —
treachery, deceit and all kinds of injuftice
alarm it with the moft dreadful appre-
henfions of impending danger, and fhew
the necefTity ot keeping a continual guard
againft their pernicious enterprifes ; —
but above all, the ingratitude of friends
is the moft terrible to fuftain -, — that an-
guifh which proceeds from the detected
i'alfhood of a perfon on whom we depend
is almoft infupportable •, nor can reafon
or philofophy be always fufncient to
defend us from it, — as I remem.ber to
have fomewhere read.

Fate ne'er ftrikes deep but when un-
kindnefs joins.

This is certainly a very melancholy
circumftance \ and the fituation of the
injured perfon's mind cannot but be
very uneafy -, — after having placed an en-
tire confidence in any one whom we be-
lieve to be our friend, — after having in-
trufted him wixh the deareft fecrets of
our lives, and rely'd upon him for all
the fervices and good offices in his power,
— then, I fay, to find him bafe, ungene-
rous and deceitful, is as poignant an

affli6lion

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 49
afflidion as any to which language can
give a name.

I know not whether to be eternally
deprived of a real and experienced friend
by the ftroke of death, be not a lefs
iliock than it is to lofe one, whom we
have always believed as fuch, by his own
infidehty. — Under the former of thefe
misfortunes we have the liberty to indulge
many confolitory reflcdlions -, — firft, that
the great law of nature muft be obey'd,
and that there was an indifpenfible ne-
cefllty for us to be one day Separated •, — ■
fecondly, in the hope that the perfon we
lament is a gainer by this change, and
much more happy than mortal Ufe could -
make him i — and thirdly, though it may
feem perhaps a wild idea, in fuppofmg
a pofiibility that he may be flill a witnefs
of our adtions, be pleafed at our remem-
brance of him i and, at the hour of our
diflblution, even be appointed our con-
dufter to the celeftial manfions : — but
under the latter, that of being betrayed
by a falfe friend, we can have no fuch
agreeable images before our eyes -, — on
the contrary, — grief and defpair for ill-
requited tendernefs and fincerity, accom-
panied with remorfe and fhame for ha-
ving made fo unworthy a choice, muft
Vol. IL D bt

so Tie HISTORY of

be the only fubjcds of our diflraded me-
ditations.

Thus impoflible is it, for minds the
moft ferene by nature, to remain always
v;holly free from inquietudes of oncfhape
or other j — Jenny, the heroine of this
hiftory, had a temper not eafily difcom-
pofed, and well dcfervcd that chara6ter
which our Englifli Sappho gave of a
lady for whom fhe had a particular ve-
neration.

Chearful as birds that welcome in the

fpring,
No ill fufpefting, nor no danger dread- '

ing ;
In confcious innocence fecure and

blefs'd,
She liv'd belov*d of all, and loving

all.

And yet fhe met with fomething,
which, if it had not all the effe6l it would
have produced in moft others of her
fex, was at leaft fufficient to turn that
fo lately harmonious frame of mind into'
a kind ot chaos and inextricable con-
fufion.

Thofe arrows of vexation which the
bafe contrivances of Bellpine had levell'd

againft

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. i^t
againft her peace, had hitherto proved
unfuccefsful ; — they had either mils'd
their aim, or (lightly gianc'd upon her
without doing any real mifchief •, but
Ihe now received a random fhot, arid
from a hand which lead defign'd to hurt
her, that pierced her tender bofom to
the quick, and left a wound behind which
requir'd a long length of time to heaL

Since the adventure of Celandine the
ladies had lived for fome days in an un-
interrupted fcene of gaity ; — every day, —
almoft every hour, brought with it lome
new pleafure or amufementi — to heighten
Jenny's fatisfaftion fhe had receiv'd a
letter from Jemmy, acquainting her that
his bufmcfs was now near being conclu-
ded, and that he fhould very Ihortly be
v/ith her at Bath ; — he wrote to her on
this account in terms fo pofitive, that fhe
doubted not but his next would inform
her of the day in which he was to fee
out from London.

In that expedlation llie fent him an
anfwer full of tendcrnefs, expreffing the
fincere pleafure Ihe- took in the hopes he
gave her ot feeing him fo foon, and de-
firing he would not let flip the iirft
opportunity that prefented itfelf of ful-
fiUing his promife j though, in effed,
D 2 flic

52 The HISTORY of

ilie thought this injuniflion very needlefs;
for file had that perfect confidence in
him as to affure herfelf he wcaild not
iofe a fingle moment that migkt bring
iiim nearer to her.

But behold the fwift viciflitude of hu-
man affairs j how in one inflant are the face
of things changed to the reverfe of what
they were ? The ladies had been at a Ball,
which detain'd them till very late ; — on
their coming home, Jenny remembering it
■was the day thatthepofi; came ir, fheafk'd
if no letter had been broughtfor her •, and
being told there was, and that it lay upon
her toylet, flie v.'ifh'd the ladies a good
Xiight and ran haftiiy to her chamber in
€rdcr to perufe the letter, which fhe doubt-
ed not but came from her dear Jemmy,
■with the certainty of his immediate ap-
proach.

She was not, indeed, deceived in the
former part of her conjecture •, — fhe faw
it was Jemmy's hand, and direfted as
ufual

To mifs Jess AMY at Bath,

But -what was her amazement, — her
confternation, — when breaking the feal
and unfolding the paper with ail tke im-
patience

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamv. 53
patience of the moll warm affeftion, (lie
tound the contents as follows :

'" Dear Angel,

l^.'HEN I acquainted you with
^^ * that curft engagement which an
unavoidable neceffity has laid me un-
der, I little thought you would have
refented it in the manner you now
feem to do •, efpecialiy when I afllired
you, with the utmoft fincerity, that
I would break from it as foon as I
could find a pretence to do it witli
decency •, — you might, methinks, have
known me better than to fufped I
would omit any thing in my power to
haften the happy minute of flying to
your arms with a heart unencumber'd
with any cares but thofe of pkiafing
you.

*' If you return the pafTicn I have for
" you with half that gratitude you have
" fo inchantingly - avow'd, you will
*' repent, — you muft by this time repent
" the pains you cannot but be femiblc
" your cruel billet has inftidted on me.

" I flatter myfeif with being able to-

'' fee you in a few days at our ufual place

'' of meeting •, when, if you are as juil

D 3 *' as

54 'I'he HISTORY of

*' as you are fair, you will be more kind
" to him who is,

** With an unextinguifhable flame,
" My dear charmer,
*' Your moft devoted,
•* And faithful fervant,
" J. Jessamy."

■ ** P. S. If I have any friends among
*' the intelle(5tual world, I fliall petition
" them to haunt your nightly dreams
*' with the Ihadow of me, till j^ropi-
*' tious fortune throws the fubftance at
*' your feet."

What now was the condition of Jenny ?
— -fhe re-examined the feal and the hand-
writing ; — fhe knew both too well to
flatter herfelf with a pofTibility of their
being counterfeited ; nor was it in her
power to conceive that the engagement
mention'd in the letter could be any
other than that between herfelf and
Jemmy. — Where are the words can fur-
nifti a defcription ? where is the heart,
not under the feme circumftances, that
can be truly fenfible of what fhe felt ?
-—Grief and indignation in thefe firfl mo-
ments

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 55
ments were abforbed in wild aftonilli-
ment, convulfions feiz'd tier breaft, —
her brain grew giddy »-7-her eyes dazzled,
while attempting to look over again
fome paifages in this fatal letter, and her
whole frame being agitated with emotions
too violent for nature to fuftain, fhe fell
back in the chair where flie was fitting,,
and every funftion ceas'd its operation.

Her maid, who was waiting in her
chamber, perceiving this, flew to her
affiftance, threw fome hvender-watcr on,
her face, and at the fame time fcream'd
out for help ; -^ Lady Speck and mifs
Wingman, being that inflant coming up
ftairs to their apartment, heard the cries,
and ran into the room; — they found
their fair friend without any figns of
breath and motionlefs ; — they took hold
of her hands and felt them bedev/'d all
over, as was her lovely face, with a cold
dead damp, like that of the laft agonies
of departing life.

Surprifed and frighted beyond mea-
fure, they cut the laceings of her ftays,
-^raifed her head, — bent her gently for-
wards,— apply'd hartfhorn to her noftrils
and temples, and every other remedy
they could think of, till at length, either
through their endeavours or the force
D 4 of

S6 ne HISTORY of
oF nature labouring for itfelf, fhe re-
cover'd by degrees, open'd her eyes, and
uttered fome words, which though inar-
ticiilate rejoiced their hearts.

Reafon and recolledion, however, were
not as \et return'd, and lady Speck finding
her diforder flill continued very violent,
thought pro-per, late as it then was, to
fend tor a phyfician, and in the mean
time both fhe and her fifter, as well as
their women fervants, who were call'd
in, afilfted in putting her into bed, where
fhe was no fooner laid than fhe grew
better. •, not only her voice but her fenfes
alfo were enough reflor'd to thank the
ladies for the trouble they had taken ;
and to tell them, in order to conceal the
real caufe, that fhe believed her diforder
was occafion'd by her having danced too
much that night.

The phyfician being come, Ihe not-
withftandiftg fufFer'd him to feel her
pulfe, and promifed to follow his pre •
fcription, which was only a compofing
draught for that night •, though he depart-
ed not without giving fome items that
his advice would be necefTary next day.

The ladies, after having feen her take
the dofe prepared for her, retir'd and

left

Jemmy^/?^ Jenny Jessamy. 97
left her to the care ot her own maid and
lady Speck*s woman, who bo:h fat by
her bed-fide the whole remainder of the

night.

CHAP. VL.

Treats of many things as unexpc&cJ
by the perfons concern d in them, as
they can be by the reader hinifeff,

A D Y Speck and her filter bad no^
fooner quitted Jenny's chamber than
Ihe fell into a profound flecp ; whether
ov/ing to the goodnefs of her conftitution,.
tlie doctor's prcfcription, or the fatigue-
Ihe had undergone, is uncertain, but flie
awoke next morning greatly refrefh'd,
and much more lb in fpirits than could
have been expedted.

She now call'd to mind all the parti-
culars that had occaCion'd her late dif-
order \ and remembering fhe had not
put up the letter, order'd it fhould be
look'd for and brought to her ; — the
maid fearch'd carefully about, the room^,
but it being no where to be found, flie
concluded that fome body muft have
taken it away, and by that means a fecret
D 5 wouidl

58 ^he HISTORY vj

vNould be divulg'd which flie had mucit
rather Ihould have been eternally con-
ceal'd.

But as this fuggeflion was only a fud-
den ft art of female pride, of which flie
had as fmall a fhare as any of her fex,
her good underftanding tafily got the
better of it ;— ' I think, faid fhe to her-

* felf, the unfaithful man c:drd his en-

* gagement with me a curft engagement,

* and promifed to break oflF; — it fo, the

* difcovery muft be made fome time or

* other ;— it is therefore of little impor-

* tance when, or by what means his per-

* fidioufnefs is reveal'd.'

She was net mlftaken indeed, — the
letter had dropt from her hand as fhe
fainted, — mifs Wingman, during the-
confufioR, feeing a paper lie on the floor,,
took it up, and finding Jemmy's name
fubfcrib'd was curious to know the con-
tents, and for that purpofe put it into
her pocket without any one obferving
what fhe did.

She kept not from her fifter the know-
ledge of the petty larceny fhe had com-
mitted, and as foon as they were alone
together read it carefully over, examin'd
cvtry fenteace, and made their own re-

fle(^io.n5

Jemmy and Jenny JessaWY. 59
fiecStions upon the whole, which, pre-
judiced as they were with a belief of
Jemmy's inconftancy, were yet lels un-
favourable to him in this point than thofe
of his offended miftrefs.

They were, however, extremely in-
cens'd againft Jemmy ; and, fincerely
pitying the cafe of their friend, refolved
to fay and do every thing they could to
fotten her affliction : — it beino; near morn-
ing when they went to reft, the day was
very far advanced before they aroie ; but
they no fooner had. quitted their beds
than they repair'd dire6tly to Jenny's
chamber, and found her much lefs dif-
confolate than they had imagined.

As that young lady doubted not but
it was either lady Speck or her fifter who
had taken away her letter, or at leaft
Ibme perfon who would not fail of com-
municating it to them, flie had deter-
mined, before they came, in what man-
ner fhe would behave on the occ-afion.

The fifters, on their part, were not
altpgether fo well prepar'd -, — they ex-
pe6led not that fhe was as yet in a con-
dition to endure much difcourfe, efpe-
cially on fo tender and critical a point j
«■ — they thought it would be time enough
D 6 to

to The HISTORY of
to entertain her on that head when the
nrft fliock of her misfortune fhould be
over ; and had not therefore weil con-
fider'd how to break their knowledge of
it to her.

This caution in them was certainly
very prudent, as well as very kind j bua
Jenny had too much fpirit and refblu-
tion not to render it unnecefTary": — on
their enterance fhe fbarted up in her bed,
and faid to them with a fmile, — * Iguefs'd,
*. ladies, that your good nature would
' bring you hither, fo was juft going

* to rife that you might be fpared the
' trouble.'

» I am very glad, reply*d lady Speck,

* to find that a diforder which feem'd to

* threaten the v orft confequences is like-

* iy to go off fo well -, — but, my dear

* mifs JelTamy, 1 would not have you

* think of lea' ing your bed till your
*■ health is alittle iirther re-eftablifh'd j —

* I will order, added fhe, breakfaft to
' be brought va here, — and after that,
< would fain cerfuade you to take fome
*• repofe.'

The maid then going out of the room
to fetch the utenlils for breakfad:, — ' In-

* fltr»d of this goodnefs, madam, faid

' Jenny,,

Jemmy j;7^ Jenny Jessamv. 6i

Jenny, your ladyfhip ought rathci to
chide me for my folly -, — the incon-
ftancy and ingratitude of mankind are
not things fo new and il range as to
juftify that furprife and confufion I was
laft night involv'd in.

They look'd on each other at thefe
words, but made no anfwer, — on whicE.
Jenny went on, — ' I am very fenfible,

* ladies, purfued Ihe, that neither of you

* are unacquainted with the caufe of my
' diforder ; — the letter I received lafi:

* night has inform'd you of all, — nor
' am I forry it has done what my tongue,.,
' perhaps, might have faulter'd in per-
'• forming.'

* Since I have your pardon, my dear,
' reply'd mifs Wingman, I fhall make
*■ no fcruple to confefs the theft which
' my curiofity made me guilty of ; and

* I am the more ready to excufe myfelf
' for what I have done, as I am apt to
' think that the knowledge my fiftcr
' and I have of this affair may enable

* us to give you fome little confblation
' under it/

* Yes, my dear mifs JefTamy, rejoin'd
' lady Speck, you muil believe thzt,
^ though greatly interefted in all that

« concerjis

62 "Tloe HISTORY of
*- concerns you, our minds were lefs dif-
' concerted than yours muft naturally
' be on reading that epiflle j and con-

* fequently were in a better capacity of
« judging, and feeing into the heart of

* him wlio wrote it.'

* And what can you fee there, madam,-

* cried Jenny haftily, but the moft vile

* ingratitude and perfidioufnefs ?' — ' I

* am going about, faid that lady, not to

* palliate his crime •, but 1 think it is your
*■ duty to thank Heaven, that by this

* incident of his dir <±ing to you what

* was doubtlcfs intended tor another, you

* are convinced how unworthy he is of
«■ your affedion.'

* Befides,' cried mifs Wingman, per-
ceiving Jenny figh'd and made no aniwer
to what lady Speck had faid, --' methinks

* it ihould pleafe you to find, that if mr.

* Jefiamy has flighted you for the fake

* of mifs Chit, he flights her alfo for

* fome other i and iTie has no lefs reafon

* to condemn him than yourlelf *

* Do you not think then that the letter
« was meant for her ? demanded Jenny
> haftily.* — ' No indeed, refumed lady

* Speck, nor will you, when you con-

* fider more coolly on the matter, be-

' lieve

Jemmy and Je^ny Jessamy. 63

lieve that any man, much iefs one fo
pohte as mr. Jeflamy, would write in
luch a ftiie and manner to a woman
he intended for a wife. — This woman,
purlueJ fhe, is rather fome petty
miftrefs whom chance may have thrown
in his way.'

On this mifs Wingman, after having
urged fomething in defence of what her
filler had faid, return' d the letter to
Jenny, defiring fhe would examine it
again, and then t 11 them how far fhe
thought their opinion of it was unreafoH-
able or improbable.

Jenny obeyed this injundion with a
great deal of readinefs -, and aiter having
paus'd for fome moments on what fhe
had read, — ' I confefs, ladies, faid fhe,
•• that the freedom mr. JelTamy takes
'*^ with this woman is little becoming of
*■ an honourable pafTion , — but the more

* bafe his inclinations are, the more
' reafon have I to refent he fliould at-

* tempt a gratification of them at the

* expence of that refpeft due from him

* to the engagement he has with rr^e.*

* Men will fay any thing to gain their

* point this way, faid lady Speck laugh-
^ ing J and if hereafter you ihall find no

« greater

64 The HISTORY cf

* greater caufe of coroplaint againft him

* than what this letter gives you, I Ibould
' almoft pity his inadvertency in expo-
' fing his folly to the only woman from
' whom it mofb behoved him to have

* conceal'd it.'

Juft as fhe had ended thefe words tea
and chocolate were brought in, — after
which, as the maids v/ere prelcnt, nb
farther difcourfe pafs'd upon this fubjefl-,
■ — when breaktaft was over, the ladies re-
tired in order to drefs •, but not without
conjuring Jenny to lie Hill and endeavour
to take a little more repofe ; — fhe pro-
mifed to comply, but had nothing lefs
in her head,, being glad to be alone, and
at liberty to make her own rcfledlions on
an event which had occafion'd fo great
a change both in her lentiments and hu-
mour.

As fhe had imagined, in the firft hurry
of her fpirits on the receipt of this letter,
that it was in reality wrote to mifs Chit,
and a demon ft rative proof of the truth
of all that had been told her on that ac-
count by lady Speck and mi^s Wingman,
it was no inconfiderable alleviation of
her trouble, to be now pretty v/ell con-
vinced, that inflead of making his honour-
able addrelTes to a woman of condition,

he

Jemmy ^;/J Jenny Jessamy. 65
he was only amufing himfelf with an
affair of gallantry, — a thing not much to
be wonder'd at in a gentleman of his
years and gay difpoficion •, and her good
fenfe would doubtlefs have enabled her
to forgive it, but for the promife he
feem*d to have made to this new objed
of his flame of breaking through all en-
gagements, that he might devote him-
felf entirely to her.

This, in a man whom fhe had always
look'd upon and regarded as her fecond
felf, appeared fo treacherous and ungrate-
ful, that refentment got the better ot all
the tendernefs Ihe once had for him, and
made her rcfolve to take him at his
word, and be the firft to releafe him
from thofe engagements he had treated
in fo unworthy a manner.

Thus did the greatnefs of her fpirit
refufe to yield to the impulfe of grief;
— flie got out ot bed, in Ipite of all the
intreaties of her maid to the contrary, —
put on her cloaths, — lock'd fafely up
the proof of her lover's infidelity in a
little cafket where fhe kept her jewels,
and would even have gone down into the
dining room as ufual, but found her
limbs too weak to obey the didlates of
her v/ili ; — ihe threw herfelf into an eafy

ch:ir,.

66 The HISTORY of

chair, and rcmahi'd there for fome time?
in a fituation of mind wiiich only thoie
of my lair rei.ders, v/ho have expenenc'd
fom.cwhat Hke the fame, can be capable
of conceivins.

o

She was in a deep refvery when the
ladies return'd to her chamber •, — fhe
fpoke chearfu'b to them, yet they plainly
faw through all the vivacity fiie alTumed,
that a heavy melancholy had feated it-
felf upon her heart j — they would not
therefore leave her; — they order'd dinner
to be ferved up in that room ; and when
it was over, calPd for a pack of cards
and obliged her to make one at ombre.

They had play'd but a very fhort time
before a fervant acquainted the two ladies,
that a man was below who faid his name
was L.andy -, — that he was juft come from
London, and had brought letters of the
utmoft importance, which he was charg'd
to deliver the moment o-f his arrival.

* Blefs me, — ■ my mother's fteward,
« cried lady Speck.' — ' Grant Heaven
* rejoin'd mifs Wingman, that no hurt
' has happen'd to her ladyfhip •,' — with;
thefe words they threw the cards out of
their hands and ran immediately down
ftairs.

Jenny ,

Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamv. 67

Jenny, who at another time would have
been anxious for any thing that con-
cern'd her friends, was now too much
ingrolVd with her own affairs to give
much regard to the exclanutions thefe
ladies had made, and return'd to thofe
reflexions they hadendeavour'd to divert
her from.

It was not long, however, before they
both came back, and with countenances
which denoted the moft extreme furprife.

* — Well, mifs JeiTamy, faid the younger,
' I have done my bell to confole you,
' now you may do the fame kind office
5 to me : — all men are alike perfidious ;

* — there is no faith, — no honour in the
' whole fex.*

' Aye my dear, cried lady Speck,

* fuch a monftrous piece of villany is
' come to light as when you hear will

* make you forget every thing befides.'
' — All that you can guefs is nothing
' to it, refumed mifs Wingman ; — but
' I will keep you no longer in fufpence ;
' — you mufl: know I have jufb received

* two letters, the one from my guardian,.

* fir Thomas Welby, and the other from

* my Mamma -, — fhe would not truft
' the intelligence they contain'd by the

68 Vje HISTORY of

* poll for fear of a mifcarriage, but fent

* her own fteward on purpofe to me ; —

* you fhall hear them both \ — I will be-

* gin with that from fir Thomas.'

She then took the letters flie mention-
ed out of her pocket, and read as follows :

To mifs Wing-man at Bath.

" Dear mifs,

" T Thank Heaven for putting it in
*' -■- my power to difcover to you, I hope
" time enough to prevent your ruin, as
" wicked a defign as ever ente'r'd thc^
'* heart of the mofl profligate ofourfex
" to attempt againfl the innocence of
*' yours.

" I am afliamed to think that a noble-
" man of lord Huntley's birth and per-
" fonal endowments can be capable of
*' defcending to fuch a low piece ot vil-
" lany ; — yet fo it is, — I can afTure you,
" my dear mifs, that nothing is more
" certain than that he is already mar-
" ried -, — his lady I believe is but lately
*' come from Ireland, and is at prefent
" lodged at the houfe of a particular
« friend of mine j — I both faw and fpoke
" to her ladyfhip under the pretence of

*' havin

c?

\

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 69
having feme bufinefs with my lord ;
flie told me he was not in town, which
. indeed I very well knew, having been
informed he had followed you down
to Bath. — There are, belides this, many
other circumftances to evince the
truth •, but as they are too numerous,
and too long to be inferted in the
compafs of a letter, I fhall defer giv-
ing you the detail of them till I have
the pleafure of feeing you. — My ad-
vice to you is, that you put it not in
the power of this unworthy lord to
deceive you any farther, but return
immediately to London; — lady Wing-
man is of the fame opinion ; but as
this letter will be accompanied with
one from herfelf, I doubt not but it
will have all the eftecfl it ought to
have on your behaviour. — I am

»=* With the beft wifhes,
« My dear charge,
« Your very aifedionate friend,
" And moft humble fervant,
" T. Welby,"

Jenny had no time to exprefs any
part of her fentiments on this occafion ;

— mifs

70 The HISTORY of

— mlfs Wingman had no fooner ended
her Guardian's epiflle, thanihe proceeded
to that from her Mother, ■ — the contents
whereof were theie :

To mifs Wingman at Bath.

" My dear child,

" T Cannot fufficiently exprefs the trou-
" X ble I am under on account of lord
«' Huntley's bafenefs, — the intelligence
" of which I firft received from our good
*' friend fir Thomas Welby, and am
*' fince but too much confirm'd in the
" truth ot it by feme enquiries myfelf
<* has been at the paiiis to make ; — I
«' muft confefs it was with difficulty I
*' liftened to any reports to his prejudice ;
«t — 1 could not tell how to believe fuch
" foul deceit could be couch'd under a
*' form fo feemingly adorn'd with every
*' virtue, as well' as every accomplifh-
*' ment befitting his birta ; — but, my
" dtar Kitty, v/e are never fo eafily be-
** guiled as by the appearance ot hon®ur
*' and fmcerity •, I tremble to think to
" what dangers you are expofed, v*'hile
** futfering yourfelf to be entertain'd
<* with the infmuating addrefTes of a man
*' who can mean nothing but to involve
** you in eternal wretchednefs ; — I ton-

'<■ jure

Jemmy and Jenny Jess am v. 71
" jure you therefore, — I command you
*' by all the authority I have over you,
*' never to fee iiim more \ — to fly his
** prefence as a ferpcnt that watches to
*' blaft your peace and reputation with
*' his envenomn'-d breath ; — I have fent
" Landy on purpofe to bring you this,
*' an.l to attend you to London ; and
*' hope you will not detain him any
'" longer than is necefTary t' »r your get-
' *' ting ready to fet out. — Farewell, — that '
'' tleaven may have you always under
** its protedlion, is the unceafmg prayers

*« My dear child,
" Your moft aflreftlonate mother,

« K. WiNGMAN."

' " p. S. I am not now in a condition
<* to write to your fifter ; but defire you
' *' will give my blefiing to her ; and let
' " her know that if fhe ftays behind you
' " at Bath, as I fuppole fhe will, fhe
' "' may expedbto hear from me in a fhort
"* time. — In the prefent confufion of my
' thoughts, I had aimoft forgot my com-

■ pliments to mifs JefTamy, which pray

■ make acceptable to her."

Jenny

y2 ry&f H I S T O R Y e/'

Jenny could fcarce find words to ex .
prels her aftonilhment at what Ihe heard ;
— flie could not tell how to think lord
Huntley guilty in the manner he was re-
prefented -, and yet could lefs believe that
fir Thomas Vvelby and lady Wingman,
who llie knew had always favour'd his
pretenfions, would write as they had done
without having undeniable proofs of the
juftice of their accufacion.

The three ladies had a long converfa-
tion together, the event of which will be
feen in the fucceeJing chapter.

CHAP. VII.

Contains a brief recital of the refolu-
tions taken on the foregoing advice,

AMONG the many who made their
addreffes to mifs Wingman, their
was none who had been fo likely to
fucceed as lord Huntley ; — fhe refpecfted
him fo v/ell, that had the information
againft him come from any other hands
than thofc it did, fhe would not have
given the leaft credit to it, but fhe loved

him

Jemmy ^«^ Jennv Jessamy. 73
him not enough to reject the admoni-
tions of her friends, or to make her hefi-
tate one moment if fhe ihould believe
him guilty, or refufe to condemn a per-
Ibn whom they had found worthy of it.

Gay as fhe was by nature, Ihe teflify*d
not the leaft reludlance to ©bey the com-
mands of her mother in quitting Bath
and all its pleafures, and refolved to do
Ifo without feeing lord Huntley before
I fhe went, or being at the pains of re-
proaching him with the crime he v/a*
.accufed of.

But as fhe feem^d a little defirous that
he fhould fome way or other be made ac-
quainted with her knowledge of his per-
fidioufhefs, and thought it as great an
infringement of her mother's orders to
write as to fpeak to him any more, lady
Speck was fo obliging as to tell her fhe
would take that talk upon herfelf at his
next vifit.

Nor was it by this alone fhe proved
the affeftion fhe had for her fifler i — < As
' you were intruded to my care by my
' mother, faid fhe, on our coming down
' to Bath, I am very loth to part with
■' you till I have feen you fafe again in
■ her arms ; — therefore, continued fhe,

Vol. II. E ' if

74 "J^he HISTORY of

* if mifs JelTamy contents, I ihould be

* elad to return all too;ether to London in
' the lame manner as we lett it.'

Nothing could have been more agree-
able to Jenny tlian this propofal ; — Ihe
was not now in a condition to reliili the
pleafures of Bath, and longed very much
to return to a place where perfons are at
liberty cither to fee all the world or to
live perfetSlly retired, as fuits beft with
their hun^our or circumftances.

' I am charm'd with your ladyfhip*s
' defign, cried fhe, I could not have been

* eafy to have ktn mils Wingman torn
' from us in this manner i efpecially on
' an occafion which could not afford her

* any pleafing ideas for the companions
' of her journey.'

Mifs Wingman made many acknow-
ledgments to them both for this kind
offer, but at firft refufed to accept it ; —

* I thi.ik myfeif happy, added fhe, in the

* teftimony you give me of your good
' nature and friendlhip towards me j but
' 1 cannot fuffer you to think of leaving

* this place juft in the height of ths
« feafon, and r aiming to London, which
' is now a perted wilderncfs, merely be-

' caufc

Jemmv ^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 75

* caufe I am obliged to go thither, by a
' duty which I cannot difpenfe with.'

It is not to be fuppofed reafonable
■that this young lady was much in earned
I in what Ihe faid on this fcore ; — the
others, however, were too fincere to take
i her at her word •, — and it was at laft
agreed that they fhould all fet out to-
gether, as foon as every thing could be
got ready for their departure.

No company happening to come in,
they pafs'd the whole evening in Jenny *s
chamber, where the converfation turning
chiefly on the difcovery of lord Huntley's
marriage, it fuddenly came into lady
Speck's head, that it would be better for
her to exprefs her fentiments on that oc-
cafion by a letter, than by holding any
difcourfe with a man whom fhe could
ifcarce think upon with any tolerable
[degree of patience.

Mifs Wingman approving of her in-
tention, her ladylliip took Jenny's ftan-
dilh, and immediately wrote to him in
[the following terms :

E 2 T*

1^

76 y^'-f HISTORY /

To lord Huntley.

My Lord,

?' } T is with an infinity of aflonifliment,
*' and little lefs concern, that I find
*' your lordfhip*s propofal of an alliance
*' with our family, inftead of an honour,
*' is the greateft affront that could pof-
" fibly be offer'd to it ; — I thought my
" filler's birth, fortune, and charafter
" had fet her above being attempted to
*' be made the dupe either of a vicious
" inclination or an unmeaning gallantry ;
*■■ for to what elfe than to gratify one
** or the other of thefe propenfities, can
" tend the addrefles of a perfon who has
" already difpofed of himfclf to another ?

" This, my lord, is fi.ifficient to con-
" vince you that we are perfedly well
" acquainted with your marriage ; -—
'' after wliich I cannot fuppofc you will
" even think of continuing your vifits j
*' the only reparation you can make for
»' a proceeding fo unworthy of you, be-
<^' ing to Ihun henceforward the prefence
*'• of my much injured fifter, and alfo
" of all thofe who have any intereft in
" her happinefs or reputation -, among
" the number of whgm you cannot doubt

«* is

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 77
" is her who is forry to fubfcribe her-
** felf,

" My lord,

" Yocir lordHiip's

'• Ill-treated fervant,

" M. Speck:'"'

This, after having fiiewn it to mifs
Wingman and Jenny for their approba-
tion, fhe fent by a fervant to be \dt for
lord Huntley j but that nobleman com-
ing not home till very late could do
nothing in the aliair that night j early
the next morning lady Speck received a
biilet from him containing thefe lines :

To lady Spick.

*« Madam,

** T Received yours
" *• ment than you '

with more aftonifli-
could be capable of
*' feeling at the motive which induced
" your iadyfhip to write to me in the
*' manner you did j — fo'bafe, and withal
'* fo ridiculous a calumny, would have
" merited only my contempt, had it not
" reach'd the ears of perfons for whom
*' r have the greateft reverence : — No-
" thing is more eafy than for me to clear
E 3 " my

yS "The HISTORY of

*' my innocence in this matter j but as
*' I cannot bear to appear even for one
" moment guilty in the eyes of my dear
" adorable mifs Wingman, I beg your
*' ladyfhip will give me the opportu-
" nity of juftifying myfelf by letting me
*' know the name of my accufer •, —that
*' villain, who while he ftabs me in the
*' back reaches my heart : — in confidence
*' of 3 our ladyfhip's generofity in this
" point I will wait on you as foon as I
*' am drefs'd, promifmg at the fame time
" to intrude no more till this cruel
** afperfion is removed, and I fhall be
*' found to be what I truly am, — a man
*' of honour, and,

•^ With the moft profound refped,
" Madam,
" Your ladyfhip's
" Moft humble
** And moft obedient fervant,
** Huntley.'*

The two fifters, who had imagined he
would have been too much fhock*d at
the detedion of his crime to have gone
about to deny it, or to excufe it, — cried
out, that he had an unparalell'd aflurance ;

— that

J EMMY ^77^ Jenny Jessamy. 70
. — that to behave in this manner was an
aggravation of his guilt •, and proved his
foul as mean and abjeft as his principles
were corrupt and bafe.

But Jenny, who was always ready to
think the bell, and befides had the eyes
of her reafon lefs obfcured by paffion,
began immediately to entertain more fa-
vourable fentiments; — Ihe found fonie-
thing in this letter, v/hich, in fpite of all
the appearances againft him, made her
believe there was a poflibility of his being
wrong'd ; — fhe could not forbear com-
municating her opinion to the ladies ; and
urg'd in the defence of it thefe argu-
ments :

* Lord Huntley is a man of fenfe,

* faid fhe, and if he was fo wicked as to

* be capable of afting in the manner that
' has been reprefented, he could not be
' fo ftupidly v/eak as to defire a farther

* explanation of it ; — certainly he would

* rather be intirely filent on that head :

* — if guilty, what would his pretenfions

* to innocence avail ? — -his making any

* noife in relation to a fad: which, if

* true, may be fo plainly proved, would

* only ferve to make his criminal defigns

* more tonfpicuous, and expofe his vil-

E 4 « lany

So The HISTORY of

< lany to tliofe who other wife might hear

* nothing of it.'

* AJl this is vei^ true, my dear, re-

* ply'd lady Speck, but yet there are

* fome men who have had the impudence

* and folly, not only to court but even

* adluaflly marry a fecond v/ife while tie

* former has been living, and perhaps

* too at lefs diftance than 'tis likely lady

* Huntley was when he firfl made his
« addrefles to my fifter.'

* It will not enter into my head, rc-

* fumed Jenny, that lord Huntley is one

* of thefe, — nor can I think it quite jufb

* that a man fhould be abfolutely con-

* demn'd without a fair trial, or even

* kno\ving by whom he is accufed.*

Lady Speck pius'd a little on thefe
words, and then faid, — that as fhe was
certain fir Thomas Welby would not fo
pofitively aflert a thing, the truth of
which he was not well afTured of, flie
v/as half inclined to grant lord Huntley's
requeft, though it were only the more to
confound him.

Scarce had flie done fpeaking in this
manner when her woman came into the
room, and told her that lord Huntley's

fervant

Jemmy and Jehhy Jessamy. 8i

fervant who had brought the letter, and
had waited all this time for an anfwer,
begg'd to know if her kdylhip had any
commands to fend by him j — to which,
after a fhort confideration, Ihe reply'd,
— * Yes, — he may tell his lord that I
« fhall be at home.*

Mifs Wingman had not open'd her
mouth during this whole debate •, but
now fhew'd, by her countenance, that
Ihc was not difpleafed at the refult ; and
'tis highly probable felt more impatience
than fhe thought proper to cxprefs for
what (houid pafs in this important inter-
view.

C H A P. VIII.

Serves only to render the caufe more
intricate, and i?2Vohe the parties
concerned in it injrejh -perplexities.

LADY Speck had given orders that
when lord Huntley came he fhould
be admitted, but no farther than the
parlour. , .;

. It would have been pleafant enough

I for any oae to have oblerved the meet-

E 5 ing

82 ^he HISTORY of

ing of thefe two •, — he approach*d her
with a profound reverence, but with a
referve which had fomething in it very
near akin to refentment ; — fhe returned
his falutation with an air all diflant and
auftere-, and they flood looking upon
one another for the fpace of near half a
minute without fpeaking.

Lady Speck was the lirll that broke
filence •, — 'I did not expe<51:, my lord,

* faid fhe, that your lordfhip would have

* given yourlelf the trouble of making

* any vifits here, after what I wrote to

* you lafl night.*

« It is not Indeed, madam, a thing very

* common with me, anfwer'd he gravely,

* to go to any place where I have been

* once forbid ; — but I am pierc'd in too

* tender a part to ftand upon punftilios ;

* —both my love and honour are wound*

* ed, — gafh'd, — mangled in a mofl cruel

* and infamous degree ; and it is only

* from your ladyfhip's juftice and huma-

* nity that I can hope a cure.'

* Can you deny, my lord, that you

* are married, cried fhe.* — * By Heaven! —

* not married, — nor contrafbed, — return*d

* he . agerly : — nor, till I faw your

* charming fifler, defy the whole world

* to

Jemmy an J ]enny Jess AMY. S^

* to prove I ever made the leaft propofal
' of that nature to any woman breathing.*

Thefe words, and the manner in which
they were delivcr'd, began a little to
dagger that belief of his infidehty which
Ihe till now had thought herfelf confirm* d
in : — ' If any part of what your lordfhip
' avers be true, faid fhe, fir Thomas

* Welby mufl: certainly have been im-

* pofed on by fome very extraordinary
' methods.'

' Sir Thomas Welby, madam, retorted
« lord Huntley in great amazement •,

* is it then poffible that he Ihould be my
« accufer ?' — ' There required a no lefs

* fubftantial evidence, faid fhe, to autho-

* rize a fuppofition of your lordfhip's

* being guilty of a crime like this : —
' But you may fee what he fays, added fhe,
' prefenting him with fir Thomas's letter.'

He read it haflily to himfelf, and as
foon as he had done fo, — 'I perceive

* indeed, madam, faid he, that fome un-
' common arts have been put in praflice

* againft me, — for what reafon I am not

* able to conceive ; — fir Thomas's vera-

* city is well known to me, and I think
' he has been inclined to favour my pre-

* tenfions j — I doubt not therefore but

E 6 * he

84 The HISTORY of

* he will readily afford me his afllflance
« in diving to the bottom of this myfte-

* rious villany •, — I am fure I Ihall lofe

* no time, nor fpare no pains to bring

* the dark incendiary to light ;•— but,

* purfued he, I will trouble your ladyfhip

* no farther, nor even aflc to fee the ob-

* je(5t of my foul's defire till my inno-

* cence is fully clear'd,and I have proved

* myfelf lefs unworthy of adoring her.'

He concluded thefe words with a low
bow, and went direftly out of the roomy
without waiting to hear what anfwer fhc
might have made to them.

It was, perhaps, much for her eafe that
he did fo j for fhe was now in a confter-
dation at his behaviour little inferior to
-what the felt on the firft information of
his crime ; — his words, — his looks, — his
refolution, made a deep impreffion on
h«r ; — fhe had feen grief and refentment
in his countenance, but nothing that be-
token'd a confcioufnefs of guilt -, — fhe
knew not what to think, — or how to
form a right judgment of him, but ran
immediately to Jenny and mifs Wingman
to impart to them all that had pafs'd,
and hear their fentiments upon it.

The

Jemmy ^«i Jenny Jessamy. 85

The latter of thefe young ladies was
afraid of giving her opinion^ probably-
left it Ihould be thought too favourable -,
but Jenny prefently cried, that fhe could
almoft lay her life upon his innocence :
' — I dare believe, faid Ihe, that I have

* hit upon the real ground-work of this
« ftory i — the woman who would pafs

* for his wife is certainly no other than
« fome caft-off miftrefs of his, who either

* in revenge for his deferting her, or to
« give herfelf an air, affumes the name
« of lady Huntley.'

* No, no, mifs JelTamy, interrupted

* lady Speck, it is impoffible that fir

* Thomas would affert, in fuch pofitive

* terms, a thing of this nature on fb
» (lender a foundation, — I know him
< better, — and there mull be fomething
' more in it than we can at prefent fee
« into.'

While the ladies were in this dilemma
lord Huntley, who the moment he had
left lady Speck went in fearch of his
two friends, fir Robert Manley and mr.
Lovegrove, was now complaining to them
of the afperfion caft upon him, and de-
claring his refolution of going to London
>>4^ith all pofiible expedition, in order to

detedt

86 The H ISTORY of

clete(5l the primary author of that ca-
lumny caft upon him.

Thefe gentlemen, who had known his
lordfhip for a confiderable time, and had
never heard any thing like his having
confummated a marriage, were very much
furprifed that fo odd a (lory fhould be
railed, and highly applauded his inten-
tion of juftifying himfelf as foon as he
was able.

Both of them offer*d to be partakers
of his journey ; — he told them he was
greatly indebted to their friendlhip on
this fcore •, but that he hoped he Ihould
foon return to Bath with the proofs of
his innocence, and that it would be alto-
o-ether needlefs for them to undergo the
latigues ot accompanying him.

Sir Robert Manley, however, infifted
on going with him ; — * As for Love-

* grove, faid he, I think he ftands better

* with lady Speck for fome days paft

* than he had ever done before, and it

* would be pity to take him from her

* at a time when fhe feems to be in
« fuch favourable difpofitions towards
' him -, — but as for me, I have no mi-
< ftrefs, at leaft none that will receive

* my vows, and confequently can have

• no

Jemmy ^72^ Jenny Jessamy-. ^y
I * no plcafure equal to that of proving
' my fincerity to my friend ; — therefore,
' my dear lord, added he, if you do not
j * fuffer mc to go with you in your coach,
j * you fhall not hinder me from following
' • you on horfeback.'

Lord Huntley was at lalT: prevailed
upon to take fir Robert with him on
this expedition •, but though he hoped
to retiurn triumphant from it in four or
five days at fartheft, he would by no
means hear of mr. Lovegrove's leaving
Bath^ for never fo fmajl a fpace of time,
while lady Speck continued there.

They all dined together, after which
fir Robert and mr. Lovegrove left lord
Huntley, the one to give directions to
his man for every thing to be got ready
for his departure the next morning by
break of day, and the other to pay his
devoirs to his miftrefs.

Jenny, who would not be perfuaded
to keep her chamber any longer, though
not quite recover'd enough to go abroad,
was now come down into the dining
room, and mifs Wingman being refolv'd
not to appear again in any public place
while file remain'd at Bath, for fear of
meeting lord Huntley ♦, lady Speck alfo,

in

S8 13je HISTORY cf

in complaifance to them both, would not
go out of the houfe •, — fo that mr. Love-
grove, on his coming there, found them
all at home.

The firft compliments were no fooner
over than the converfation began on lord
Huntley's affair ; — mr. Lovegrove left
nothing unfaid that he thought might
contribute to make them entertain a
rrlore favourable opinion of his friend •, —
he rcmonftrated to them the improbabi-
lity of his being guilty in the manner
he was reprefented ; and lady Speck and
niifs Wingman, in their turns, rcmon-
ftrated the improbability that fuch a ftory
could be raifed without fome fort of
foundation •, but Jenny, as fhe had
always done, fided with mr. Lovegrove,
and took the part of the accufed.

They were engaged in this difpute
when fir Robert Manley came in, — that
gentleman, though expecfting to be back
in a fhort time, was too polite to think
of going without taking his leave of the
ladies -, hearing what fubjeft they were
upon, he feconded mr. Lovegrove's argu-
ments, and fo warmly defended the caufe
of his abfcnt friend, that lady Speck
was obliged to cry out, — ' Well — well,
* let us have no more difcourfe upon

' this

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 89

* this head •, — it is time alone that can

* decide the point between us ; — for my

* part, added fhe, I fmcerely v/ifh his
' lordfhip my be found as innocent as
' you would perfuade us to believe he is.*

* This is extremely generous in your

* ladyfhip, reply'd fir Robert-, but madam,

* continued he, addreffing himfelf to

* mifs Wingman, how happy fhould I

* make my friend if I were permitted
' to carry to him the affurance that you
' alfo join'd with your fifter in the

* fame kind wi(h ?*

* Lord Fluntley may be certain, an-

* fwer'd Ihe blufhing, that I fliould be

* very forry a crime like what is laid to

* his charge Jfhould be proved on any in

* the world, much more on a perfon
' whom I cannot deny but I once thought

* highly deferving of my efteem.*

There pafs'd nothing more of any
moment while they were together, which
was not very long, for the gentlemen
were impatient to return to lord Huntley,
who they knew was alone and flood in
need of all the confolation they could
give him ; — they ftaid the whole even-
ing with him, and rcjoin'd him very
early in the morning, at which time he

fet

90 r/je HIST ORY of

fet out with fir Robert on his journey to
London.

CHAP. IX.

Has in it fome things of no f mall im-
portance^ though at prefent they may
appear too injignijicant to be infer ted.

LORD Huntley being gone, and mifs
Wingman freed from all thofe dan-
gers her mother apprehended for her,
there feem'd no neceflity for that youBg
lady's leaving Bath •, yet, as fhe had re-
ceived fuch pofitive commands to do fo,-
and Landy waited to condud: her, fhe
thought fhe could not well excufe her-
felf from going :• — ^Jenny, who was now
quite weary of the place, having loft all
her relifh for its pleafures, faid all fhe
could to fortify her in this refolution ;
and between them both lady Speck was
prevailed upon to think it right.

Accordingly both the lifters wrote to
lady Wingman, giving her an exa6l ac-
count of all that had pafs'd in relation to
lord Huntley, and affuring her that they
fhould throw themfelvcs at her feet, as

foon

Jemmy <2W Jenny Jessamy. 91
foon as the neceiTary preparations could
be made for their journey.

But before I proceed any farther on
the particulars of thefe ladies adventures,
during the Ihort time they had now to
flay at Bath, I think it highly proper
that the reader Ihould be made fully
' acquainted with the feveral difpofitions
their minds were in at prefent.

As for lady Speck, the late behaviour
of Celandine had rendered him fo defpi-
cable in her eyes, that (he wonder' d at
i herfelf for having been able ever to en-
[ dure the converfation of fuch a fop, and
much more to have been won to a li-
king of his perfon, the graces of which
(he now plainly faw were chiefly owing
to his milliner and taylor : — Mr. Love-
grove, on the contrary, had fhewn fo
1 much of the man of honour and of the
refpedful lover in what he had done,
that Ihe hefitated not a moment if fhe
fliould give him the preference of all
others who made their addreifes to her •,
and if fhe could not as yet entirely over-
come her averfion to entering a fecond
time into the bands of marriage, fhe how-
ever refolved not to change her condition
except in favour of him.

Mifs

92 The HISTORY of

Mifs Wingman was in a ficuatlon very
diflerent from that of her filler -, — this
young lady was of a humour extremely
gay and volatile ; — fhe had never been
at the pains of examining into the emo-
tions of her own heart j but fhe now
found out a fecret there which had hi-
therto been conceal'd as much from her-
felf as from the v/orld ; — thofe alarms
with which fhe had been agitated at firft
on the accufation againft lord Huntley,
and the pleafure fhe had fmce felt in the
afTurances given her by fir Robert Man-
ley and mr. Lovegrove, that it would
be eafy for him to prove his innocence,
equally convinced lier that he was not
altogether fo indifferent to her as fhe had
imagined j and this it was which perhaps,
more than obedience to her mother's
commands, made her fo eager to return ^
to London, where fhe thought fhe might;
foon be inform'd of the whole truth of^
this affair. |

But poor Jenny labour'd under fen-j
fations of a yet more unquiet nature, — \
fhe had the confirmation of her lover's ''
infidelity under his own hand ; and whe-
ther he was guilty to the degree fhe had
at firft believed, of courting another
woman upon honourable terms, yet he

could

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 93

ould not but appear extremely criminal
1 the attempt of purchafing the favour
jif one he intended only for a miftrefs,
yith the contempt of thofe folemn en-
Ijagements he was bound in to herfelf.

In what other fenfe, indeed, was it
JofTible for her to underftand the firft
)aragragh in that letter, -which by his
niftake in the fuperfcription had fallen
nto her hands,-—' Here is no room for
doubt, cried fhe, the meaning is ob-
vious and explicit, — his heart renounces
the obligation his father kid him un-
der, and which his own perjured tongue
a tkoufand times has fworn he wilhed
no greater bleffing than to fullfil.*

' The ungrateful man, continued fhe,
Ihall find no difficulty in getting rid of
me, — I fhall fpare him the pains of
feeking a pretence to break an engage-
ment now grown fo irkfome to him,— •
nor fhall I envy the woman to whom
his faithlefs heart is next devoted ;•—
I fhall always refledl on a diftich I re-
member to have read in the works of
old Michael Drayton.'

He that can falfify his vows to one.
Will be fincerely jufl; and true to none.

Thus

94 72)^ HISTORY e/^

Thus in fome moments did (lie feel
a kind of fatisfaftion in this early difco-
very of the inconftancy of his temper ; —
others again prelenting her with the idea
of what fhe once believed him, all that
was juft, generous, virtuous, and fm-
cere, threw her into the moft melan-
cholly mufings •, — every innocent endear-
ment that had palled between them from
their tendereft infancy till this great
period, came frefh into her memory, and
made her deeply regret the finding him
fo much unworthy either of her love ©r
friendfhip.

It is certain, that befides the vivacity
and flow of fpirits which are generally
the companions of youth and affluence of
fortune, and keep afflidtion from feizing
too forcibly the vitals, (lie ftood in need
of all the good underftanding fhe was
endued with to enable her to fuftain the
fhock of Jemmy's infidelity with that
chearfuinefs fhe wilh'd to do : — in fpite
of all her endeavours, fhe would fome-
times fall into refveries which demanded
other helps than thofe fhe received from
within herfelf, to roufe her from entirely.

Though the natural fprightlinefs of
lady Speck and her fifter was very much

abated.

Jemmv <^;7^ Jenny Jessamy. 95

bated, in the one by the fecret remorfe
he felt for the encouragement fhe had
riven to Celandine, and in the other by
ler fufpence on account of lord Huntley^
'et neither of them were fo taken up with
heir own cogitations as to negleft any
hing in their power to diffipate the lan-
;our they obferved in their fair friend.

But as it was Jemmy who had been
he fole caufe of her difquiet, fo it was
o him alone Hie was now indebted for
ler relief, — the night betore their depar-
ure fhe received a letter from him con-
lining thefe lines ;

To mifs Jessamy at Bath.
My dear, dear Jenny,

IA M fo happy as juft to fnatch an
opportunity of acquainting you that
the wedding is over, — I wifh to heaven
that the revels for it were fo too, that
I might be at liberty to get away -,
for, befides the impatience 1 am in to
fee you, I am quite fick of the inceffant
noify mirth of thofe who come to
teftify their joy on this occafion j — I
do not doubt but they take me for
the moft dull, flupid fellow in the
univerfe ; — and indeed how fhould it
be otherwife ? —In the midft of dan-

" cing

96 The HISTORY of

" cing, — drinking, — laughing, — romp-
" ing, I ann abfent ; — my heart is with
*' you at Bath, and rcprefenting to mc
*' the more true felicities I might enjoy
*' in your dear converfation : — they tell
* ' me, this hurry is to continue no longer
*' than fix days -, but I think that an
** age, and nothing but my gratitude to
** my old friend, for the care he has
" taken of my affairs, fhould keep me
" a prifoner here for half that time : —
" be affured that as foon as I can get
" free, I fhall do little more than pafs
*' through London in my way towards
•' you ; — fo that if I am deprived of
" participating with you in the pleafures
*' of the place you are in, I fhall at
*♦ leafl have that of conducing you
<« home, — till when, I hope, I need fay
«« nothing to convince you, that I am

'* Inviolably, and for evtr,
" My dear Jenny's,
Ham-Hall, <« Moft affedionate
*« And devoted

" J. Jessamy.

•* P. S. When we meet, you may ex-
"*« pef^ a particular detail of what paifes

" here,

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 97

** here, and fome defcription of the bride,

j " who has indeed a fine oucfide, but I

*' am afraid wants a little of my dear

" Jenny's underftanding •, — Harry, how-

*' ever, finds no defedt in her as yet, and

' ** I heartily willi, for both their fakes,

** he never may •, — every man's lot is not

.'* fo happy as mine. — Once more, my

' " dear Jenny, adieu for a fhort time.

This letter was a kind of clue to guide
, Jenny through the labyrinth of perplexity
': Ihe had been involved in •, — fhe knew
very well that one of the gemtlemen, ap-
pointed by the laft will and teftament of
Jemmy's father for his executor and
t trullee, had a feat call'd Ham-Hall in
Bedfordfhire j — Ihe had alfo heard that
J his fon was about being married to a
young lady of that county with a con-
1 liderable fortune •, — fhe therefore eafily
I conceived that the engagement mention'd
1 by Jemmy in that former epiftle, and
' which fhe imagined he had meant with
1 herfelf, was in reality no other than being
I- obliged to go down into the country on
;■ account o^ this wedding.

She immediately imparted to her two
; friends the letter fhe bad received, and
-alfo gave them at the fame tim^e an ex-
j planation of the myflery which had given

Voi,. II. F ' her

9? The HISTORY of
her fo much pain \ — both of them fincerely
congratulated her on the occafion, efpe-
ciahy miis Wingman, who took her in
her arms crying out, — ' Did not I tell •

* you, my dear, that mr. Jellamy was not '.
' lb guilty as you imagined ?' — ' Aye, .
' replied Jenny, — but for all that he is \

* xioi quite innocent, nor will he find me ■

* very eafy to give him abfolution.'

I

' If criminal in no greater matters
« than a tranfient amour, rejoin'd lady
« Speck, I think you might forgive him,
« without putting him to the penance
« even of a . blufh by your reproaches. —

* In good truth we women have nothing

* to do with the men's affairs in this point
« before marriage ; — and as I now begin
' to believe, in fpite of all I have heard
' to the contrary, that he addreffes no,
' other woman than yourfelf upon honour- J
« able terms, thefe are but venial tranf-'

* greffions, which you ought to over-

* look till you have made him your own.*

!

They were difcourfmg in this pleafant'
manner when mr. Lovegrove enter'd j —
he came to pafs the evening with them,
knowing their things being all pack'd up
for their journey, they would not go
abroad any more while they ftaid at
Bath..

Talking

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. ^^

Talking of the hour in which they
intended to fet out, he faid that he was
extremely glad to know it, becaufe he
would give orders for a poft-chaife to be
ready exa6lly at the fame time, that he
might not have the mortification of being
left behind them even for a moment.

Though he direfled thefe words to
the ladies in general, yet lady Speck
knew very well they were meant only to
herfelf ; and looking on him with the
moft obliging air, — ' No mr. Lovegrove,
' faid jQie, fmce you will needs be fo
' complaifant as to accompany us, I fee
' no occafion for your travelling in the
' way you mention j — as your own coach
' is not here, and there is a vacant place
' in mine, I am very certain we Ihall all

* be pleafed to have it fo agreeably fili'd'.*

He was fo tranfported with this offer,
that he could not reftrain himfelf from
catching hold of her hand and kifling it
with the moft paflionatc geftures ; — .

* This is a condefcention, madam, faid
' he, which I never durft have prefumed
» to hope, much lefs to have requefted ^

* but it is the peculiar property of Heaven
' to prevent the petitions of its vaffals

F 2 'by

loo The HISTORY of

* by blciTings the moll unexpeded, as
' well as undeferved,*

Mifs Wingman and Jenny, finding
they were likely to enter into a conver-
fation which required no fharers, with-
drew to a window as if to look at fome-
thing that pafs'd in the flreet ; — how far
mr. Lovcgrove improved this opportu-
nity is not material to particularize j —
the reader will eafily fuppofe, that neither
that, nor lady Speck's good humour were
thrown away upon him.

CHAP. X.

Is a digrejjion of no confequence to the
hifiory^ and may therefore either be
read or omitted at difcretion.

H E fun had made but a very fliort
progrefs in his diurnal courle, when
lady Speck, mifs Wingman, and the ami-
able Jenny, accompanied by mr. Love-
grove, fct out on their journey for Lon-
don, efcorted by I^andy and all their
mcn-fervants on horfeback.

Our fair travellers foon found the ad-
vantage they had g in'd by the invita-

tio.i

Jemmv and Jenny Jessamy. loi

tion given to mr. Lovegrove •, — the in-
nate fatisfa6tion that gentleman felt on
lady Speck*s obliging behaviour tov/arcls
him, diffuied itlelt through all his air and
features, and added a double vivacity to
his converfation ; — he was all life, — all
gaiety,- — all fpirits j — he told a thoufand
diverting llories, and fung asmany pretty
fongs ; {(.) that if they had been more in-
clined to ferioufnefs than they really were,
it would ha/e been impoiTible ior them
to have indulged any melancholy reflec-
tions in his company.

The day was near pafs'd over In this
agreeable manner, when a fudden flop
was put to all their pleafantry •,— one of
the hindmoft wheels of the coach flew off
its axis, and but for the coachman's un-
common prefcnce of mind, in refliraining
the horfes that fame inftant, fome mifchief
might probably have enfued •, — all the
fervants immediately alighted endeavour-
ing to repair the damage, but in vain ^
«— part of the ironwork was broke, and
two fpokes of the wheel had (farted with
thelliock : — this accident happened about
five miles from the town where . they had
defign'd to lie that night ; but as there
was a fmall village pretty near, it was
judged proper to walk thither, as the
only expedient in this exigence ; which
F 3 they

I02 The HISTORY of

they did with a great deal of alacrity and
chearfulnefs, while the difmember'd ma-
chine, though with iome difficulty, was
dragged alter them.

The accommodation they found here
was indifferent enough ; but what defici-
encies are there in nature or in fortune
wliich good humour cannot fupply ? —
the ladies laugh'd heartily at their little
pilgrimage, and mr. Lovegrove made
them all fcamper about the room by
attempting to wipe the dull off their
flioes with his handkerchief.

In fine ; — their fupper, — their lodging,
all that to perfons of lefs wit and more
affedation would have been matters of
the utmofb mortification, to them ferv'd
only as fubjefts of diverfion, and occa-
fions a frefh pleafantry.

They arofe next morning in the fame
chearful temper with which they had
lain down •, nor did it abate on being
told that the workmen who had been
fent for to mend the coach could not
pretend to make it fit to take the road
for feveral hours : — as the place they
v/ere in afforded no other convenience to
profecute their journey, they refolved to
make a virtue of necefTity, and content

themfelvte

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 103
themfelves with what was without a re-
medy.— Mr. Lovegrove, however, took.
iipon himfelf the omce of caterer, and
was fo fortunate as to provide an enter-
tainment fomewhat lefs* inelegant than
they had been obliged to content them-
felves with the night before.

But while dinner was getting ready an
accident happen'd which contributed to
make the time of their abode there feem
Ihorter, by prefcnting them v/ith a new
theme of converfation.

The woman who kept the houfe, after
having gently open'd the door of the
room where they were, came in making
a curtfy at every ftep flie took, and ap-
proach'd the ladies with an, — ' I begr

* pardon, — I hope no offence, — but 1

* have a poor gueil below that vvould

* have me come up \ — 1 am very, tender
' hearted, — though God knows what fhe

* is, or who flie is, — for my part I ntver

* faw her before laft night in my whole
' life, — fo I have nothing to anfwer for
*" on that account ^ — and if fhe be bad it

* is the worft for herfelf, — that is all I
' have to fay.'

* If you have nothing more to fay,

* miilrefs, cried mr. Lovearove laug-h-

^4 ' ing.

104 1'he HISTORY of

' ing, I think you are very much to

* blame to lofe your time in telling us

* fo.' — ' I hope your lordihip's worfhip

* and all their ladyihips will excuie me ;
' — I am but a plain woman ^ — but God

* knows my heart I mean no harm ; —

* but as I was faying, a poor young wo-
' man, finding I had quality in my

* houfe, has been baiting me this two
' hours I am fure to fhew you a fnuff-

* box jfhe had got to fell •, — how fhe

* came by it I can't tell •, but this I muft

* fay, that ilie does not look like a thief;
' though there are fuch fad doings in the
' world that one does not know who to

* truft.'

* Let us fee it, however, faid lady
' Speck.' — * Aye, — aye, rejoin'd the
' others, let us fee it by all means ;' — on
this the woman produced the box, tho*
not without repeating feveral times over
her former apologies.

The box was a mod curious Englifh
pebble, fet in gold, v/ith a hinge and
lining of the fame metal ; — they handed
it from one to the other, and concluded
that as it was a toy too genreel for the
pofTeffion of a perfon in very abjed: cir-
cumftances, it muft either be ftolen, or
the real owner be reduced by fome un-
common

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 105

common diftrefs to the neceffity of part^
ing with it.

The bare fuppofition that this latter*
might poiTibly be the cafe, infpiring them
v/ith a good deal of curiofity to know
fomething farther of the matter, they told
the woman they would buy the box, but
fhould be glad to fee the owner and bar-
gain for it with herfeif, — on which fhe
went out of the room, but return'd im-
mediately, bringing with her the perfon
in queftion.

' This, faid fhe, is the young woman^

* — fhe fays fhe come very honellly by

* the box, — as I told your honours before",

* I know nothino; of the matter, — fhe is

* quite a ftranger to me, but 1 fliall leave

* her with you, and if your honour and
' ladyfhips worfhips will be pleafed to

* examine her you may-hap will be better

* judges than I am ;— for my part I have

* a great deal of bufmefs to do and can-

* not be fpared any longer trom my bar

* and my kitchen ; — indeed there is no-

* body but myfelf to take care of any

* thing in this houfe, though I have a

* husband and a daughter at woman's

* eftate, as I may fay, for fhe is paft four-

* teen, yet all lies upon me, fo I hope

* yom* honours will excufe me.'

Y r. It

jo6 The HIS TORY of

It may be eafily imagined that all the
company were very glad to get rid ot her
impertinent babble, lb readily difmifs'd
her ; mr. Lovegrove telling her at the
lame time, with an ironical complaifance,
that he was extremely troubled fhe had
wafted fo many of her important minutes
on fo trivial an occafion.

After this prating woman was gone,
the young perfon fhe had left behind,
and who had enter'd no farther thanjufh
within the door, on being defir'd to come
forward advanced Vv'ith a flow and timid
air, yet wjiich had nothing in it of the
appearance of a confcious guilt •, — not-
withftanding the difguifc of an old
fafliion'd long ridinghcod, which cover'd
her whole body, and even hid f me part
of her lovely face, there was ftill enough
to be feen to prepoffefs any beholder in
lier favour.

Her extreme youth, for fhe feem*d not
to have exceeded fifteen or fixteen years
at farcheft, the delicacy of her com-
plexion, and of thofe features which fhe
fuffer'd to be expofed to view, excited a
kind of refpe6lful companion in the hearts
Di all thofe fhe was at prefent with.

My.

Jemmv and Jennt Jess^my. la-/

Mr. Lovegrove, who had undertakeri
to be the Ipeaker, began with afking her,
if jfhe was the owner of the box before
them ; to which flie anfwering in the
affirmative, — ' I am very forry then, faid
' he, and I am certain that all here are

* fo, that any exigence fhould oblige
' you to difpofe of it/

' The vicifitudes of fortune, fir, re-

* ply'd fhe with a becoming aiTurance,
' are too frequently experienced in the

* affairs of life to raife much wonder, or
' to know much pity, except from the

* hearts of a generous few/

»^

* That is true, relumed mr. Love-
grove ; but you are too young to have
been fubjec'ted to them by any of thole
ways the fickle goddefs ordinarily takes
to fliew her power over the world •, —
the diftrefs you labour under mull
therefore proceed from fome un-
common fource, which if you thought
proper to communicate, I dare anfvver
you are now among perfons who would
not only wifn, but alfo make it their
endeavour to klTen the weight of your
afflidion.*

F 6 She

io8 r^f HISTORY af

She was about to make fome reply but
was prevented by lady Speck, who imme-
diately fubjoining to what mr. Love-
grove had faid, — ' There is nothing want-

* ing, cried llie, but the knowledge of
' your affairs to make me fhew my readi-

* nefs to ferve yo.u.' — The other two
ladies fpoke much to the fame purpofe,
cfpecially Jenny, who had taken a more
than ordinary tancy to this fair one.

After having thank'd them in- the po-
liteft terms for their goodnefs to one io
altogether aftrangerto them •, — * The ac-

* cid-ents of my life, faid fhe, are little

* worthy the attention of this company ;

* but fmce I am commanded to repeat

* them I fhali make no fcruple to obey,
' on condition I may be permitted to
' conceal the names of all the perfons

* concern'd in them.'

They then afiured her that they fhould
content themfelves with fuch things as
ftie thought proper to impart, and, ma-
king her fit down, defired Die would not
delay one moment the fatisfadlion fhe
had promifed, which requeft fhe com-
ply'd with, as will be feen in the fucceed-
mg chapter.

CHAP.

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 109

C H A P. XL

ha continuation of the fame digrefjlon^
which however infignijtcant it may
appear at prefent^ the reader will
hereafter perhaps be glad to turn
back to the pciges it contains.

THE young ftranger having been
made acquainted, before lier coming
up ftairs, of the rank and condition of
the perfons to whom fhe was about to be
introduced, would not fufFer herfelf to
be any farther intreated by them, but
began to fatisfy the curiofity Ihe had
excited in thefe or the \\k.Q words:

*' I am the daughter of a gentleman,
" faid fhe, who by Hving in his youth
*' above the income of his eftate, has
" been reduced to live below the dignity
*' of his birth, in order that his children
** may not, at his deceafe, have too much
** occafion to regret the fituation in
«' which they fhall be left.

" It is impoffible for any parent to
** behave with greater tendernefs and in-
*! dulgence, or to be more fincerely

*^ anxious

no the HISTORY of

" anxious for the welfare of his pofte-
" rity •, — fenfible of his former millakcs,
*' he has often condefcended to tell us,
*' that he looks upon us as perfons he
*' has wrong'd, by having wafted what
'* jQiould have render'd comfortable the
" life he gave : — his affairs, however,
*' are not on fo ill a footing but that he
*' fupports his family in a genteel tho*
" not a grand manner •, and if he lives
" a few years longer, it is hoped will be
" able to leave the eftate to my brodier,
•' now a ftudent at Cambridge, born
" to inherit, free from all incumbrance,
"except myfelf and a fifter fome years
" elder than either of us.

*' As for a provifion for myfelf and
** fifter, I "have heard him fay tliat his
'* fcheme is, as foon as my brother
" arrives at a proper age, to match him
" with fome woman of fortune, which
*' fortune fnould be equally divided
" between us two, and a fettlement made
'" for her out of the eftate.

" He never fliatter*d himfelf with the
*' expeftations of any offers of marriage
" to our advantage ■, nor though he gave
" us all the accomplifhments befitting
" our fta ion in liie, ytt did he never
<* encourage either of us to imagine that

" without

Jemmv <^/z^ Jenny Jessamt. hi

*« without money we had any thing in
*' us capable ofattrafting a heart worthy
" our acceptance.

" But to my great misfortune he found
" himlelf miftaken in this point ; — a
" gentleman of a very large eftate, hap-
" pening to fee me at a friend's houfe
*' where Ifometimes vifited, took an ex-
*' traordinary fancy to mie ; and after
*' fome neceffary enquiries concerning
*' my birth, chara6ter and circumilances,
*' came to wait upon my father and
*' afk'd his permiffion to make his ad-
" dreffes to me ; adding at the fame
*' time, that he defir'd nothing but my-
" felf, and whatever fortune was intend-
" ed for me might be given to my
" fifter.

*' This laft was a prevailing argument
*' with my father, who, dear as I believe
*« I then was to him, would perhaps
"have rather fufpT'd me to lofe fq ad-
*' vantageous a match, than have con-
** fefs'd his incapacity of giving me a
" portion.

" 'But how fatal did this aft of gene-
*' rofity in my lover prove to me ; —
*' my father, charmed with the propofal,
*' hefuated not to comply with it, pro-

♦« vided

112 The HISTORY of

" vided my confent might be obtain'd,
" whit h in his heart he refolved from
*' that moment to compel me to grant,
" in. cafe he fhould find me refradory
** to it.

" It wjll doubtlefs feem a little flrange
*' to you, continued fhe, that I fhould
*' mention as a misfortune what you
*' might expe6t a girl in my precarious
** fituation would have rejoiced at, and
" been elated with as the greateft good
" that could have befallen her ; — the
«« world I know condemns my folly, — -
" I condemn myfelf, — yet was it as im-
*« poflible for me to a.0: otherwife, as it
** is to repent of what I have done.

*' You will perhaps imagine that he is
" fome deformed and loathfome creature,
" b«t I affure you he is not, for I mull
" do him the juitice to acknowledge,
" that, making an allowance for his
" age, which by his own account is pretty
" near fifty, few men can boaft of ha-
«« ving a more agreeable perfon ; — that
" he has alfo a good underftanding, —
" a great deal of ready wit, and is very
«'' facetious in converfation •, — but all this
" was infufiicient to engage my aff^ection,
** and I have a certain delicacy in my
*' nature, if I may fo call it, which will
** not permit me, on any confideration

** whatever.

Jemmy <?«i Jenny Jessamy. 113

'*' whatever, to give my hand where my
" heart will not go along with it.

" The aftonifhment I felt on being
•" firft inform'd of the new conqueft 1
" had made, was fucceeded by an ade-
'" quate proportion of horror at being
"'commanded by my father to receive
' " that gentleman as the perfon ordain'd
'" by Heaven and him to be my husband,
' *' and to look on fuch an alhance as the
[ " greatefl bleffing that could be beilow'd
^ *' upon me.

" I blufh'd, — I trembled, and had not

' " power to make the leaft reply, till be-

\ " ing urged to fpeak, I recoUefled, as

1' ** well as I was able, my fcatter'd fenfes,

'' " and cried, though with a broken and

' *' faultering voice, that I was too young

'* to think of marriage; to which my

If*' father fternly anfwer'd, — ' Be guided

** then by thofe who know how to think

" for you ;* — and with thefe words left

*' me to confider on what he had faid.

" The fame day my lover dined with
" us, as I afterwards found, by the ap^
" pointment of my father, who, as foon
" as the cloth was taken away, retired
" to his clofet, pretending he had fome
*' letters to write, and left me to enter-

«' tain

114 The HISTORY of

" tain this gueft, or rather to be enter-
" tain'd by him v/ith the declaration of
" his paffion.

** He made it, indeed, in the moft re-
" fpedlful terms; — he told me, that ha-,,
" ving loft his wife in bringing a fon
" into the world, he had refolved never
" to transfer the aifedlion for her to
** any other woman •, — that he devoted
** near two and twenty years to her me-
*' mory ; — that during the whole time
'* of his widowhood he had never feen that
*' face till mine which had the pov/er to
" alienate his thoughts from the grave
*' where fhe lay buried ; — but that he
" no fooner beheld me, than he felt new
" life and new defires rekindling in him -,
'* — remember'd that he was a man, born
" to enjoy the focial delights of pure and
" virtuous love, and at the fame time
" found it was with me alone he could
*' partake them.

*« As this fort of converfation, and in-
*' deed every thing relating to love, was
" entirely new to me, I made but very
" aukward replies, and was lb little able
** to exprefs my real fentiments to him on
" that head, that I afterwards found he
" took what I faid as the eftefts of fim-

«« phcity

Jemmv <jW Jenny Jessamv. 115

»* plicity and bafhfulnefs, rather than any
** averfion either to him or his propofals.

*' My father, who poor man rejoiced
** in this opportunity of making myfor-
** tune, feem'd highly pleafed with the
*' account my lover gave him of my be-
*' haviour •, — he told me I was a very
** good girl, and that he doubted not but
** that I fliould deferve the happinefs
** Heaven was about to confer upon
*' me : — ' but, faid he, though the mo-
i ** defty with which I hear you received

■ ** this firfl: declaration was very becom-

I ** ing in a maid of your years •, yet, as we
' •* have agreed the wedding fhall be con-
'^*' fummated in a few days, I would have
' •* you grow lefs referved on every vifit
f!*' he makes you, — accuftom yourfelf to
^ •' treat him by degrees with more free-
' ^' dom, to the end that when you are
,'^* made one, you may not be too much
' *' ftrangers to each other.

" This fo frighted me, that I could
*' not forbear crying out with fo'me vehe-
*' mence, — * Oh, fir! 1 conjure you not

■ *^ to talk in this manner, — 1 never can
** think of being married to him.

'• The look my father gave me at
*' thefe words will always be imprinted

" on

ii6 The HISTORY of

" on my memory. — * Never think of
** being married to him ! faid he, thea
" never think I am your father ; — thinkj
*' rather of being an utter alien, — an!
" outcall from my name and family ; — •]
" think of begging, — fcarving, — of in-i
*' iamy, contempt and wretchednefs. 'I

" Thefe cruel expreffions coming fronlq.
" the mouth oi a parent, who till now'
" had always ufed me v/ith the extrem-
" eft tendernefs, cut me to the very
" foul ; — I threw myfelf at his feet, — I
" wept, — I befeech'd him to moderate
*' his pafTion, and protefted, as I might
" do with the greateft fmcerity, that the
" thoughts of offending him was more
" terrible to me than thofe of death it-
" felf.

" He appear'd fomewhat mollify'd
*' with thefe fubmiiTioris j — ' Child, faid
" he, raifing me from the pofture I was
" in, — you cannot be fo ignorant as not
" to know w^hat I do in this affair is
*' wholly for your happinefs ; though,
" indeed, whenever Heaven is pleafed to
" call me hence, it would be an infinite
" fatistaClion to me in my dying mo-
" ments that I left one of my daughters
" independent. — I could wi(h, added |
" he, lojking towards my fifter who fat

" at

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. i 17
)> at work in the room, that fhe had an
offer equally advantageous.

" If I had, fir, reply'd flic pertly, I
■'* fhould fcarce be fo mad or filly as to
=* run the rifque of difobliging, you and
''* at the fame time of ruining myfclf by.
«* refufing it."

The beautiful ftranger was in this part
of her little hiftory when Ihe found her-
felf oblig'd to break off by feeing dinner
brought upon the table ; — fhe would
have withdrawn till the company fhould
be more at leifure ; but they infilled, in
;the moft ftrenuous terms, that fhe would
ibe their gueft ; to which, after ir.aking
fome few apologies, fhe confented.

CHAP. XII.

Ccnclndes the dijlrefifiil narrative.

AS the v/aiters were prefent, nothing
was faid during the whole time of
dinner, concerning the fubjeft which that
neceffary appendix to life had interrupt-
ed j but the cloth was no fooner taken
away, than the three ladies, as well as
mr. Lovegrove, terdfy'd the intereff they

took

ii8 The HISTORY of

took in their fair guefl's affairs, by their
impatience for knowing the event.

She reply'd to the many complaifant
things they faid to her with fuch an air
and grace as convinced them, more than
^ny thing fhe had related, that flie had
indeed been educated in the mofl gen-
teel manner, and alfo been accuftom'd t9
converfe with perfons of the bell fafhion
and greateft politenefs. l

But though the difcourfe that pafs'd
between them, on the fcore of mere civi-
lity, might very well deferve a place in
this work, I fhall omic the repetition, as
it might be apt to make the reader's
attention wander from the main point ;
and only fay, that Ihe profecuted her
hiilory in the following terms :

" My father, faid (lie, now conde*
" fcended to talk to me in the mildeft,
" and withal in the moft pathetic fbile ;
<« —he endeavoured to allure my young
*< heart by enumerating and difplaying
** the pleafures that attend on wealth
•« and grandeur ; — he remonftrated to
" me, that the circumftances of our fa-
•' mily would not permit his children,
*« efpecially his daughters, to be direfled
" only by inclination in the article of

'-*■ marriage i

Jemmy a?td Jenny Jessamy. i i^
I'V marriage •, and that as. I could find no
*' pofllble objedion to my lover but be-
** ing fomewhat too old, gratitude for
•* the happinefs he was ready to put me
*' in poffeHion of, might very well attone
" for that defecl:.

" You fay you cannot love this gen-

' " tleman, continued he ; but pray what

is this paflion that is eall'd love but a

' *' vain deiufion, an ignis fatuus of the

" mind that leads all that follow it

" aftray ; — fuppofe, rejecting the certain

goodjfortune now puts into your power,

and you iliould hereafter fix your

fancy either on fome one v/ho has not

the means of fupporting you, or on

one who returns not your afFeftions,

" how truly miferable would be your

■« ftate !

" I could find no arguments to oppofe
^« againft thofe he urged, and could
*' only anfwer with my tears, — till being
" bid to fpeak, and the command fe-
*« veral times repeated, I at laft fobb'd
" out, — that I would make ufe of my
'* utmoft endeavours to obey him.

'* I know not whether his meanaces
'* at firft, and his perfuafions afterwards,
" might not have made me at thafetime

" promife

(C

•'tc

120 72^ HISTORY c/^

" promife to do every thing he would
" have me ; but fome company comino- \
" in, luckily perferved me from adding '
" to the guilt of difobedience that or
*« deceit.

" Thefe vifiters ftaid with us till
" very late, fo I was relieved from any
" farther perfecutions for that night ;
" but the next morning at breakfail [
" they were renew'd, and as I had no !
<' heart toconfent, nor courage abfolute- ;
•' ly to refufe, I could only beg him to
*' allow me a little time to bring my
" mind to a conformity with his will.

" It is certain that my averfion to this
" match feem'd unrealbnable even to my-
" felf, and I did all I could to conquer
" it •, but my efforts to that purpofe be-
" ing fruitlefs, I fet myfelf to confider,
" whether to live under the everlafting
" difpleafure of a father whom I revered
" and loved, perhaps turn'd out of doors
" by him and expofed to poverty and
" contempt, or to pafs my whole life in
" opulence with the man I hated, would
'« be the lead of evils. •,

" Oh, ladies ! — how impoffible is it to
" reprefent what it was I telt while thus j
" employ'd -, — to which foever of ihefe
'« ways I turn'd my thoughts I was all

" horror

Jemmy /2«^ Jenny Jessamy. 121
;'•* horror and confufion ; — the prefent
^* idea feemed ftill the worft ; — I was
*' diftraded, — h-refolute, and flu<5tuated
** between both ; and all I knew of my-

felf was, that I was wholly incapable
■^* of fupporting either.

*' To heighten my affliction, though

'*' I had many acquaintance, I had no one

** friend on whom I could depend for

" affiflance or advice -, — my fifter, who

by the rules of nature fhould have
*' pitied my diftrels, rather added tq it

by all the ways fhe could invent.

" Indeed fhe never loved me, and I
*« have reafon to believe I owe great

• •* part of my father's feverity to her in-
" finuations ; — I will tell* you an inci-

■" dent which confirms me in that be-

'** lief, — it was this :

** The very funday before the mis-
*' fortune I am now reciting befel me,
'* a young gentleman happened to fit in
" a pew juft oppofite to mine, — he fix'd
« his eyes upon me with fo much earneft'
** nefs, during the whole time of divine
" fervice, that I could not help obfer-
** ving him with Ibme confufton ; — after
*« we came out of church, turning my
** head back on fome occafion, I per-
\* ceived he followed mc, though at t
- Vol, II. G ** diftance --

122 T/6^ HISTORY o/

" diftance ; but when I came near our
*' door, the Ibotman who attended me
*' ftepping before to knock, he advanced
" haltily and came time enough to make
*' me a profound reverence juft as I was'.
** entering the houfe; — I was a little' s^
•' confounded, as I had never ken him
" before ; — I returnM his civihty, how-
*' ever, and went in -, — my lifter, who
*' had not been at church that day, was
". looking out of a window and beheld
•' this paffage ; — fhe raUied me a little
*' upon It, and afk*d me who that pretty
" fellow was that came to the door with
*' me i — I told her the fimple truth, and
*' it pais'd off till we were going to bed,
♦* when one of the maids told me, in
" her prefence, a fine young gentleman
'* had watchM the footman as he was
*' going out on fome errand, and alk'd
" him abundance of queltions concern-
*' ing me j — thought it a little ftrange,
*« but faid nothing, nor did my fifter
«* fcem to take much notice of it.

" I thought little of this adventure,
*« but found llie afterwards made a
" handle oi it, not only to pofTefs my fa-
*' thcr with an opinion that I rejefled the
" lover he recommended to me tor the
" fake of one who was my own choice^
" but alio to reproach me as hiVing en-
" cuuiii^cd a ciandeftinc courtfhip.

*« I

Jemmy^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 123

1'*' I mention this only to Ihew how
deftitute I was of any confolation what-
foever j but in the midft of perturba-
tions, which almoft deprived me of
my fenfes, an expedient ftarted at
once into my head, which flatter*d me
with fome fmall profped of relief.

*' My lover appeared to be a man who

wanted neither good fenfe nor gene-

rofity ; and I fancied that if he knew

the true ftate ©f my heart, the one

' would fliew him the extreme madnefs

' of marrying a woman who had fo utter

' a diflike to him, and the other make

'him afhamed of rendering miferable

* the perfon he pretended to love.

" On this foundation I built my hopes,^

* and refolved on his next vifit to make
' him thoroughly acquainted with the de-

* plorable condition to which I was re-
' duced by his unfortunate paflion •, and
' to befeech him to withdraw his preten-

* fions as of his own accord, and without

* hinting to my father that any thing ia
•' my behaviour had been the caufe.

<« But alas ! — I had no fooner con-

]•• triv*d this proje6t, than I found the

'* impradticability of putting it into execu-

3fi4 77j^ HISTORY 0/

** tion -, — my father had a clofet which
*' opened from his bed-chamber, was be-
*' tween that and the dining-room, and
" divided from the latter but by a thin
" partition.

** Good God, continued this afflifted'
*' fair one, how every thing confpired
" againfl: me, — my father had always-
'* kept the key of this clofet himfelf, but
*' now had given it to my filler, and I
" foon found for no other purpofe than
*' thatllie Ihould hear from thence what
*' pafs'd between me and my lover, and
*' give him an account. *

I

" Though I only fufpefted this at firft,
•* but was certain of it when being call'd
*' down from the chamber where I lay
** to receive my lover who waited for
*' me in the dining-room, I faw, as 1
*' crofs'd the flair-cafe, the fhadow of
'^ my fifter palTmg hallily into the very
"• clofet I have mention*d.

*' The old gentleman was in great
*' good humour that day, and perhapi
" my tears and prayers might have work'd"
" on him the effefl I wifh'd, had I not
" be:n fo unhappily difappointed of ma-
" king the experiment.

" Having

IJemmy and J euny Jessamy. 125

j *' Having taken notice, I fuppofe,
j' that I wore no watch, though indeed
* I had one, but it being out of order
/•* was fcnt fome time before to be mend-
•' ed he brought with him a fine repeater
•' fet round with diamonds, and begg'd
i'* me to accept it ; — as 1 knew who was
!."' witnels of our converfation I durit not
■•* refufe his prefent, and much lefs talk
" to him in the manner I had intended,

" I knew not then what courfe to take,
" but at laft bethought me of employing
I** my pen to give him that information
** which my tongue was deprived of all
'** opportunity of doing i — accordingly I

/•* wrote to him in this manner :

I

1 " Sir,

ICC XT is only in your pov/er to fave me
;'** A from the worft of miferies, — -that of
'•* a forced marriage ; — my father is in-
'*• exorable to my tears, and refolute to
** compel me to be yours ; but not all
'* his authority, your merits, nor my
*• juft fenfibility of them can ever bring
" my heart to confent to the union you
'* propofe : — in fine, I cannot love you
" as a husband, but fhall always regard
** you as the beft of friends, if you fore-
*' go the claim parental power has given
G 3 yo%

J26 Tie HISTORY of

** you, andrefufe that hand, the acceptance
" of which would infaihbly make you
" no lefs wretched than myfelf; — con-
*' fider therefore, fir, what it is you are
" about, and drive not an unhappy
" maid to defperation j for be afiured I
" will feek rehef in death rather than
« be

Yours.

*' This I folded up, but neither fealed
" nor dire<5led it, as I defigned to flip it
" into his own hands as he fhould be go-
*' ing away from his next vilit ; — but
*' here again my fcheme was fruftrated,
" my father coming home before he went
" away and waiting on him down ftairs.

" The enfuing day, however, I thought
'* myfelf more fortunate ; — he came, and
*' bufinefs calling him away fomewhat
*' before his ufual hour, I follow'd to
** the dining-room door and gave him
*' the paper, faying at the faiaae time,—
** I befeech you, fir, to confider ferioufly
** on the contents of this, — and make
** no mention of it to my father.'

" He look'd very much furprifed, and
'* feemed as it about to open what I gave
♦* him ; but I clapp'd my hand haftily

'* upon

Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 127
«* upon his, — crying, — For Heaven's
•' fake take care what you do, this is no
'* proper place •,* — and with thefe words
" turn'd quick into the room to prevent
" any queftions he might have made.

" My heart flutter'd a little at the ftep
" I had taken-, — fufpence is a very un-
" eafy fituation ; but as I thought it im- ,
" poffible that any man would venture
*' to marry a woman who had wrote to
" him in the manner I had done, I grew
" more compofed, and Qept much better
" that night than for feveral preceding
«' ones.

" But, oh ! how fhort lived was my
" eafe, and hov/ terrible a furcharge oS:
" of woe did the next day prefent me
*' with ; — my father, who went out foon
*« after breakfaft, return'd not till the
*' cloth v/as laid for dinner, and then
»* only to tell me that he had been with
" my lover all the morning •, — that every
*' thing was concluded between them ;
** and that the marriage Ihould be fo-
" lemnized at our houfe the evening of
" the fucceeding day.

** Judge, ladies, of my condition ; —

" the convid at the bar feels not more

*' horror at the fentence of approaching

G 4 «* fate.

128 "The HISTORY of
*' fate, than I did at the event which I
" had vainly flatter'd myfelf was far re-
*' moved from me ; — the amazement I
" was in kept me for fome moments in
-' a kind of fbupid fiience ; — my father
** was fo taken up in dire(5ling my fifter
*' what preparations fhe fhould m^ake for
*' this affair that he regarded not my con-
*' fiifion, till grief and defpair unloofed
" my tongue, and I cried out, — Oh, fir,
*« did you not fay I fhould have time ?**

" Time, reply*d he, can any time be
" more lucky for you than this, when
•* you are going to have the fame fettle-
•' ment as if you brought ten thoufand
** pounds ? your lover is fo pieafed with
« * the pretty trick you play'd him laft
" night, that I believe I might have got
*' more for you if I had infifted upon it ;
*' — but this was his own offer, and it is
** very well -, — we are going together to
** my lawyer's to order the writings.'

" My fiffer then afk'd him if he
** would not dine, to which he anfwer'd
»* in the negative, and after giving her
•* fome farther inflrudfions, left us to
•* return to his intended fon-in-law, who
'« he faid waited for him at the choco-
" late-houfe.

*' Dinner

Jemmy ^»^ Jenny Jess AMY. i^^

'^ Dinner was prefently brought in,— I
•' fat down, but could not eat a bit j —
*' my fifter, who fince the death of my
*' mother had been houfe-keeper and
*' affefted to be very notable, talked of
" nothing but the hurry fhe fhould be in,
*' — and what fhould be the firft, — and
** what fhould be the fecond courfe of
•' the wedding fupper ; for though there
*' were but two or three friends to be in-
^« vited, yet my father had order*d that
" every thing for this dreadful ceremony
** fhould be fet forthwith as much elegance
** as pofTible.

" On my making no reply to all fhe
•* faid, fhe told me I was a fullen fool,
*' and did not deferve my good fortune;
" — I had no fpirit to enter into any al-
*' tercations with her, fo flung from the
*' table and retir'd to my chamber to
" "vent thofe cruel agitations with which
" I was now more than ever ©ver-
** whelm'd.

*' The firfl refleflions that occur'H to
•' me were on this hated lover's being:
*' pleafed with the paper I had given
*' him, and telling my father that I had
«' play'd him a pretty trick. — What,
*' cried I to myfelf, is it not enough that
G 5 « h«.

130 ^he HISTORY of

" he negleds my complaits, — muft
*» he alfo infult me for them, and turn
.'* my grief into derifion?

<* But I had no time to wafte on this
*'■ fubjedt, — my doom was fix'd, and I
*' muft either fly or tamely fubmit to it i
,* — I refolved on the former whatever
*' fhould be the confequence, and now
' " thought of nothing but the means of
«' accomplilhing it.

" It was not long before I determin'd
** on what courfe to take ; I have an aunt
*' married to a merchant at Cork, — I
*' believe fhe will grant me her pro-
*' tedion, — I am going, however, to make
•* the experiment, and if fhe refufes, muft
*' content myfelf to earn my bread either
" by going to fervice or working at my
** needle."

^fe<jferife>

CHAP.

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. i 3 1

CHAP. XIIJ.

May properly enough come under the
denomination of an appendix to the
three lajl preceding chapters^ as con-
taining fome things which ought to
have been injerted in them.

TH E fair fugitive now thought (he
had related all that was expelled
from her ; but lady Speck, perceiving
(he had done fpeaking, prevented what
any' of the reft of the company would
have faid on that occafion, by crying out
haftily, — * Madam, you have not given

* us an account of the manner of youi
' efcaping the misfortune you fo much

* dreaded ; — we fee you here, but know

* not by what means you are fo, — without

* which your hiftory will be imperfe6t.'

* As I may perhaps have been too

* circumftantial in fome parts of my

* narrative, reply 'd fhe, I was cautious

* not to weary out your patience by any

* farther particulars of an event fo little
« deferving your regard j — but as you

* are fo good to afford me your atten-

G 6 * tion.

132 97;^ HISTORY 0/

' tion, I fhall readily make you a detail

* of whatever pafs'd from the moment

* of my refolving to fly my father's
' houfe to that of my arrival at a place
' where I have the honour to be fo ge-

* neroufly entertain'dj and I am the

* more glad to do it, as there is indeed

* one thing which, in common juftice to

* the gentleman who made his addrefles

* to me, I ought not to have omitted.'

** As to my departure, purfued fhe,
** nothing was more eafy to be accom-
«« plifh'd ; — no one fufpe<5led I had any
*' thoughts of it, fo no care was taken
«* to prevent my flight, either by con-
•* fining my perfon or fetting any body
«« to obferve my motions ; — but I was
•< willing to take fuch of my things as I
*« could conveniently carry with me ^
•' this requir*d fome contrivance ; — there
*' was no pofllbility of fending a trunk
*< or portmanteau out of the houfe, there-
*♦ fore found i was obliged to leave
•' every thing behind me which I could
"•» not be the porter ot myfelf.

■C

** My fifter was mighty bufy all that|
«* afternoon in her domeftic affairs ; — -
«* 1 employ'd that time in looking over
•' my wearing apparel and made the
** belt aflbrtment of them I could, feled:-

*■' ing

Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 13^
** ing thofe which I thought I could leaft
•* lupport the want of ; — my fine laces
•* I cramm'd into a handkerchief, in order
«* to put into my pockets •, and the more
** bulky part of my linnen, with fome
*' upper garments, J tied in two pillow-
<« cafes, and then efTay'd whether I could
** carry them on each fide under my
" hoop-petticoat, and found I could do
" it very well •, — certainly thefe vaft
" French hoops were invented chiefly
" for the convenience of thofe who carry
«* about them what they want ihould
*' be conceal'd."

Not only mr. Lovegrove, but the
ladies themfelves laugh*d heartily at this
refieiftion on their mode ; — but they
would not interrupt her, and flie went
on :

'* Finding I was able to walk under
" the burthens I had prepared, at leafl:
•* as far as out of the fight of our houfe,
*' I put them all together into a large
** trunk, pack'd up as they were, ready
** for a march next morning; for I
•* thought it not advifeable to go that
** night, as lying at any houfe in town
** might endanger a difcovery, and I
**" knew that no carriage of any kind
*' would fet out before day-break.

, " After

134 "The HISTORY of

*' After this I fat down and confider'd
what more was to be done before I
went away, — my father till now had
always been mofl indulgent to me, —
humoiir'd me in every thing -, and
even this laft aft of power, cruel as it
was, I know was kindly meant •, — I
could not therefore think of leaving
him, perhaps for ever, without letting
him fee I had not quite forgot the
reverence I owed him.

*' I then took pen and paper and wrote
•* a letter to him ; — I cannot remember
" exadlly the expreffions I made ufe of,
** but know they were as pathetic as
** could be diflated by a heart over- ?
** flowing, as mine was, with filial love
*' and grief. ;

•' I told him that I had exerted the
*' whole force of my endeavours to obey
" him ; — that my reafon and the infur-
*' mountable averfion I had to the match
*' he propofed, had occafion'd confli6ls
*' in my breaft which life could fcarce
*« fuftain ; that I fled not from the pre-
" fence of the befl of fathers, but to
" a\ oid being guilty of a deed, which
*' would liave been yet more grievous -
l[ to him 5 — begg'd him to forgive me, |

and

Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 13^
** and to reft affured that to what exi-
«' gencies foever I might be reduced in
*' this forlorn and heJplefs condition,
" nothing Ihould tempt me to bring
*' difgrace upon my family or dilhonour
«« to myfelf.

" Having finifh*d this melancholy
** epiftle, I threw it into the drawer of
«* a little efcrutore, defigning to take it
«' with me in the morning and fend it to
•' my father by the penny-poft ; — but,
*« good God ! how great was my con-
*» fufion, when happening to look over
" fome writings I have there, I know
" not for what reafon, for I had nothing
«« which I fear'd Ihould be expofed after
*' I was gone, one of the firft things I
" laid my hands on was the very paper
«» I had wrote to my lover, and thought
«' I had given to him.

" I did not prefently conceive how
*« this could be ; — I knew I had wrote
*' no copy, and that it was the fame
*' which I had been certain of having
«* deliver'd to him ; but at laft I re-
*' member*d, that not being able to give
** it to him on the day I intended, I had
** put it into this drawer to prevent its
" being feen by any accident ; — and this
" recollection convinced me, that inftead

•*of

136 l!he HISTORY of

«' of a letter of complaint he had re-
*' ceived from me a foolifh love fong,
*' though fet to very good mufic, which
«* a lady of my acquaintance had defired
" me to write out for her, and I thought^
" as I could not find it, I had dropt it
•* from my pocket, — It began thus :

" Deareft Damon would you fhew
'« What a faithful man can do>

" Love me ever,

'* Leave me never.

She was proceeding, ' but mr. Love-
grove was fo highly diverted with this
incident, that he could not forbear inter-
rOpting her, — * By Heaven, madam^
' faid he, it would have been cruel in
' you to have made us lofe fo agreeable
« a part of your hiftory.*

The ladies exprefs'd themlelves in much
the fame manner -, — ' I cannot help laugh-

* ing, cried lady Speck, to think of the

* old gentleman's tranfports on receiving

* fo fond a remonftrance from his young.

* miftrefs-,'— ' Nor I,fubjoin'd mifs Wing-
' man, at the idea how much he mufl:

* be mortified whea he found himfelf

* deceived.' — ' For my part, faid Jenny,

* in a more ferious air, I pity the poor

* man, and am heartily forry for the

' lady.

Jemmy and Jenuy Jessamv. 137

* lady, who but for this miftake might

* not perhaps have been driven to the

* neceflity of quitting her father's houfe.*

** It is utterly impoflible, madam, re-
** ply'd the other, refuming the thread
•* of her difcourfe, to know what would
** have happen*d, had this not been the
" cafe ; — I was, however, fo much
" fhock'd at the thoughts of what I had
*' done, that I refolved to let him con-
** tinue in his error no longer than I had
*' it in my power to convince him of it ;
" — to this end I inclofed the letter I
" haddefign'd for him in another piece of
" paper, in which I wrote, — I think to
" this efFea :

« Sir,

*' np H E filly paper, which by miftake
" A I put into your hands, muft cer-
•' tainly have given you a very odd opinion
«* both of my underftanding and fm-
" cerity.

*' This will, however, undeceive you
** as to the latter, by fhewing you I meant
** not to difguife the true fituation of my
«« heart, which had you fooner known,
«* perhaps I might not have been the
" wretch I am -, — but it is now too late,
" and all the hopes I flatter'd myfelf with

" from

138 ne HISTORY of

*' from your generofity and compaflion
" are-vanifh'd into air.

*' Yes, fir, the agreement made be-
" tween my father and yourfelf drives
" me from all I once thought happinefs ;
" but beg you to believe that I fhall
" always retain a grateful fenfe of the.
" advantages offer'd me by your love,
" how miferable foever it has made me,
" and fhall never ceafe to wifh you may
** long enjoy all thofe blefllngs in life
" which cruel deftiny denies any part
*• of to

« The forlorn, &c.

«* To this, continued fhe, I added a
** poftfcript, tX) let him know that I left
" behind me the watch which he had
" been fo good to prefent me with, and
" doubted not but my father would re-
" turn it to him as foon as my flight
" lliould be difcover'd.

" Having difpatch*d all that I thought
" neceffary for my going, my mind for
*' fome moments was as eafy and com-
" pofed as if the preparations I had been
" making were only for a journey of
". pleafure -, — but alas, the fad occafion
" foon recoiled upon me, and fill'd me
" with mod gloomy apprehenfions.

«« My

Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 13^

" My father came home in the even-
" ing in fo joGofe a humour as hinder*d
" him from obferving that melancholy
*' which I could not elfe have been able
*' to hide from him ; — he had, indeed,
" been drinking more freely than he was
*' accuflom'd ; and I found alfo by
*' what he faid, that my lover, by toaft-
" ing my health too plentifully, had
** render'd himfelf incapable of waiting
*' on me that night.

•' Nothing material happen'd after-
*' wards to the time of my elopement,
*' which every thing feem*d to favour ;
*' — my lifter went very early in the
** morning to Covent Garden to buy
'* fruit for the defert, taking one of the
*' men with her to bring home what
" purchafes fhe made ; — the other was
'* bufy in cleaning the plate ; — all the
*' maids were in the kitchen, and my
*' father was yet in bed ; — fo the coafl
■*' being entirely clear, I tyed my paniers
*' to my fides, — ftuffed my pockets with
*• as much as they would contain, and
" went dit-edtly out of the houfe without
" being feen by any body ; though I be-
** lieve whoever had met me would not
" have guefs'd in what manner I was
** equipp'd i — I made all the hafte I

" could

I40 The HIST OKY oj

" could out of the ftreet however, — ftept
" into the "firft hackney coach I found,
*' and drove to a place where I remem-
*' bered to have feen fecond-hand cloaths
" hung up for fale, — there I bought this
** riding-hood, which I thought would
** be fome kind of a difguife.

*' Briftol being juft oppofite to that
** part of Ireland where my aunt lives, I
*' had no other route to take •, but in the
" hurry of my thoughts, had never once
*' confider'd that as I had fecured no
" place in the ftage-coach it was a thou-
" fand againft one if there would be any
*' room for me in it at this feafon of the
•' year.

" I did not forget, however, in my
*' way to the inn, to put the letters I had
" wrote to my father and lover into the
«* penny-poft, but found when I came
" there the coach was not only full but
" had fet out above an hour before ;—
" this put me into great perplexity •, but
'' I was now embark'd on an expedition,
*' and muft go through it fome how or
'•^ other ; — the Windfor flage was juft
'' going out, and had a place which I
" gladly fiU'd, in order to be fo far on
" my journey.

«*0n

Jemmy <zW Jenny Jessamy. 141

** On my arrival there, I was at as
*' great a lofs as before •, but being told
<« that if I hired a chaife to Maidenhead
" I might pofTibly find a place in Ibme
*' one or other of the coaches that put in
<* there, — I took this advice, but would
" not lie in that town left I Ihould be
*« feen by fome perfons of my acquain-
*' tance that lived there, fo drove on to
" this village, which 1 thought would
«' anfwcr my purpofe as well, as I fhould
'* catch the coaches as they pafs'd by this
'.' morning; — 1 got up very early that
" I might be ready for the firft, for it
*' was indifferent to me in which I went,
** provided they took the road I wanted
*' to go ; but my hopes deceived me,
*' every one that came this way was full.

*' But this was not the only, nor the
" worft difappointment I met with at
*' this place -, — having laid out what loofe
** money I had about me, I thought to
*' have recourfe to my purfe, in which,
" bcfides fufficient to defray the ex-
*« pences of my journey, there was a
'* diamond ring which had been my mo-
** ther*s, and a medal which I fet a high
'' value upon •, — not finding it prefently
** I was very much alarm' d, — f pull'd
** every thing out of my pockets that

♦* were

142 the HISTORY of

** were in them, but the examination only
*' ferv'd to convince me that what I
** fought was loft J — I know not how
" this accident happen' d, nor is it of any
'* importance.

*« It is eafy to conceive how terrible
«' a misfortune this was to a perfon in
** my prefent circumftances ; — I fhould
*' have been driven to the laft defpair, if
" a thought had not occurr'd to me, that
" the little box 1 took the liberty of
*' fending by the woman of the houfe
*' might be acceptable to fome one or
*« other of this company.**

Here ended all fhe had to fay, but the
conclufion was accompanied with fome
tears, which notwithftanding robb'd the
eyes from which they fell, of no part of
their luftre.

CHAP.

Jemmy /7;7ijENNv Jessamv. 143

CHAP. XIV.

Contains much matter for edification^
but very little for entertainment,

TH E diftrefles of a beautiful perfon
have a double influence over the
heart, — thofe misfortunes which the dig-
nity of our nature obliges us to eom-
miferate, excite a more kindly warmth,
a more interefted concern, in propor-
tion to the lovelinefs of the objed: we fee
labouring under them.

I

^- There was fomething in the air and

whole behaviour of this young ftranger ;

which, join'd to the calamity of her pre-

fent condition, had a kind of magnetic

force capable of attracting both refpe<5t

and companion in minds lefs generous

and gentle than thofe of the company

fhe now was with.

They thank*d her for the pleafure fhe
had given them in the recital of her ad-
ventures, and at the fame time teltify*d
the molt afFe(^ionatc concern for the
; •event.

Each

144 ^^ HISTORY of

Each having exprefs*d fome part of
their fentiments on this occafion, lady
Speck drew her fifter and Jenny afide,
and, after a fhort whifper between them-
felves, all return*d again to their feats,
and the former addrelTing herfelf to their
unfortunate gueft, fpoke in this manner :

* We cannot think, madam, faid Ihe,

* of depriving you of a thing which an
' unforefeen neceflity has oblig'd you to
' expofe to fale ; but if you pleafe to

* receive a fmall contributien in lieu of
' a purchafe, we Ihall take your accep-
' tance as a favour done to ourfelves.'

With thefe words her ladyfhip put fix
guineas into her hand, which fhe took,
bow'd and blufh'd, though not half fo
much as Jenny did, who was extremely
fcandaliz'd at the meannefs of the pre-
fent, though fhe did not think proper to
difcover her opinion of it at that time.

On this mr. Lovegrove, who doubt-
lefs had his own refle(5tions, — cried hailily
out, — ' Then, ladies, fince you will not
' buy the box I will, — I have a mind to
' make a prefent of it to a lady.' •— ' I
' protcft I will not have it, faid lady
« Speck i*— •' Nor I, rejoin'd mifs Wing-

' man ;*

Jemmy rt;?^ Jenny Jessamy. 145

« man ;' — ' Nor I, cried Jenny.* — ' You
« need not be under this agitation, ladies,

* reply'd he fmihng, for I alTure you,

* it neither was nor is my intention to

* make an offering of it to any of you.*

They all looked a little grave at hear-
ing him fpeak in this manner, but faid
nothing, while he counted ten guineas
out of his purfe and prefented to the fair
fugitive with one hand, and with the
other in the fame moment took up the
fnuff-box, which had all this time lain
on a fide-board near which he fat j —
« This, madam, faid he, is an equivalent

* I believe.'

He then put the box. into his pocket

with a very ferious air, but immediately

i taking it out again laid it into the lap

( of the owner ; — ' You are the only per-

' • fon, madam, faid he, to whom I ought

* to make this prefent, — be pleafed to

* accept it as a token of my fmcerc

* refpect for a lady who at your years
« can have behaved with fo much for-
' titude and refolution.*

All the ladies were highly pleafed at
the gallant turn he had given to this
affair ; but the obliged per fon was fo
much overwhelm' d with the fenfe fhe

Vol. II. H had

146 The HISTORY of

had of fuch an unexpe6ted acft of gene-
rofity, that flie was able to exprefs her
gratitude only in broken and disjointed
phraies, — which notwithftanding mr.
Lovegrove would not fufFer her to go on
with •, but afl<:'d her in what manner fhe
now intended to profecute her journey.

She reply'd, that as there was no wheel-
carriage to be procured in that village,
Ihe had thoughts of taking a man and
horfe to conduct her as far as Reading,
where fhc was informed fhe might be
fure of being bstter accommodated.

Though mr. Lovegrove had no other
view in this queftion than merely to
turn the dilcourfe, it proved a very for-
tunate one for the young traveller •, — on
hearing the anlVer Ihe made, — '• You need
« not, fliid lady Speck, be at the pains
< or expence of hiring a man and horfe,
' as we have enough of both ftanding
' idle \' — 1 doubt not but the woman of
* the houfe will readily provide a pillion,
' and vou may ride behind one of my
' fer' -Uiis.'

This offer being too convenient, as
well rs obliging, not to be joyfully ac-
cept'^d, the lady immediately called for
one of her fervants and gave him orders

to

!, Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jesgamy". 147
ito do as fhe had faid •, adding withal,
I that when they came to Reading he
'fhoiild ufe his endeavours to afTift the
young lady he carried in getting a poft-
chaife for her to purfue her journey.

A very little time ferved for the ex-
■ecution of this command -, and after the
mod becoming retributions on the one
'fide, and fincere good wifhes on the other,
the fair ftranger took her leave of a com-
pany among whom fhe had been fo pro-
Ividentially thrown in a time of fuch
diflfefs.

Jenny, who had her head and heart a
jgood deal taken up with what had pafTed,
'followed her down flairs, and making
iher flep into a little room where they
could not be overheard, furprifed her
With thefe words :

5*1 cannot exprefs, faid fhe, with the
' greatefl fweetnefs in her voice and looks,

" how deeply I have been touched with
' your misfortunes, nor how much a.
~ fhamed I am ot the flender contribution
' made for their relief; — Lady Speck is
' very good, and I never was more a-
' mazed than to hear her mention fo
'.pitiful a fum as two guineas a peice i
■' . but as it was agreed to by her fifler I
H 2 * could

3 4^ "The HISTORY of

could not well oppofe it without giving

offence ; — I fliall however never be

' able to remember this affuir without

* bluihing if you do not allow me to

■* make up Ibme part of the deficiency.*

She accompanied the latter part of this
fpeech with a prefent of fi /e guineas, v/hich
the other fhewed a very great unwilling-
nefs to accept, — faying Ihe was already
overloaded with favours, and what flie
had received was more than fufficient
for all the purpofes fne v/anted -, but
Jenny told her that Hie knew not what
accidents might happen to a perfon at
fuch a diftance from her friends, and in
fine forced her to take it, — then, after
giving her a moil cordial embrace, left
her and returned to the company, with-
out taking any notice of the occafion of
her leaving them, s

She found them animadverting on-
this adventure, which doubtlefs had fome-j
thing pretty extraordinary in it ^ — lady
Speck was juft faying how lucky a thing
it was for the young ftranger that fhc
happen'd to come into the fame inn
where they were. — ' It was fo, indeed,
' madam, reply'd Jenny, and I think
« no lefs fortunate for us alfo, as the fight
' of her diftrefs has given us an oppor-

' tunity

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 149'

' * tunity of doing what every one ought
• ' to rejoice in having the power to do.'

' Nothing can be more juil, madam,
* than this refieftion of yours, faid mr*
'* Lovegrove-, but I am forry to have
' ' obferv'd, that there are too many who
' * have greatly the power without being
; ' bleft with the will to do the lead good
' * office : others a.g-ain, who though of a
• * more beneficent difpofition confine their
? * bounties within the iiarrow compafs of
f ' their own acquaintance. — Diftrefs is
f*- not diftrefs with them, unlefs the perfca
''« who labours under it be known to tht^m,
'* forgetting that all mankind are but
'• one great family, defcended originally
^* from the fame parents -, that every in-
f* dividual is a branch from the fame
! ' flock, and confequently have a kindred
'* right to the protedion of each other.

i 'I was an ear witnefs not long ago,
I" continued he, of a very fevere, as well
<* as genteel reprimand given to a peer
j'* of the firft rank by a perfon in great
h* diftrefs, who had petitioned his lord-
[♦• Ihip for relief, and to whom he fent
for anfwer, — That he knew nothing of
him, and that he never gave any thing
■' * to ftrangers •, — on this the unfortunate
■'«; perfoH reply'd to him that deliver*d the
H 3 « meflhge.

I50 The HISTORY ry/

' nielFage, — then tell your lord that he
* v/ill ULY^Y relieve an angel.'

This worthy gentleman would per-
haps have farther expatiated on the beau-
ties of a mind extennvely benevolent, if
he had not been interrupted by Landy,
who camiC lip to acquaint them the ne-
cefTary repairs of the coach were now er>-
tirely finifh'd •, — on hearing this, as there
were yet fome hours of day-light, they
all agreed to go to Maidenhead that
night, not only becaufe they were fure
of meeting with better accommodation
than they had lound here, but alfo for
the fake of being fo much the farther on
their journey. j

Every thing being got ready with all
imaginable expedition, they departed from
that village, where lady Speck left orders
that the lervant who had bten fent to
condudl the young ftranger fliould relrefh
himfelf there that night, and follow them
early the next morning to Maidenhead.

C II A P.

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 151

CHAP. XV.

Cannot fail of gming a very agreeable
Jen fat ion to e^cery honeji and good-
natured reader.

MISS Wingman, who befides the na-
tural afFeftion fhe had for a mother
who tenderly loved her, had always been
bred in the ftrifteft principles o£ duty
and obedience to her, could not keep her-
felf from being a little uneafy at th •
delay that had happen'd in their journey
fearing that indulgent parent might be
under fome apprehenfions of her being
detained by a worfe accident than the
real one, a day longer than fhe exped;ed.

To relieve her as foon as polTible, hov/-
ever, from the anxieties fhe might be
under on this fcore, fhe made Landy,
inftead of flopping with them at Maiden-
head, proceed cirectly, and with all the
fpeed he could, towards London ; — the
honefl fleward, knowing his bid lady's
temper, was glad to be charged with this
commiirion, aflurcd the young one,
that as far as the day was advanced, he
doubted not but he fhould be able to*
H 4 reach.

152 'The HISTORY of

reach V/indfor that night, and from
thence, fetting out early the next morn-
ing, carry lady Wingman the joyful news
ot their approach kveral hours before
the coach could poflible arrive.

This fihal cbfervance, in a young lady
ot mifs Wingman's gay and volatile dif-
pofition, appear'd extremely amiable in
tiie eyes boih of Jenny and mr. Love-
grove -, but I will not trouble the reader
with any repetition of the m.any com-
pliments they made to her upon this
o-cafion, tilings of m.uch greater moment
rec,uirir:g to be difcufs'd. j

Nothing worthy of obtaining a place
in this hiitory happening at prefent, I
fhall only fay they all came to Maiden-
head perfedly well pleafed with the change
of iheir quarters, and that mr. Love-
grove, to whofe dire6tion every thing
was left, took care they fhould be made
full amends that evening for the bad
entertainment of the preceding one.

The fervant who had been fent to
attend the fair fugitive return'd, accord-!
ing to the orders he had received, very
early in the morning;, and brought an
account that he had been fo fortunate as
to procure a handfome poft-chaife for

her,

Jemmy and Jenny Jess amy. i^i^

her, which was to carry her quite to
Brillol..

Mr. Lovegrove, Jenny, and mifs Wing-
man were all up and drefs'd, — all the equi--
page was ready ; but lady Speck, who
loved to travel at her eafe, not rifing
before her ufual hour, they did not fee
out fo foon as fome of the company, her
filler in particular, were impatient to do.

Notwithftanding this, the high metal
of the horfes and fkill of the conduftor
brought them to London pretty early
in the afternoon •, — lady Speck, who
thought herfelf under an indifpenfible
duty of waiting on her mother before Ihe
went home, prevail'd on Jenny and mr.
Lovegrove to accompany them, fo the

i coachman was order'd to drive diredly

1 thither.

It cannot be doubted but that the good
[old lady received her two daughters with.
;all the demonftrations of affection ima«
.ginable, and thofe they brought with them
I with the greateft complaifance ; but after
the firft falutations were over, — 'lam-

* forry, faid fhe, turning to hidy Speck,

* that what I wrote to Kitty has made
*• you and mifs Jeflamy quit the pleafures

H-5 ' of.

154 '^^^e HISTORY of

' of Bath fo much fooner than I believe
' either ot" you intended.'

* I am ibrry, madam, reply'd fhe, for •
' the occafion of your ladylTiip's writing

* in that manner.'—' So am not I, madam,'
cried a voice well known to all that were
prefent, and immediately lord Huntley,
follow'd by fir Thomas Welby, rufh'd
from an inner room, where they had
withdrawn on the ladies coming up. —

* The late cloud, continued lord Huntley,
' caft upon my honour, I hope will only

* ferve to render it more bright in the
' eyes of thofe to whom I moit defire it

* fhould be confpicuous.*

He then paid his compliments to each
of the ladies one after another, who were
all of them fo aftonifh'd at the fight of
him, that they had not the power of utter-
ing one word •, — this fcene, in effeff, v/as
fo pleafant, that fir ThomasWelby laugh'd
till his fides fliook, and lady Wingman
Kerfelf, in fpite of her gravity, could not
forbear fmiling.

As lord Huntley advanced to embrace
mr. Lovegrove, — * I congratulate you,

* my dear lord, faid that gentleman, — I

* congratulate you, fince there needs no

* other pi oof than feeing your lordfliip

* here

Jemmy ^w^' Jenny Jess amy. 155-

'^ lifcrc to aillire me that your innocence
*- is fully clear'd.

' Ay, ay, cried fir Thomas Welby, — ^
« all this buttle has happen'd through
' my fooliili millake -, and I am glad,,
' that befides my fair charge and her
' mother,, here are fo many witneffes of
' my acknowledging it.'

* Sir Thomas, reply'd lord Huntley^
' you have fo well attoned for reprefent--
' ing me more unworthy than I really-
' am, or can be, by the promife you have

* given me of ufing your intereft to make:

* me more happy than I can ever defej;ve

* to be, that 1 have reafon to blefs an.
' error fo propitious to my hopes.*

' The event, I perceive, has prov*d

* fortunate enough, faid lady Speck ; but

* methinks I fhould be giad to know how
< it came about to be fo, and by what:
' means fir Thomas was fo ilrangely de*

* ceiv'd.'

' Strangely indeed, madam, anfwer'd

* * he •, — I am alhamed to think of ic ; — ..
\'^* but have a little patience, and you fhaii

* be fully acquainted v/ith all the par--

* ticulars of this very foolifh affair •, — it

* is a penance I have enjoin'd niyfelf
K 6 * t'ox-

156 The HISTORY «/

* tor my weaknefs in fo ralhiy giving
' credit to appearances.*

The company now feated themfelves,
which before they had not done, and fir
Thomas, on feeing the three young ladies
and mr. Lovegrove prepar'd to give their
attention to what he had to deUver, began
the recital he had promifed in thefe or
the like words :

'* Happening to call, faid he, at the
" houfe of an honell tradefman with
" whom I have been long acquainted, I
" was a little furprifed,on pafling through
*« his fliop, to hear a perfon who came in
*' juft after me enquire if lord Huntley
*' or bis lady were at home.

** I. flaid not to hear what anfwer
** was given to the man, but went direftly
*' to my friend, who I faw fitting in his
*' counting-houfe •,— the lirft queftion I
*' afked him was, — what lodgers he had
*' in his houfe ; — ^to which he reply'd,— i
«» that at prefent he had the honour of
*' having lord and lady Huntley, of the
*' kingdom of Ireland •, but fhould not
**long be fo happy, for they had taken
«' a great houfe in the new buildings,
** and only waited till their furniture,

" which

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. j^y-
" which was on the road from Weil:
'* Cheiler, fliould arrive.

*' The confternation I was in made
*' me put a great many, interrogatories
*' to him, fome of which I believe were
*' impertinent enough^ but he had the
*' good manners, however, to anfwer
" fuccindly to every thing I afk*dj,
*' according to the beft of his knowledge :
" — he told me that lord Huntley had'
" been in England fome time before his.
" lady, — that he had ftaid but two
** nights with her in chefe lodgings before
" he went out of town, and would not:
*^ return till his houfe fhould be quite
" completed, and fit for his reception,,
*' leaving the care of every thing to her
*' ladyjfhip and the fteward.

" He alfo added, that hearing they

«' intended to furnifh one apartment'

" entirely nev/., he had recommended' an

«' upholftererand cabinet-maker to them

«< for that purpofe, and hoped he Ihouid^

" have an opportunity of obliging feveral

*' others of his friends and neighbours

*' by helping them to the cuftom of this

" noble Lord.

** As he is of a very communicative
** dilpofition. he run on^. of his own

" accord,

158 The HISTORY of
*' accord, with feveral other particulars ;
" to which, indeed, I did not give rnuch
" attention, thinking myfeJt thoroughly
*' convinced in tlie main point, — that of
" lord Huntley's being a married man.

" But notv/ithftanding all he faid
" ferved to corroborate that belief in
*' me, I was willing to be Hill more con-
" firm'd, which I thought I might be
" by feeing and fpeaking to the lady
" herfelf.

*.' Accordingly I told my friend, that
" I was well acquainted with lord Hunt-
*' ley, though I had not till now heard
*« of his marriage ; but that fince it was
" fo, and tlie thing fcem'd to be no
*« fecret, I fliould be glad to pay my
*' compliments to her kdyfhip on that
*' occafion.

** To this he reply'd, that flie was the
*' bed humour'd woman in the world,
" arid he was fure would take it very
" kindly : — ' Yonder is the fteward, ,
« cried he, I will let him know your in- '
* tention •,' — " in fpeaking fhefe words, :"
" and without waiting to hear what I
" would fay, he beckon'd to a perfon
" who was that moment coming into
^' the houfe j — prefcntly the word coun-

" tenanced

Jemmy /?W Jennf Jessamv. 159

*' tenanced man 1 ever faw, — but who,
'' on my fignifying to him my defire ot
" waiting on lady Huntley, anfwer'd
" with a great deal of civility, that he
" would fee if her ladyihip was at leifure
" to receive the honour of my vifit.

*' I forgot to fend up my name,
" which blunder occafion'd him to come
" down again on purpofe to aflc it ; — I
'* made no fcruple to inform him who I
'* was, with this addition of being one
** of lord Huntley's friends •, — he went
** up again, but ftaid much longer
*' above the fecond time than he had
" done the firft ; — at laft, however, he
" return'd with leave for my admiffion.

** I foUow'd my conduftor, who in«
*' troduced me to the prefence of a very
" lovely woman indeed, though fhe kad
" fomewhat of a down-caft look in her
*' eyes, which, as well as a good deal of
** hefitation in her voice in receiving me,
*' I at that time imputed to her modefty,
*' on finding herfelf accofted by a ftranger,
*' but have fince found more proper
*' caufes to afcribe it to, — thofe of guilt
** and fear.

" "When the firft compHments were
•' paft, I took the liberty of afliing her

"to

1 do T/>^ H I S T O R Y ^f

"to what part of the country my lord was
'* retired ; — fhe feem*d in more con-
" fufion than before at this queftion,,
** which then gave me fome furprife ;
" but on refle6ting afterwards upon it, I
*^ eafily found it had proceeded from her
*' want of being prepared with an anfwer j
** I was, however, fo inconfiderate as to
** furnifli her with one, by mentioning
" Bath i — on which fhe prefently cried.
** out, — ' Yes, fir, my lord is gone to
*' Bath with fome perfons of quality, his
•■ relations/'

" Having fatisfied my curiofity with
** the fight of this fine lady, I took a
** pretty hafty leave of her, and went
" diredly to lady Wingman, to whom.
" I was impatient to communicate the
" difcovery which I thought had been
** fo providentially thrown in my way.

" Her ladyfhlp, as may eafily be fup-
" pofed, was both amazed and troubled ;
" but the refuk of our convcrfation v/as
" to write immediately to mifs Wing-
" man, and apprife her of the danger
" we imagined fhe was in from the ad-
«' dreffes of a married man; — my lady
*' would needs fend Landy with thefe •
** difpatches, in order to enforce the

" contents'

Jemmv ^?W Jenny Jessamv. i6i

*' contents, and to condu<5l her daughter
** up to London.

" I need not tell you the fatisfadlion
'* mifs Wingman's letter gave us j — her
" ladyfliip was now perfecStly eafy, and I
*' gave myfelf no farther pains to enquire
** after lord and lady Huntley ; — happen-
*' ing, however, to meet my friend one
*' day by accident, he told me that his
*' lordihip was expedled in town every
" hour, and that all was ready for their
*' going into their houfe, — fo that he
^' Ihould foon lofe his lodg:rs.

" Things were in this pofition v/hen I
*' was, told one morning, foon arter I
" was out of bed, that lord Hantley
" and a gentleman he had brought with
*' him were below and defired to fpeak
" with me ; — I think I v/as not more.
" aflonifli'd on hearing he was married,
*' than I was at his making mt- a viflt ,
" — I ran down notwithilanding to re-
" ceive him j but more haftcned by the
*' perplexity I was in than by any refpe<fl
" 1 had for him at that time.'

' Indeed, my lord, continued fir

* Thomas, addreffing himfelf to lord

V*- Huntley, I can never too much admire

' * your lordihip's moderation in behaving

* towards-

i62 72)^ HISTORY of

* towards me as you did, after knowing
' what I had wrote concerning you to

* mils Wingman.' — 'Oh, fir Thomas,

* rcply'd that nobleman, I referved all

* my fire tor thofe Vv-ho I fuppofed had
' traduced me to you, and created me

* an enemy out of my beft friend.'

Sir Thomas was about to make fomel
return to what lord Huntley had faidJ
but the ladies cried out, — that they were,-
impatient for the catafirophe of this ad-'
venture, and defired he would give a^
truce to compliments and purfue the*
thread of his difcourfe ♦, — on which he
told them, they fhould be obey'd, and
went on thus :

" "What I have farther to relate, faid
*' he, will be contained in a very Ihorc-
*' compafs i — my lord and I foon came
" to an e laircifement, — his lordfliip re-
" peated to me the heads of my letter
*' to mifs Wingman, and I gave him a
" faithful account of the reafons on
" which my accufation was founded ;—
*' he requefbed me to ufe my-endeavours 1
" to fliew him the villain that had ufurp'd !
" his. name \ I readily complied, and
-' attended his lordfliip and his Iriend,
*' who I afterwards found was fir Robert

" Manley,

Jemmy ^//<:/ Jenny Jess AMY. 163
" Manley, to the houfe where the fup-
" poled lord Huntley and his lady lodg'd.

" My honed friend was luckily at

'* home, but on my defiring to fpeak

" with lord or lady Huntley, he told me

" they had left him two days before and

" were gone to their new houfe •, — on

" which I afk'd him if he knew lord

" Huntky when he faw him : — ' Yes

' certainly, reply'd he, fomewhat fur-

* prifed at the queflion ;' — " Am I the

*' perfon, cried lord Huntley, ftepping

'*' forward, that lodged with you and

' *' bore the name of lord Huntley ?' — >

' ' No, fir, anfwer'd he, nor has he any

' • thing of your refemblance.' — " Then

' *' faid I, you have been impofed upon,

i' " — 'tis well if not cheated too •, for I

■' " alTure you this is the real lord Huntley,

;' " and him you have had with you muft

.' " be an impoftor.

[ " Never was horror and amazement

-'" more ftrongly painted than in the face

."* of this poor tradefman : — ' Then I am

e| ' undone^ cried he, I do not m.ean for

l^.what I fhall lok myfelf, though it is

j' no trifle, but I have drawn in feveral

' of my friends to give them credit.' —

" He then proceeded to inform u-s that

"they had taken up plate, — jewels, —

" houlhold

i64 Ihe HISTORY ^y

•' h©ufhoId furniture, and wearing ap-
** parel to a confiderable amount, and
*' all through his recommendation j — we
** pitied his diftrefs, — comforted him
*' the beft we could, and told him that
*' as the affair was fo recent, it was to
" be hoped their things might be re-
*' cover'd

*' Lord Huntley's honour was now
*' fully clear'd, but he could not be
" content without condign punifhment
'* being infli6ted on the villain who had
*' affum'd his name and character for
*' purpofes fo infamous and bafe -, — the-
*' defrauded tradefmen were ail fent for
" on this occafion, and as it could not
*' be imagined that the pretended lord
*' Huntley would either flay long in this
*' town, or venture to appear to any
'* ftranger while in it, the belt expedient
" that offer'd was to get a fearch- warrant
** to force open the doors of his new
*' habitation •, by which means he would
* ' not only be apprehended, but alfo fuch.
*' part of the goods he had taken up,
*■' which were not yet embezzled, might
*' be reftored to the proper owners.

«< A warrant was eafily obtain'd on
'* the oath of the feveral tradefmen, who.
'^* all went with lord Huntley, fir Robert

*' Manley

Jemmy ^;z^ Jennv^ Jessamy. 165

' Manley, and myfelf, to fee it put in
* execution by the officers of juftice •, but,
' to our great difappointment, theimpoftor
' was fiown with the whole gang be-
' longing to him, both male and female :
' — upon enquiry among the neighbours
' we found they had been there but one
' night, which time it may be fuppofed
' they had fpent in packing up and
' carrying offwhat goods had been brought
' in ; the houfe indeed, is conveniently
' ficuated ror fuch a purpofe, there being
' a back door through ,the ftables into
' another flreet."

Here fir Thomas Weiby ended his
little narrative, what was faid upon it
will be part of the fubje6t of the fucceed-
ing chapter.

CHAP. XVI.

Treats of more things than one,

AFTER thanking fir Thomas Welby
for the trouble he had siven him-

O

felf in fatisfying thr^ir curioficy, and con-
gratulating lord Hun: ley on the eafe he
had found in removing the afperfion call
upon him, this amiable company began

to

366 The HISTORY ef

to enquire what methods had been taken
to find out where the impoftor and his
alTociates had concealed themlelves, in
order that they might be brought to
juflice.

Lord Huntley rcply'd, that nothing
had been left undone for that purpofe j —
that not only all the fufpeded places in
London had been fearch'd, but alfo letters
fent to all thofe ports in the kingdom
which open'd either towards France,,
Holland or Ireland, with a defcription of
their perfons, and affidavits of the frauds ,
they had been guilty of ; but that all this
had been of no elfeft, fo that thofe
wretches, if they took any of thefe routes,
muft have efcaped before the intelligence
arrived.

* I cannot but confefs, faid mr. Love- ^

* grove, that the impoftor fhew'd a good
' deal of addrefs in the management of

* this affair -, for as he had afllimed the

* charadter of a nobleman whofe perfon
' he muft needs believe was well known,
« he took care not to be feen by any one
' but the mafter of the houfe where the

* fcene of his villainy was to be tranfa<5ted,

* and even by him but juft" enough to

* give him room to fay he had fuch a one
' for his lodger.'

'It

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 167

* It certainly requires abundance both
of courage and policy to form a com-
pleat villain, laid lady Wingman ; and
I have often wonder'd that men endued
with luch great talents fhould not rather
employ them for ends more laudable,
as well as more fafe for themfelves.*

* All good qualities, madam, reply'd
mr. Lovegrove, lofe their very nature

■ when accompanied with a vicious dif-

* pofition ; — fome men are born with

* fuch an unhappy propenfity, — fuch an
' innate love of wickednefs, that they
= will do nothing at all unlefs they can
' do mifchief •, — it is in that alone they
' are capable of exerting the talents they
' are poffefied of; — nothing is more fre-
' queat than for a lawyer, who might
' make a very good figure in a jull

* caufe, to chufe to engage himfelf only

* in thofe which require chicanery and
' artifice ; nor for a foldier drummed out
' of his regiment for cowardice, to be-
' come a moft bold and hardened villain

* in robbing on the highway.'

' Yet there is a way to corre(5t this
' propenfity you talk of, cried lady Speck,
; other wife vice would rather be a mis-

* fortune

i68 77^^ HISTORY e/^

« fortune than a fault, and confequently
' deferve lefs blame than pity.*

* Doubtlefs, madam, anfwer'd mr.
« Lovegrove •, but it muft be done in the
' moll early years of life, and requires
' more pains than either tutor or pupil
' are fometimes inclined to take.

This gentleman would perhaps have
Q-one on with fome difcourle concernino;
the miilakes of education, and the little
care that is too generally taken in giving
a right bent to the minds of youth, which
might have been of very great fervice to
many of my readers, if it had not been
prevented by the fudden entrance of fir
Robert Manley, on which the converfa-
tion immediately turn'd on other fubjeds.

The trufty Landy, according to his
promife, having reach'd London pretty
early that morning, lady Wingman took
it into her head to furprife her daughters
with the fight of lord Huntley in a place
where they could fo little expedl to find
him i and willing alfo that their common
friends fliould be witnefTes of this meet-
ing, made an invitation at the fame time
to fir Thomas Welby and fir Robert
Manley •, but the latter of thefe gentlemen
BOt being at home when the meffage was

deliver'd.

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 169

deliver' d heard not of it till fome hours
iafterwards, which was the caufe that he
came not with the others.

Welcomes, — congratulations, and all
the compliments befitting the prefent
occaiion were now renew'd ; after which,

* — What 1 have left, faid fir Robert
' Manley, by not being here before, will
' 1 hope be made up to the company by

* the intelligence I bring. — You know,
' my lord, continued he turning to lord
I' Huntley, that we met Celandine in the

* Park yefterday.'

' Yes, reply'd that nobleman laugh-

* ing, he v/as all alert and gay, talking
!' to Tome ladies, when we met him •, but
!* I fhall never forget how his countenance
;5 changed on perceiving us, and hov/ filly
'*■ and flieepifn he look'd as we pafs'd by
•* him.'

' ' The fecret of his doing fo, refumed
'•■* fir Robert, is eafy to guefs •, — the fight
'* of us two doubtlefs made him imagine
'* that the terrible mr. Lovegrove was alfo
in town ; for I have juft now heard that

* he has pack'd up all his fardles of
■•* fopperies, and is gone this very morn-
^* ing to make a fecond tour, and difplay

Vql. IL I ' them

-*

I70 The HISTORY ^/

* them to the beft advantage he can

* among his brethren, the petit-maitres.*

« What! gone to Paris ! cried mr. Love-

* grove: — Aye verily, reply'd the other,

* his diamond tafiel now ceafes to fparkle

< in St. James's fun, and his mufk and

* amber to perfume the Mall -, — your
' dreadful idea has driven hence the hero

* of the mode.*

To the great grief of many a charming

toaft.
Who fighs and mourns her dear Pulvilio

loft.

< Fye upon you, fir Robert, faid mifs

* Wingman, giving him a flap over the

* fhoulder with her fan, — I cannot have
' fo mean an opinion of my fex as to be-

* lieve that there is even one woman in
' the world that will regret the abfence

< of fuch a coxcomb.'

* Yes, fifter, rejoin'd lady Speck, juftas

* one would regret the lofs of a fquirrel or
' a monkey who has diverted one with its

* tricks ; for I dare anfwer no woman

* ever confider'd him in any other light.'

* Perhaps not, madam, faid lord Hunt-
' ley 9 but as the animals you mention

* are

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamv. 171
are fometimes very mifchievous, io
there may be danger in encouraging
the follies of Celandine, which every
' one is not aware of •, — there is a certain
young lady in this town, by fome cried
up tor one of the greateft beauties in it,
who has received a wound in her reputa-
tion which will not eafily be healed, on
account of her acquaintance with him.'

' I know who your lordlhip means,

« cried Jenny, who was always ready to

1^* take part with the abfent ; — but dare

* believe that whoever cenfures her of
' having the leall tendre for that un-
' worthy trifler does her a great deal of

j_;.' injuftice ; — it is true he has had the
y* impudence and vanity to follow her to
L.* all public places, and even to takefome
' liberties in company, which her excefs
. ' of good nature kept her from refjncing
jv' fo much as perhaps (lie ought to have

* done •, yet, in fpite of thefe appearances,
' I think I may be pretty pofitive thai:

<;* fhe heartily hates and defpifes him.'

^Z Mr. Lovegrove, who in all probability

I, had more concern in this difcourfe than

« any one of the company except lady

Speck, join'd not in it, but affeded to

be wholly unattentive during the time [^

laded, and feem'd taken up with adm^,

l\r-. I 2 rin^

172 -The FI I STORY of

ring a fine gold headed cane fir Thomss

'Wdby had in his hand.

The good baronet, who had all this
while been fiient, as knowing nothing ,
either oi Celandine or the lady mentioned"
by lord Huntley, could not now, oh
hearing v/hat Jenny faid, forbear teftify-
ing his adiiiiratioa of her generofity in.
t^XjM-efnons no lefs polite than they were
fine ere.

' Ir is no new thing, fir Thomas, faid
^ mr. Lovegrove, to hear miis JelTamy
^ plead the caufe of the accufed : — ftrong

* as was the indictment laid againft lord
*■ Huntley in your letter, 1 can aifure you,

* it loft half its force by the arguments
•^ which this fair advocate urg'd in oppo-

* fition to it •, — fcarce could tlie fuppofed
*■ criminal himfelf have defended his in-

* nocence with more zeal, or in terms

* more pathetic and efficacious.*

It cannot be doubted but that lord
Huniiey made the mcft grateful acknow-
ledgements to that young lady, on being
told the part fhe had taken in his juftiii-
cation. — * But how, madam, faid he to
^ her, did my charming judge receive the
^ pleas you were fo good to offer in my
^ behalf ?'

*0h,

J EMMY j/i^ Jenny Jess amy. 173;

' Oh, my lord, anfwer'd flie with a

* rmile,this is not a 'fair queftion ; — a

* barrifter you know never pretends to dive
' into the fentiments of the court.' — He
then was about to addrefs fomcthing to-
mifs Wingman, who fcem'd in a good -
deal of confufion at this difcourfe ; but
her bluflies were inflantly reHev'd by the
butler coming in to tell lady Wini'man
that fupper was on the table •, on which
they all adjourn'd into the next room^
and fat down to partake of a very elegant
collation which that lady had prepaid
for their entertainment.

What pafs'd during the time of eatinr^
would be luperfiuous to repeat •, fo I fli.ili
only fay, that foon after the clotb. was
taken away, lady Speck, knowing her
mother went early to bed, made a motion
to retire, and by, doing fo engaged the
company to break up to the no fmail
fatisfadion of Jenny, who was impatient
to get home for reafons which will pre-
fentiy appear.

I 3 CHAP,

174 "^-^ HISTORY of

CHAP. XVII.

yjjjords freJJ:) -matter to employ the /pe-
culation of every curious readef.

BY Jemmy's letter from Ham-Hall,
Jenny found that the time v/hich he
propofed to continue there was elapfed,
jmd therefore doubting not but that he
was now in town, fent her fervant the
minute Ihe came home to acquaint him
with her arrival j but fhe was a good
deal furphfed when the return of the
meflengcr informed her that after flaying
but two nights in London he had fet out
the very day before for Bath.

The gall of this difappointment had
an equal portion of Iweetncfs mingled
with it ; — if flie was vex'd at not being ]^
"able to fee him fo foon as fhe had ex-
pelled, fhe was no lefs pleafed on the
hafle he had made to go to Bath, as Ihe
knew he could have no reafon to imagine
flie as yet had left that place.

This being a new proof of the fince-
rity of his affeftion towards hcrfelf, very
much abated her impatience to reproach

him

i' Jemmy j;?^ Jenny Jessamy. 175

him v/ith the lefs honourable addreffes he
had made elfewhere ; and flie fometimes
even doubted within herielf whether fhe
ought ever to give him any Ihock upon
that fcore.

"When the fufpicion of an enormous
injury is once removed, all leiler ones
decreafe in magnitude, and feem lefs de-
ferring our refentment than they really
are ; — Jenny believing her lover innocent,
as to the main point, began now to think-
iittle ©f any thing elfe he might be guilty
of.

The good humour fhe was in at prc-
fent with him render*d her mind quite
compofed ; but the time was not yet
arrived when fhe was to remain in any
fettled ft ate of tranquility ; — a letter was
brought to her by a perfon who refufed
to fay either from v/hom or from whence
he came ; — it contained thefe lines :

To mifs J ESS A MY.

** Madam,.

« 'Tp H E high charafter I have heard'

** A of your good nature and com'
" plaifance, makes me not doubt but
" you are endow'd with an equal lliare
*' of juftice and generofity, efpecially
I. 4 *** when

176 Tie HISTORY of

*' when thofe noble virtues are to be exerted
'•' in tavour ot a pcrfcn 01 your own fex •,
*' and in that confidence take the liberty
" of intreating you will fet me right
*' in an affair on which the whole hap-
** pinefs of my lite depends, and which
" none hut yourfelf can clear up from
" its prefent ambiguity.

" I have for a confiderable time rc-
*' ceived the mod pafTionate addreiTes
" of a gentleman who I very well know
" the world once look'dupon as deftin'd
*'• to be yours ; — he has gain'd my friends
" confent, and, by his merits and affi-
*^ duities, fo great an afcendant over me,
" that nothing hitherto has hinder'd mc
*' from accepting his hand but the fears
*' that in doing io I fhould be acceffary
" to his being guilty cf sn irreparable
*' injury to you.

" After this it may perhaps be needlefs
*' to tell you that I mean mr. Jdvdmy j
" but as my circumflances require a plain
*' and categorical anfwer from you on
" this head, it behoves me to exprefs
" myfelf in terms which will adm.it no
" room to doubt their meaning , — it is
" indeed, madam, no other than he whom
*' I love, and by whom I am equally
'* beloved, and who, while he confefles

Jemmy and JenI^y Jessamy. 177
*' a former engagement with you, pro-
" tefts at the fame time, and with the
" fame feeming finccrity at ieaft, that it
*■' is now entirely broken off, and that
*' he is at full liberty to difpofe of his
" perfon where he has given his heart.

" But I have been told, by people
" more experienced than myfelf, that
*' men will fay and fwear any thing to
" gain their point j I dare therefore de-
** pend on nothing hut an aflfurance from
" yourfelfof the reality of hisprofeffions ;
" — tell me, I befeech you, how far the
" intended union between you is dilTolv'd,.
** and whether I may be his without a
*' crime-, — pity a rival who v/ould ra-
*' ther die than invade your property,
" if once convinced he is fo •, — eafe a
*' rufpence which has fomething in it
*' more diftratfling, — more cruel, than^
'* ail that could be infli6led by the kit
" defpair on her, who isj

" With the greatefl reipeft,
" Madam,
** Your moft obedient,
** Though unknown fervant.""

I 5 Poilfcript^-

178 The HISTORY of

P. S, ** I beg an immediate anfwer,
*' becaufe I have promifed to give mine
" to mr. JefTamy on his return from
*' Bath, and iliould be glad to know
" betore he comes in what manner I
*' ought to fquare my condud towards
*' him."

On the firft reading this letter, new
alarms, new doubts, new jealoufies, in-
ilantly fill'd the head and heart of Jenny ;
but on a fecond perufal there feem'd to
her fomething too romantic in the ex-
preffion, as well as purport of it, for her
to believe it founded upon real fa(5l ; and
fhe began to fancy it was either intended
by her enemies as an infult, or by her
friends as a jefti--refolving therefore, that
from which quarter foever it came, neither
of them fliQuld have any room to laugh
at her behaviour on the occafion, ihe
took a fmall piece of paper and wrote in
it the following words :

" If I were really pofTefs'd of all the
«' good qualities afcrib'd to me in the
«' letter before me, I know none of them
*• that would oblige me to fend any
" anfwer to an anonymous epiflle ; —
«>* Wiitn the lady who wrote it thinks
<^' proper to reveal herfelf fhe may de-

** pead!

Jemmy and Jen^y Jessamy. lyg

" pend on the fatisfadriion fhe defires ; in
•■* the mean time fhe is at liberty to form
" what conjectures Ihe plcafes,, and to
*^' be directed by them which appear to
'' her to have the greateft. probability o£
" being right."

This, without either feal or direAionj^
and only folded in a carelefs manner, Ihe
gave to the mefTenger who had brought:
the letter, and bid him carry it to thofe
that fent him,

She fet herfelf down again in order to-
re-examine the contents of this extra-
ordinary epiftie ; but the more fhe did:
fo the lefs able was fhe to conceive either
the real intention of it, or from what
hand it came.

After forming, and as often rejetfling
a thoufand different conjectures, it at laffc
came into her head, that the woman to
whom Jemmy had wrote that letter, which
fhe received at Bath by miftake, had.
contrived this ftratagem to create a diffen-
tion. between them.

* I have heard, hid (he to herfelf, that;

f women of the vile profeffion I fuppofe

' her ofy vakie themfelves upon thefe

V kind of ar.tiiices, and take a pride in.

I. 6 * the-

i8o The HISTORY^/

* the mifchief they fometimes occafion %
' — but certainly, continued fne, thofe
' on whom fuch little tricks have any

* effect mull have a very fmall fliare of
' underftanding : — Jemmy, however,

* added &e after a paufe, will iee by this
' the fcandal and danger ot entering into
' any fort of intimacy with fuch aban-

* dom'cl creatures.'

But though it inuft be acknowledged
that there was the appearance of a good
deal of rcalbn to confirm her in this laft
opinion, yet I believe the fagacious reader,
by what has been the buiinefs of feveral
chapters in the firft volume of this work,
will eafily guefs that the letter in queftion
v/as only an addition to the former
attempts made by the invidious Beipine
to diffolve that cement of affeffion which
had fo long united the hearts of our two
lovers.

It was indeed no other than that b'afe
man, who knowing flie was in town, by
having accidentally met her footman in
tht morning, had taken this method of
corroborating the many others which he
•before had put in pradice.

He waited at a cofFee-houfe in the
neighbourhood to fee what return Jenny

would

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. iSi
would make by his emifTary, which find-
ing not lb fatisfadlory as he wifli'd, he
went directly to vifit her, hoping that
by her countenance and behaviour, im^
mediately after the receipt of this letter,
he fhould be able to dilcover, more than
by her anfwer to it, what efFeifl it had
wrought upon her.

It has been already obferved that Jemmy
had infpired her with the beft opinion
of this treacherous friend, fo fhe no fooner
heard he was below than fhe ordered he
Ihould be introduced, and received him
with that fweetnefs and affability with
which Ihe always treated thofe whom
ihe thought deferving of it.

What company was at Bath, — who
made the moft brilliant appearance there,
• — who won, and who loft at play, with
other fuch like matters, employed the
firfl moments of their converfation •, but
Belpine, defirous of turning it on fome-
thing more applicable to his purpofe^
gave over fpeaking on tnefe fubjedls as.
foon as he could do fo without abrupt'
nefs.

' Mr. JefTamy mufl certainly be very
' unhappy, madam, faid he, on finding
* you had quitted Bath before his arrival

« there.*

i82 lihe HISTORY of

* there.' — ' He deferves little pity on
' that fcore, reply'd Jenny ; — you men

* can always find ways to divert your-
•• felves •, — tew of you regret the ablence
« of an old friend, when you have fo

* many opportunities of engaging new
' ones/

Though Ihe fpoke thefe words with a
very gay air, yet there was a certain keen-
nefs in her looks at the fame time whicb
perfuaded this watchful oblerver that his
plot had not^^ntirely failed of die fuccefs
he aimed at.

' I do not pretend, madam, refum'd

* he, to dive into the fentiments of mr.

* JeiTamy ; but I am very fure that if
*^ you were free and at liberty to be

* adored, there are men in the worlds
*■ who v/ould think no joy equal to that

* of gazing on you, and ol repeating
' every day, — every hour, — nay, every

* minute, the influence of your charms.'

* It is pofiible iiideed, anfwer'd fhe^

* that there may be fome who would
*- endeavour to make me believe fo, and
*• that might even be vain enough to
^ imagine 1 was pleafed with, what they

* faid; — it is therefore very fortunate for
^ me that I was difgofed on by my pa-

^ * Jienls-

Jemmy ^zW Jenny Jessamy. 183.

« rents before I arrived at an age to be
< ticz'd with fuch impcrtinencies.*

■ « It is ftrange how you have efcaped

* them j however, madam, Jaid he, your
« marriage with mr. JefTamy being fo
« long delay'd might reafonably tempt
' thofe who wifh it fo to flatter them-
' felves with a beUef that it never will
' be accomplifh'd, and that there was

* fomewhat of a difmclination either on

* the one fide or the other.*

Thefe words made her not doubt but
that the report Ihe had heard fo much of
concerning Jemmy's inconftancy had alfo
reach'd his ears, and Ihe would certainly
have been inftigated, if not by female
curiofity, by love or jealoufy, to enter
into fome difcourfe with him on that
head, if the intimacy between them had
not reftrain'd her, as fhe thought he
would not betray to her the fecret of his,
friend, in cafe h.e were intrufled with it.

What he faid however bringing frefh to
her memory the vexation fhc had lately un-
dergone on this account, her countenance
went through feveral changes in the fpace
of half a minute,--' Whoever Ihould think
' in the manner you mention,, reply'd

* ilie,. would difcover a great want of

' judgment: y.

184 The H ISTORY of

* judgment •, — a conjedlure of this nature

* could bejuftified only by the behaviour

* of one or the other of us, and I be-
« lieve it has been fuch on both fides as

* to give no room for fufpicion that

* either of us regreted the agreement

* made between our parents.'

A lady to whom Jenny had fent a card
that morning, to give notice of her being
in town, that fame inftant coming in
prevented Belpine from making any
anfwer, and he took his leave foon after,,
having difcovered by this vifit that his
artifices had given her fome uneafinefs,
but lefs refentment than was nccefiary
for the fuccefs of his defign.

CHAP,

Jemmv ^W Jenny Jessamy. 185

rstjaiisirajaef 3 4ii:^i^«is^fitr^i> i\^':iM?^^

CHAP. XVIII.

Is dull enough to pleafe thofe loho take an
ill-naturd delight in finding fome-
thing to condemn j yet is not without
occurrences which will keep awake
the attention offuch who read with
a defire of being agreeably arnufed.^

^^Y^ H E lady who came to vifit Jenny
-a- v/as extremely good humour'd, but
a little too talkative •, — Ihe never ex«
ceeded the bounds of truth in any thing
Ihe faid, but gave herfelf not the tiouble
of confidering how far the truths (he
utter'd were proper to be reveal

I have obferv'd that people of this
remper frequently do as much mifchief,
vx ithout defigning it, as thofe of the moft
malicious intentions are capable of -, and
though fincerity be among the number of
the moft valuable virtues, yet there are
many circumftances wherein to fpeak all
one knows may produce as bad confe-
quences as to fpeak more than one knows.

I never

iS6 The HISTORY oj

I never happen into the company of
cither man or woman of this ftamp but
I have frefh in my memory fome lines
I formerly read in Browne's works.

Thofe babbling ecchos of whate'er they

hear.
Fame's menial fervants, who her tidings

bear,
Sow fuch dilTention, kindle fuch debate,
As turns all fwect to four, ail love

to hate.

But to return to my fubjefl ; — Belpine
had no fooner left the two ladies together
than Jenny's friend began toexprefs fome
wonder at feeing her in town fo m.uch
before the time llie was expefted : —
' What, cried (he, is there any difagree-
' ment between you and mr. JefTamy J

' No, not any, reply'd Jenny, a little
' fbartled at the queflion ; but wherefore

* do you allc?' — * Nay, refumed the

* other, it was only a foolifh imagination

* of my own -, — not but I had fome

* reafon for it too : — you muft know that

* I thought you had been told fomething

* of him that had made you angry. — ..
^ and fo when you heard he was coming

* down,

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 187

' down to Bath you immediately flounced

* up to London.'

* All a miflake upon my word, faid

* Jenny ; the ladies I was with had fbme
' bufinefs in town, and my unwillingnefs

* to be left behind was the fole caufe of

* my returning to London fo foon. —
' But pray what put fuch a thing into
' your head ?*

* 1 did not think to tell you, anfwer'd

* this fair goffip •, but fmce you prefs me,

* — though I am afraid it will vex you,

* — yet I think too you ought to know

* it i — and if you will promife me not to
' fret I will let you into the whole fee ret.*

Jenny then faid that Ihe fhould liflen
without pain to any thing fhe had to re-
late j and gave her many more afiurances
of her philofophy in this point than fhe
had occafion to do, as the other was no
lefs impatient to dishurthen herfelf of the
fecret than Ihe was to be made a fharer in.
it.

« Well, — men will be men, faid the

* lady, — there is no fuch a thing as.

* changing nature ; — but fure I made the

* dif^ every I am going to tell you by

' the

iSS The HISTORY of

*■ the oddcfh accident that evtr was \ — I
' fuppofe you know mrs. Coi)node, the

* habit-maker.' — * No, replied Jenny, but

*• I have heard of her,'

\
i

' I buy all my things of her, redimcd ^

' the other, flic has vaft bufinefs, and I \

' think the genteeleft fancy of any woman \

* ot her profefTioii about town ; every ]
' thing Hie makes up fets with fuch an -

* air ; you muft know 1 had befpoke a
' fly petticoat with fringes of her -, — it

* not being fent home according to the

* time fhe promifed, I called in one

* morning as I paffed that way to fee if
' it was done y — fhe made a thoufarid
' apologies, and faid I ftiould have it that

* day •, but I fcolded heartily, and infifted
' upon feeing how near it wais finilhed, on

* which Die .raft up to fetch it, leaving me

* alone in the l"hop. ' -

* The moment fhe was gone, continu'd '

* this tale-monger, I found my garter
' was flipt, — I durfl: not venture to tie

' it up in that place for fear fomebody-

* fliould come in, but was running into
^ a little room behind the H^iop -, — but,

* Lord, I fhail never forget how J was
' furprifed, — I had no fooner pulh'd <ypah

' the

Jemmy ^;?<^ Jenny Jessamy. 189

the door than — who do you think I
■ favv there ?'

* I cannot guefs indeed, my dear, but

* expert you will inform me, rep]y'd
' Jenny,' — ' Why no other, faid (he than
' the very individual mr. Jeffamy -, — do
' not be uneafy now, — fitting as clofe to
' a fine lady as two kernels in a nut-fhell,

* hand in hand, and one of his arms
' acrcfs her (lioulder ; they were fo earneft
' in difcourfe, that they either did not
< hear the door open, or thought it was
' mrs. Comode herfelfj but both feem*d

* in great confufion, and ftarted from
' their feats vv^hen I came in : — • whether

* mr. Jeffamy favv enough of mc to diftin-
' guiih who I was I know not ; fdf 1 only
' cried,— I afl<: pardon, and went out of
' the room with as much hafte as I had
' entcr'd.

< Mrs. Comode came down prefently

* after, and brought the petticoat ; but I

* was in fuch a confternation at what I
■* had feen, that I could fcarce look upon

* it : — I told her of what had happen'd,

* but did not fay I knew either of the-

* parties ; — flie appear'd very much
.* 'lljQjzk'd, but miade an aukward excufe,
'' —faid they were two of her cuftomers

* that

190 The HISTORY of

* that had been walking that morning

* and came in to beg a pot of tea ; on
« which I took no farther notice, but
< have had no good opinion of her ever

* fmce.'

' Si 'me woman of the town, I fuppofe,

* faid Jenny •, Pray what fort of creature
' was ii" he had with him ?'— ' Nay, anfwer'd
' ta : other, you cannot think it pofliblc

* for ms to give any particular defcription
' of her by the momentary glimpfe I had

* of her ; but I cannot fay that altogether

* fhe look'd like fuch a perlon.'

Jenny had boafted of fo much fortitude
that flie was a little vex'd fhe had be-
tray'd any want of it by the queftion llie
had afk'd j but fhe afterwards attoned for
it by affecting the mofb perfed indifference
during the reft of the converfation they
had together on this fubjed, which lafted
aimoft the whole time the lady ftaid.

Nothing is more painful than when
the mind is difcompofed to be under a
neceffity of concealing it ; — Jenny had
had been impatient to be alone long be-
fore fhe was fo -, and found a good deal
ef eafe when fhe attain'd an opportunity
of refle(3ting at leifure on what fhe had
heard.

The

Jemmy ^W Jenny jEssAMr. 191

•The (lory told her by this lady had
not fo much afFedled her as the hint given
her by Belpine, concerning a fuppofition
that the match between her and Jemmy
was on the point of being broke off, —
this tallying fo exactly with the intelli-
gence fent to lady Speck at Bath, con-
vinced her that fuch a thing was really
talk'd of in town, and coud not but
very much alarm both her love and pride.

Yet when fhe remember'd her lover's
tender letter from Ham-Hall, and the
many others flie had received from him
while fhe was at Bath, befides the hade
fhe found he had made in hurrying down
to that place in expeftation of meeting
her there, fhe could not tell how to think
it poflible that, if guilty as reprefented,
he could be capable of fuch deceit.

* There is no anfwering for the hearts

* of men, faid fhe, love is an involuntary

* pafTion, — chance or fataHty diredls the

* choice, and fometimes a fingle moment

* undoes the work of years ; — I fhould

* not be furprifed that Jemmy happened

* to fee a face which had more charms

* for him than mine ; — • but wherefore

* then (hould he carry on the deception

' with

192 The HISTORY of

' with me ? — how would it avail his new

* flame to pretend to profecute a former

* one ? — No, continued fhe after paufing
« a little i — for him to aft in this manner

* would be as inconfiftent with reafon

* and common-fcnfe as v/ith honour and
' juftice ; and it would alfo be the ut-

* mofl weaknefs in me to believe it.'

Thus did fhe make herfelf tolerably
eafy as to the main part of what was
laid to his charge -, but as to his having .
enter'd into an affair of gallantry, fhe
had too plain a proof of that under his
own handwriting to admit the leaftroom
for doubt, and needed not the confirma-
tion flie had juft received of it from her
friend.

Upon the whole, however, few young
ladies in her circumftances would have
fuffer'd lefs inquietude j and this mull
be faid of her, that it was much more
difficult to raife any tempeft in her mind,
than it was to calm that tempeft after it
had been raifed.

Neither grief nor anger had the power
to affed her long, or to drive her to any
excefTes while they lafted, — a humour
extremely volatile, — a great deal of good

nature,

Jemmy ^W Jennv Jessamy. 193

nature, and an equal fhare of underftand-
ing, were happily united in her compo-
fition, and made her always ready to be-
lieve the beft, and to forgive the word.

The fmall remains of refentment and
difcontent, on the various occafions that
had been given her for both, were entirely
diffipated, when, on the evening of the
fucceeding day, fhe received a letter from
Jemmy, — the contents whereof were as
follow :

To mifs Jessamy.

" My more than ever dear Jenny,

" I H A V E certainly been of late one

" of the moft unlucky fellows in the

*' univerfe, — firft to be detained by a

" feries of crofs accidents from following

'* you in a few days, as I propofed ; —

" then, when I had difpatch'd thofe

*' vexatious affairs, and juft upon the

" wing to fly to Bath, to be dragg'd

" to another quarter of the kingdom, by

" one whofe intrcaties you know I could

*' not well deny ; — and laftly, when got

" free from every care .but my im-

'* patience to be with you, I arrived here

" full fraught with the expedlations of

" meeting all my foul holds dear, to

" find you had left the place fcarce
Vol. II . K " twenty-

194 "^^^ HISTORY of
*• twenty-four hours before I cam^e •,•— *
^' judge how fincerely I am mortified :
*' — 1 fuppofe the caprice of thofe you
*' were with cairied you lo fuddenly
" from hence •, but 1 hope tke day is '
*' now very near at hand when thofe
*' who take you Vv^iil be obhged to take
" me alfo •, ior indeed, my dear Jenny,
*' I am quite weary oi this life : when-.i
'■'■ ever I am from you for any length off
"• time I feel methinks as if feparated
" frommyfclf-, — the more I fee ofother.-
*' women, the more I regret the abfence
*' of .my dear jenny : — as I came hither
" pretty early laft night, I went to the'
" Long-room, — there were a great many
'* fine ladies there •, but all their beau-
" ties are without a charm for me ; — I
*' can be gay but not happy in their
*' company •, — the power ot giving true
'Vltlicity to Jemmy is referved only for
*' his dear, dear Jenny,

*•■ I give you warning therefore, not]
••' to think of delaying any longer ai
*' blefling I have been made to hope ever
*' fince my firft putting on breeches re-
" minded me that if 1 lived 1 fbould be
*' one day a man ; but be affured I Ihould
" have little jcy in being fo, if it were
*' not for the expedation of being yours

*' by

Jej^imy ^;?^ Jenny Jessamy. 195
" by a more tender title than that With
'' which I now Tubfcribe myfelf,

" Unalterably and inviolably,
" My dear dear Jenny's
" Moft pafTionately devoted,
" Moft faithful lover,-
" And ever humble

" And obedient fervant,
" J. Jessamy."

P. 3. " I would have fet cut to-
'* morrow, morning on my return for
" London, but my fervant got an ugly
" fall from his horfe in coming hither,
*' and is very much bruifed, fo am vviJling
" to give him one day to recover him-
" felf i but h pe the next to be fo far on
** my journey towards you, as that there
^' will be but a few hours diftance be-
*' twefn your receiving this and the
" author of it, — till when I am, my dear
*' dear Jenny,

" Yours as above.

Jenny was now in fuch great good

hum.our with her lover, that fhe giew

half refolved to confent to his, defrcs for

K 2 , th^

396 T/j^ HISTORY 0/

the confummation of their marriage, if it
were only to put a final end to thofe idle
reports which had been fpread concerning
his havino; an intention to break it off.

'D

But before we bring them together
again, it is highly neceflary that the
reader fhould be made fully acquainted
with the manner in which Jemmy had
paiTed his time during this little fepara-
tion^ and alfo to clear up thofe parts of
his condud which have hitherto appeared
myilerious.

CHAP. XIX.

■Returns to ivhat has doubtlejs been long
ago expeBed^ and opens a new fcene
of 'various and entertaining occur-
rences.

T AM very much afraid that poor
Jemmy has lain for a great while un-
der the difpleafure of my fair readers,
and that few among' them will be quite
fo ready as Jenny has been to take his
bear word for a fufficient proof of his
honour, and the fincerity of his paflion.

It

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 197

It is high tiiii- therefore to let his
adtions fpeak for themfelves -, and if they
cannot fliew him fo wholly blamelefs as
could be wifh'd, from the frailties of
youth and nature, they will at kail de-
fend his charadler from the more grofs
impatations ofperfidioulnefs, ingratitude,
and deceit-

As I have no view to felf-interefl in
this v/ork, — no time-ferver, no patron
to pieafe, it may be depended on that I
fhall prcfent my hero fuch as he truly is,
and not like fome political hiftorians of
a modern date, attempt to miflead the
judgment by any falfe glofies or mif-
reprefentations of fad:s.

The writers I have been fpeaking of,
will not allow the perfon oh whom for-
tune has not vouchfafed to fmile any one
virtue or good quality ; — he muft be all
black, without a fingle fpeck of white,
even to excite the companion of the
world ; — what falfe (leps he may have
been guilty of are afcribed to his owa
innate propenfity to evil, not to any in-
advertency, nor to the wicked infinua-
tions ofthofe on whom he may unhap-
pily have depended, and who perhaps have
K 3 fouad.

19S "the HISTORY of

^oLnd their intercft ,in pufliing him on
things purpoiciy to betray and ruin him.

^^ hcreas, on the otiier hand, the man
wJiom a concurrence ot iortuitious events,
(^r perhaps fome indir^ft meafures of his
ov.n or partiiafis contrivance, have raifed
to profperity, fhall be mounted on the
piniiacle of tame, — h;s virtues, if he has
ar.y, be refounded even to the remotcfl
borders ot the earth, and all his "vices,
though numerous as the hairs upon his
head, and glaring with red impiety, be
fo Icreen'd and fhadow'd over with the
incenle of panegyric, as not to be dif-
ccrn'd but by a tew eagle-eyed obfervers ;
— but I fhall fay no more, — thefe authors
perhaps earn their fullenance by the labour
• oi tlie pen j — thefe are not times for
truth to go clad in velvet, and there is
no ferving God and mammon.

I cannot, however, without great in-
juftice, clofe this reliedion till I have
taken notice, that there is one who bravely
and almotl alone, has courage to enter
tiie lifts of battle ao-ainfl an hoft of advcr-
laries, and attempts to refcue injured
innocence from the claws of cruel and
all -devouring fcandal •, — may his honeil
endeavours meet the fuccefs they merit,
and in fpite ot prejudice and partiality

open

Jemmv and Jenny Jessamy. 199
open the eyes of too long hood-wink*d
realbn.

And now — for our Jemmy Jeffamy v
—nothing is more certain than that he
had determined to follow his dear Jenny
to Bath, according ro his promife, as
foon as the affairs which brought his
fteward to town flrould be difoatch'd ;
nor was he lels iincafy than one ot his
letters inferted in a former chapter had
intimated to her, on finding himi"ei"t Hlvciy
to be detained in London fo much longer
than he had expedted at the time of her
departure.

Bufinefs of any kind, efpecially of that
fort in which he was now engaged, wa.s
noway agreeable to his humour ; — ta be
oblio;ed to fit for hours to2;ether read-
ing over leafes, bonds and eje(51:ments,
inftead of poetry and books of diverfion -,
— to converfe every day with men of the
law inftead of the men of pleafure, was
extremely diftafteful to him -, but in the
midft of all this he met with fomething
which though he did not think of any
very great moment, ferved however to
add to the perplexity of his mind, and
involve him in an embarrailment he had
.never dreamt of.

K 4 iii

200 'T^t' H I S T O R Y of

He was at breakfafi; one morninrz; when
h's fcrvant intorm'd him, that a gentle-
rr^an who call'd himfelf Morgan defir'ci
to fpeak with him ; — this was a perfon
for whom Jemmy had a very great efteem,
not only on account of many good quali-
ties he was poflefs*d of, but iikewife as
he knew he had been always highly re-
i'pedled by his father.

He gave orders that he fhould be
immediately introduced, and when he
was fo, began to teftify, with as much
finccrity as politenefs, lx)w much he
thought himfelf indebted to him for the
favour of this vifit ; but he was foon in-
terrupted by the other, who with an honeft:
plainnefs replied in thefe terms :

' Mr. Jefiamy, faid he, this is not a
» vifit of mere ceremony ; — I come not
' hither at this time either to make or
' receive any compliments, but to do

* you a more eflential fervice, and myfelf
« a more real pleafure : — to be tree with
' you, continued he, I am very much
' troubled at fome things I have heard
« in relation to you, and would gladly

* offer you fuch advice as my long expe-
' rience of the world may enable me to
« give you.'

Few

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. i&t

Few young people like to have their'
condu6l call'd in queftion •, — Jemmy pre-
lently imagined that the old gentleman^
had been inform'd of fome little flights,
— fome trifling irregularities which com-
pany and the gaiety of his own temper
might have led him into, and expeded
to be entertain'd with a grave leffon on
that occafion : — he told him, however,
he fhould willingly liften to any in-
ftrudions he Hiould give him.

' I believe, relumed mr. Morgan^ that
' you are convinced I wifh you well ;
' but if you are not I hope what I have

* to fay will make you fo : — miftake me

* not, purfued he, feeing the other look
' very furious, — I am not going to re-

* primand you, — I know not as yet

* whether you deferve it •, — I have not
' feen mifs JefiTamy fmce fhe was aix

* infant -, — I have heard, indeed, a very

* good character both of her perfon and
' accomplifhments •, but you are the befh

* judge of her merits as well as of your

* own heart -, — ^I am confident that when
^^ your parents agreed upon a marriage

* between you, they meant not it fliould

* render either of you miferable, fo. have-
' nothing to fay as to that \ — but what-

* ever be the motive of your breaking

K 5. '■ \^-.iJ:

cy

2C2 The HISTORY of

* with her, I would not have you, me-
' thinks, transfer ycur addrefTes to any

* one where there is not a greater pro-

* bability of being more happy.'

Jemmy was fo confounded, — fo
aftonifh'd at hearing him fpeak in this
maniicr, that lie hud not the power, for
ionie moments, ot uttering one fyllable,
and v/. en he had, it was only to cry, —

* Breaking with her, fir, — what, — break-
' ing with mils Jeflamy ?

* You have doubtlefs your own reafons

"^ for fo doing, reply'd the good old gen-

' ticman •, but let that pafs, — I would

' only have you be wary how you make

' a ftcond choice i — it is not in my na-

' ture to traduce the chara6ler of any

' cne •, — mifs Chit may be a very defer-

' ving young woman tor any thing I have

' to accufe her of; but you know very

' well that her family is doubtful, — her

* fortune precarious, — and if fhe fhould
' have any, it will be little for her husband's

* honour to receive, — befides, this is not

* the v;orft, for though flie may be vir-
' luous in fadf, yet fhe keeps company

* with fome perfons of both fexes, which

* does not become a woman who has any

* regard for reputation •, in fine, my

* dear

Jemmy ^;7/jEN'Ny Jessamf. ^a^
' dear mr. Jeflamy, fh.c is in no refpcct
' 'A iit wife for you.'

' A wife for me \ faid Jemmy not ycc
*- r^cover'd from this amazement ; — for
' heaven's fake, fir, explain the meaning
' of all this i — you talk of things whicii
' have fo little analogy with my inten-
*■ tions, that they never once entered into
' my head or heart ; — to break my en-

* gagements wnth mifs JelTamy, or to
' make my addreffes to mifs Chit, arc
' both of them equally inconfiftent with
' my inclination as with my reafon •, and

* it is not poffible for me to conceive hovv
' fuch chimeras co Id come into \k\t£
' thoughts of any one.'

* As to the fir ft, anfwer'd mr. Morgan,
'• I have heard it mention'd in feveral

* companies where 1 have been, as an

* event paft all difpute •, and as to v/hat

* concerns mifs Chit, I was not only told

* it by a perfon who frequendy vifits her^

* but alfo had it confirm'd yefterday at
' the • coiTee-houle by her own father^

* who being afked if there was any truth
*■ in the report of an intended marriage
' between his daughter and mr. JeiTimv^
' reply'd with his ufaal ftiiinefs and for-

* mality, that he believed a treaty of

* that nature was upon the carpet.''

K 6 JemiiiVT,

204 I'he HISTORY u/

Jemmy, on hearing this, was fully per-
fuaded that fo idle a rumour could pro-
ceed from nothing but the vanity of that
young lady, which fo incenfed him againft
her, that he could not forbear, in the firft
emotions of paffion, fpeaking of her in
terms which nothing but the occafion
could excufe.

As he was difcufTing the matter with
mr. Morgan, and convincing that gen-
tleman of the entire fallacy of all he had
reproach'd him with, a card was brought
from mifs Chit, in which was wrote thefe
words :

'• Mifs Chit gives her compliments to
•* mr. JelTamy, and defires his company
*' to a concert to be performed by private
** hands this evening at her houfe."

* Now, fir, faid he to mr. Morgan,

* you Ihall fee the little influence the

* charms of this vain girl has over me,

* — I will fend her a letter inilead of a

* card, and fuch a one as fhall put an

* effeftual flop to all the foolilh imagi-

* nations fhe may have conceiv'd on my
' account.'

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy; 205

He then took pen and paper, and with-
out giving himfelf much time to confider
•what he was about, wrote to her in thefe
terms :

To mifs Chit.
« Madam,
" OUSINESS denies me the pleafure
*' J3 of accepting your invitation j but
" I lay hold of this opportunity of ta-
" king my leave of you, as I cannot do
" it in perfon.

<* Love and honour fummon me to
«' Bath, where my dear mifs Jeffamy is
" gone before •, — as it is impofiible but
" you muft have heard of my engage-
" ments with that lady, you will not
" wonder that I am in the utmoft im-
" patience to follow her.

' Whenever you venture on marriage,.
*« I wifli yeu all the happinefs which I
<* hope very fhortly to enjoy in that jBrate^
" with the admirable lady to whom I am
" going. — I am,

« "With thanks for all favours^
« Madam,
*' Your mofl obedient
^' humble fervant,

" J. Jessamy.**
This

2o6 ne HISTORY of

This letter, after having fliew'd it to
mr. Morgan and received his approba-
tion. Jemmy fent diredlly away, and
gave orders that it fliould be left for the
lady without waiting for any anfwer.

On talking farther of this afl'air, they
both concluded that the report muft have
taken rife originally from the vanity of
the daughter and the ftupidity of the
father, who mifconftruing the civilities
Jemmy treated them with as the effc6ts
of an amorous inclination, had boafted
of the imaginary conqueft to fome of
their acquaintance, — thole again had
whifper'd it to others, till it wenr round,,
and became, as is common in fuch cafes,
the univerfal fecret.

Thus had the artifices of Belpine made
mifs Chit and her father, who were in
reality no more than the dupes of his
defign, appear as tiie principal contrivers
efit-, — there is nothing, indeed, in which
the judgment is fo liable to be deceived,
as in endeavouring to difcover the firfi:
author of a calumny, — thofe generally
take care to ftand behind the curtain, — -
content themfelves with the invention,
and leave the work of malice to be per-
formed

Jemmy and ]enky Jessamy. 207

formed by others, — as one of our poets
fays :

*Tis difficult, when rumour once is
fpread.

To trace its windings to their fountain-
head.

The injuftice which Jemmy and his
friend were guilty of in this point, may
however have fome claim to abfolution,
as their belief was founded on the mo ft
ilrong probability of truth that could be.

Thefe gentlemen parted Hot till the
clock ftriking three reminded them of
dinner •, — mr. Morgan, being engaged
at home, would tain have taken Jemmy
with him ; but he was not at preient in a
humour for much company, — therefore
delired to be excufed from complying
with the invitation.

CHAP. XX.

Is 'very Jhorf, but pithy.

A VOLATILE temper is not al-
ways a fufficient fecurity from dif-
content j — Jemmy loved his dear Jenny

even

2oS The HISTORY of

even more than he knew he did himfeJf ;
and to be alTured from a mouth whofe
veracity he was too well convinced of to
fufpeil, that it was faid he had quitted her
for the fake of mifs Chit, he look'd upon
as fuch an indignity to her merits, as gave
him more pain than any cenfure the fup-
pofed change might bring upon himfelf.

He wrote to her that fame night ; but
as he hoped the idle report which gave
him fo much vexation could not as yet,
at lead, have extended itfelf fo far as Bath
he thought it improper to make any men-
tion of it till he fhould fee her in perfon,
and have the better opportunity of pro-
ving shefalfehood of it-, — he complained
therefore only of the bufinefs that kept
him fo long from her, and his heart now
more than ever overflowing with love
and tendernefs, his expreflions were con-
formable.

This was the letter which Jenny re-
ceived immediately after the intelligence
given her by lady Speck and mifs Wing-
man of his fuppofed infidelity ; — the
effefts of it have been already Ihewn,. and.
need not be repeated.

Belpinej who had been at mifs Chit's^
concert,, was a good deal furprifed at not

finding.:

Iemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 209
finding Jemmy there, as he knew he
had been invited, but much more when
that young lady, taking him afide, Ihew'd
him the aniwer that had been fent to her
card, and reproach'd him in terms pretty
levere for having endeavour'd to per-
luade her fhe was miftrefs of an heart
which llie now found was fo firmly at-
tach'd to another.

Happy was it for this deceitful man
that the time and place would not allow
of much dilcourfe, as he had not con-
fider'd that fuch an event might poffibly
happen, nor was he prepared with any fub-
terfuge for his proceeding ; — the confu-
fion he was in was very great ; but it
did not make him repent of what he had
done, or ceafe from future projedls for
the fame bafe end ; as will hereafter
appear.

It is natural, when the mind is over-
charged with thoughts of any kind, to
disburthen itfelf to thofe who we believe
take an intereft in our affairs ;— Jemmy
had not a greater confidence in any one
man of his acquaintance than in Belpine,
— it may be fuppofed, therefore, that he
fail'd not to communicate to him the
perplexity he was at prefent under, and
the flory which had occafion'd it.

That

210 Tbe HISTORY of

That faithlefs friend affeded the utmoft
aftonilliment at the recital, and cried out
v/ith a fhew of the moft affedionate
zeal i — * Good God ! — I hope mifs Jcffam>y
' has heard nothing of this.'

' I think it fcarce poffibje, reply'd

* Jemmy, that fuch a report can have
' rcach'd her ears at leaft as yet, in the

* place where ihe is ; and as I hope to
' be with her in a few days fhall take
' care to arm her againft what (he might
i be told hereafter by relating it myfelf.*

This greatly difconcerted Belpine -, —
he had tiatter'd himfelf that Jemmy's
atFairs would have detain'd him fo long
in London, that the llratagems laid to
infpire her with a belief of his inconftancy
would have taken too ftrong a hold of
her heart to be totally removed : — fain
he would have diffuaded him from going
to Bath, but could find no reafons for
that purpofe plaufible enough to prevent
the real motive from being fufp?cted ; —
chance, however, at prefent befriended
his defigns, and did that for him which
all his own invention, fertile as it was,
could not furniih him with the means
of accomplifhing.

As

J E^^M Y and J en n y J ess am V. 211

As Jemmy, in an indolent and uncon-
templat'.ve mood, was one day loitering
in Covent-Garden Piazza, a fine gilt
chariot, with two footmen behind it,
ftopp'd at one of the arches, and juft as
he was pafiing, an ancient gentleman and
a very young lady alighted out of it, and
went into the great audlion-Iioufe, lately
mr. Cock's, but now occupy'd in the
fame manner by mr. Langtord.

He ftarted, and was flrangely fur-
prifed at fight of this lady •, — not on
account of her beauty, thoagh fhe was
handfome beyond defcription, but bccaufe
he thought himfelf perfe6lly well ac-
quainted with her face ; but where, or
at what time, he had been fo, he could
not prefently recolledb.

He flood for the fpace of feveral
minutes endeavouring to recover a more
diftindl idea of that lovely perfon •, but
finding it impolTible, he ftepp'd to one
ot tne tootmen, who was leaning his back
againft a pillar, and afk'd him to whom
that chariot belong'd ; and being anfwer'd
— 'To fir Thomas Hardy.' — 'Then, re-
* fumed Jemmy, I fuppofe the young
' lady with him is his daughter.' — ' No,
' fir, replied the fellow with a fmile,

^ which

212 Jhe HISTORY of

* which he was not able to reftrain, —

* afiiire you fhe is his wife.'

Jemmy on this began to think he had
been miftaken •, — refolving however to be
convinced, he went into the audion room,
doubting not but a rec{3nd and more full
view would fet him right. '

There was a great deal of company,
but he prefently fmgled her out, and was
now more affured than ever that they
vv^ere no ftrangers to each other ; when,;
on fixing his eyes upon her, he perceiv'df
her countenance change at fight of him,j
that fhe grew pale and red by turns, ^
and betrayed all the marks of the utmofl
confufion.

Yet all this was not fufficient to enable
him to bring back to remembrance what
curiofity made him fo defirous of retriev-.^
ing, till the lady, taking the opportunity
of her husband's being engaged in look-;
ing over fome piftures, advanced haftily;
towards him, and faid in a low voice — •
' What has mr. JeiTamy forgot his Ceha;
' of the woods ? \

i

' Heavens ! cried he, what a flupid-
* dolt was I ?' — ' Hufh, reply'd fhe, take
^ no notice of me here •,'■—' flie had kept

her

Jemmy ^W Jennv Jessamy. 2^13

< her eyes upon her husband all the time
ilie was fpeaking to Jemmy, and obfer-
vingthat he now look'd that way rejoin'd
him in an inftant.

The old baronet kept very clofe to his
fair wife all the reft of the time, yet had
fhe tfie addrefs to fteal a moment juft to
bid Jemmy meet her at ten the next
morning at that end of the Mall next
Buckingham houfe.

He could only give her a bow of aflent -,
and remain'd in a confternation which
only can be guefs'd at by the knowledge
who Celia was, and the intercourfe he
formerly had with her.

CHAP. XXI.

Difccuers Celia of the woods on her
jirjl acquaintance with yemmyy and
and aljo Jome other particulars of
equal importance.

THOUGH Jemmy^ when he was at
Oxford, debar'd himfelf from few

of thofe gay amufements which he faw
taken by his fellow collegians, yet he

apply 'd

214 "^^^ HISTORY of
apply*d himfelf to his ftudies more clofely
than moft gentlemen commoners think
they are under any obligation to do •, and,
becaufe he would not be interrupted,
would frequently ileal from the univerfity
and pafs whole hours together in the
fields, either reading cr contemplatihg.

A pretty warm difpute happening to:'
rife one day between two ftudenrs con-
cerning the true reading of Perfius, he
was ambitious of becoming more mailer
of the fubjeft than cither of them feerh'd'
to be v — accordingly he put the book
into his pocket and repah'd to his ufual.
place of retirement. |

The evening v/as fair and pleafant,
and he was fo much abforb'd in medi-
tation, that he v/ander'd on to a greater
diftance from the town than he had been
accuflom'd, till at laft, finding himfelf a
little weary, he flit down at the foot of
a large fpreading oak.

Here he profecuted his examination
of that crabbed author, but had not long
done fo before he was interrupted, and
his eyes taken off^ by the fudden ap-
pearance ot a fight more pleafing.

The

Jemmy jwi Jenny Jessamv. 215

The tree, which ferved him at once
for a lupport and fcreen, was juft at the
entrance ot a little wood •, — - a ruftling
among the leaves made him look that
way, v/here he immediately faw a young
country maid-, — fhe was neat, tho* plainly
drefs'd, and had eyes which might vye with
any that fparkled in the box or drawing-
room.

At this view he was not mafter of
himfclf •, — like C-arlos at the fight of
Angelina in the play, he threw away his
book, — flarted from the poftiire he was
in, and advanced towards the fweet temp-
tation ; — fhe faw him too and fied, but
not fo fail as not to be eafily overtaken.

The firfl rencounter between thefe
two young perfons reminds me of a paf-
fage [ have read in one of ourbeft poets :

As Mahomet was mufing in his cell.
Some dull infipid paradice to trace,
A brifk Arabian girl came tripping by,
Pafiing fhe fliot at him a fide-long

glance.
And look'd behind as if to be purfu'd ;
He took the hint, embraced the flying

fair,
And having found his Heaven, he fix'd

it there.
'' It

2i6 The HISTORY of

It is not to be imagined that Jemmy
accofted a maid of her degree with any
fet fpeeches or formal falutations •, — thofe
charms which in a woman of condition
would have infpired him with a refpedl-
ful awe, ferved only to fill his heart with
the moil unwarrantable defircs ; — he told
her fhe was very pretty, and at the faaie
time attempted to convince her that he
thought her fo by catching her forcibly
in his arms, and giving her two or three
hearty kifles.

She ftruggled, — blufli'd, — cried — « fye
' fir,' and defired him to forbear -, but
our young commoner was not to be fo
eafily rebutFed -, — the little repulfes fhe
gave him ferved only the more to inflame
his amorous incHnation ; and he had
perhaps completed his conqueft^ without
any farther ceremony, if fhe had not
fallen on her knees, and with tears be-
faught him to defift.

Jemmy had too much honour and
good nature not to be touch'd with a
behaviour fo moving, and which he had
fo little reafon to expeft from the weak
efforts fhe at firfl had made to repel his
carefTes.

« Nay,

Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 217

* Nay, — my dear creature, faid he, I

' fcorn to do any thing by force i but if
■ all the love in the world can make you
' mine I fliall be happy j — tell me there-

* fore, continued he, who you are, and
' where you live, that I may fee you
' another time.*

* Oh lud, fir, cried fhe, that is im-
« poflible-,— What do you think my friends
» would fay, if they lliould fee fuch a

* gentleman as you come to vifit me ?* — ■
' 1 did not mean fo, reply'd he, but I
' fuppofe your father lives here about,
' and it may be is of fome bufmefs that
' might give a pretence for my calling at
' his houfe.'

« My father keeps a farm, faid fhe,

* about fix miles off; but I am at pre-
' fent v/ith my uncle, who is a Gardener,

* and lives on the other fide the wood.'

* — That's unlucky, rejoin'd he, for I
' have no fort of occafion for any thing
' in his way. — You mufb then confent to
« meet me, my little angel, added he,

* tenderly prefTmg her hand.*

On this flie blulh'd,— hung down her
head, but made no anfwer j till he repeat-
ing his requefl, and enforcing it by all

Vol. II. L the

2i8 Ike HISTORY of

the rhetoric he was mafter of, whether
real or feign'd I will not pretend to fay,
fhe at laft promifed to meet him the next
evening at the place where they now
were.

He received this grant with the greateft
fhew of tranfport, but made her fwear
to the fulfilling it •, after which he aflc'd
her by what name he Ihould think of his
dear pretty charmer. -'They call meCelia,

* fir, faid fiie.' — ' Then, cried he, you

* fhall be my Celia of the woods, and I

* will be your Jefiamy of the plains.'

The fun beginning now to withdraw
his beams, they were obliged to part j
but before they did Celia gave evident
indications that her Jeffamy had made
no flight impreffion on her young and
unexperienced heart.

Jemmy return'd from his evening's ex-
curfion with thoughts very full of this
new amour, which he flatter'd himfelf
would afixDrd him a moft agreeable amufe-
ment, without coding much pains in the
acquifition.

Befides, the liking he had for this
country girl feem'd to him to be no
breach of his fidelity to Jenny, or any ■

way

Jemmy /jwi Jenny Jessamv. 219

way interiere with the honourable affec-
tions he had for that young lady -, — flie
being then but in her fixteenth year,
himlelf not quite nineteen, and was not
intended by their parents that they fliould
marry till he had attain'd the age of one
and twenty *, — fo that it was a long time
to the completion of his felicity with her.
— I know not whether my fair readers
will look upon this as a fufficient excufe
for him ; but dare anfwer that thofe of
the other fex will think what he did was
no more than a venial tranfgreffion.

As for poor Ceiia, fhe was in agita-
tions which fhe had never known nor
had the leafl notion of before •, — fhe was
ckarm'd with the perfon of Jemmy j —
fhe was quite ravifli'd with the kind
things he had faid to her ; and though
the liberties he had taken with her at that
firfl interview would have been fhocking
to her modefly, had they been ofFer'd
by any of thofe whom fhe was accuftom'd
to converfe with, yet did that very rude-
nefs in him appear too agreeable to alarm
her with any dreadful apprehenfions of
his repeating it.

More full of joy than fear fhe longM

for the appointed hour of meeting him

again, and hailed to the rendezvous,

L a where

220 The HISTORY 0/

where Ihe had not waited many minutes
before the charmer ot her foul appear'd ;
—he flew to her with open arms, and the
tranfport (lie lelr. made her half return
the ftrenuous embrace he gave her.

They fat down together upon a littls
hillock beneath the fliade of fome trees
which arch'd above their heads and
forni'd a kind of canopy •, — here Jemmy
binding her foftened to his wiili, would
fain have finiih'd the affair he had made
fo confiderable a progrefs in ; but, on
perceiving his intent, fhe burft a fecond
time into tears, — begg'd he would not
ruin her, — confefs'd ihe loved him, but
faid fhe could not bear the thoughts of
being naught.

He could fcarce keep himfelf from
laughing-, but as he had pro mi fed not to
make ufe of iorce, fail'd not to urge all
the arguments that fuch a thing would
admit of to perfwade her that what he
requefled of her was not naught in itfelf,
but perfedlly conformable to the laws of
nature.

She was too ignorant, and perhaps alfo
too iitile inclined to attempt any thing
in order to confute what he faid on this
ccca%n •, but though Tivi refufed with

kfs

Ikmy!/ atd Jennv Jess a my. 22'i
lefs refolution than ihe had done, yet
fhe would not abfolutely confent to his
defires : — on which Jemmy, not doubting
but the fruit thus ripened would fooii
fall of itfelf, told her,— that he was not
of a humour to accept ofaiiy favours
granted with rcluftance, and that he would
content himielf with fuch as he Ihculd
find her willino; to beftoWr

*tD

He kept his word, and prefs'd her no
fartlier at that time j — this the poor inno-
cent creature look'd upon as fo great a
condefcention in him, and thous;ht her-
felf fo much obliged by it that ilie readily
allow'd his kiffes, his embraces, and in
fine every freedom except that only one
■which he had affured her he would noL'
take without her leave.

Notwithftanding what they call'd the
crown of a lover's fehcity was wanting,
this couple pafs'd the time they were
together in a manner pleafing enough to
bothi nor parted without a mutual pro-
mife of re-enjoying the fame happinef^
again on the enfuing day.

Jemmy, however, who was of too fan-

guine and amorous a difpofition not to

feel a good deal of impatience for the

confummation of his wilhes, in order to

L 4 liailen

222 Ihe HISTORY of
haften it contrived a ftratagem, which,
from the afcendant he had gain'd over
C elia's heart, gave him no room to doubt
would fail of iuccefsin making her lovely
perfon no lefs entirely his, — it was this :

He approach'd her at their next meet-
ing with the moft folemn and dejedled
air •, — fhe had brought him a fine pofy
feledted from the choiceft flowers in her
uncle's garden, tied together with a piece
of green riband •, — flie was going to
prefent it to him, v/hen perceiving the
change in his countenance fhe ftarted,
and alked him if he was not well.

* No Celia, anfwer'd he, affefting to

' fpeakin a very faint voice', — I am fick,

* — lick at heart,' — ' Indeed I am very

* forry, faid fhe, fmell to this pofy, — I
' hope it will refrefli you, my dear fir.*
' — No, Celia, return'd he, it is not in

* the power of art or nature to relieve
' me, you mull lofe your lover •, — I m'uft
' die, my Celia.* — ' Now all that's good
' forbid it, cried (he, and wept bitterly.'

' I mufi: die, faid he again, or what

* is worfe than death, — never fee my
^ Celia more ' — Surprifed and over-
whelm'd with the mingled paiTions of
love and grief at hearing him fpeak in

this

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 223

this manner, fhe threw her taper arms
about his neck, laid htr cheek clofe to
his, and begg'd him to tell her what he
meant, and the caufe of his complaint.

* You, dear cruel maid, anfv/er'd he
with a well counterfeited agony, — it
is you which is the caufe of my com-
plaint ; — and it is you alone can be my
cure : — in fine, it is impolhbk for me
to breathe the fame air with you and
not fee you, — yet every time I fee you
gives frefh tortur«s to my bleeding
heart, by letting me know fLili more of
the Heaven I am deny'd poffeuing ; —
I have therefore taken a refoludon t )
banifh myfelf for ever from you, and
from this country. — You mufb then,
continued he, — embracing her with
•the utmoft eager nefs, either lofe all
your Jeffamy or give me all my Celia."

The ccnfternation ilie was in is not to
be exprefs'd ; but every look, — every
motion, betray' d to him the inward trou-
ble of her mind •, — Ihe could not fpeak
for feveral minutes j but at hft cried out,,
with a voice interrupted by fighs, — ' Oh

* mr. JeiTamy, will you, -— can you be

* fo barbarous to leave me, — leave me

* for ever!'

224 ^^^ HISTORY of

* Call not that barbarous which your

* iinkindnefs drives me to, rejoin'd he ;

* -^it 1 loved you with a common paffion,

* 1 could perhaps be eafy under the fevere

* reftriclion you have Liid upon me , —
' but you are too beautiful, and I too
' much enamoured. — Oh then throw off"

* at once this cruel coynefs, — this un-

* merited referve, — generoufly fay you

* v,-iil be all mine, and make both me

* and yourfelf com.plctely blefs'd.'

He utter'd thefe lafl words in accents
which pierced her to the foul ;= — fhe was
all confufion, — irrcfolute for a while, — ■
fcmetimes looking on him., and fometimes
on the ground •, but love at length, —
prevailing love, got the better of that
bafhfulnefs, which 'tis likely had, more
than any other principle, till now re-
ilrain'd her from yielding to his fuit •, —
fhe threw herfeif into his arms, and
hiding her head within his bofom, — * I
' cannot part with you, cried fhe, I can
' deny you nothir.g, — you have my heart,

* and muft command whatever Celia has

There is a fbrong probability, if it does
net amount even to a certainty, that
Jemmy v/ould not have given her time

for

Jemi^y tfW Jenny Jessamy. 225^
for a fecond thought, which might have
revok'd tlie promife Ihe had made •, but
his plot, hitherto fo fuccefsful, was now^
entirely fruilrated by the Hidden found
of men's voices at a diftance, and which-
feem'd to approach more near.

' Oh lud, cried fhc extremely frighted,

* I hear my uncle -, — if he fhould come
« this way and find me with a gentleman,

* he will tell my father, and I fhall be

* halfkiird; — Dear mr. Jeffamy, make
*• all the hafte you can out of the wood ;

* — I will go and lace him, and pretend
' I was going to carry thefe flov/ers to a

* great lady who lives hard by.'

Jemmy could not forbear curfmg both
the uncle and the interruption ; but thought
proper to comply with Celia's advice,-
after having exacted an oath from her to
meet him again the next day and fulfil
her engagement, which fhe readily gave,.
and then tripp'd away as faft as her legs ^
could carry her.

Thus did they part, not to: fee each
other again for a much longer time than
cither of them imagined, — the caufe of-
which, will prefently be Ihewn, .

Z ^ C H A B^

226 Ihe H-I STORY of

CHAP. XXII.

In which, among other things, it will
be found highly proper that fome
pajjages formerly inferted Jhould be
re-capitulated, in order to form the
better imderflanding of thofe which
are now upon the tapis.

JEMMY returned to the college in
no very good humour, as may be fup-
pofed, though the mortification of the
difappointment he had received was very
much alleviated by the afllirance he had
of Cclia's affection for him •, but on his
entering into his chambers he met with
fomething which made the adventures
of the day, and indeed all that had pafs'd
between him and the country maid, va-
Fiifli like a dream from his remem-
brance.

A letter was prefented to him which
had been leit for him by the poft, fum-
jiioning him immediately to London to
receive the lad commands and ble/Iing
of a d)ing father; — filial piety and
dutcouiS afteflion now took up all his
jpiH.d, ai d he thought of nothing but to

be

Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessam?. 227
be fpeedy in his obedience to the autho-
ritative mandate.

Accordingly he rofe the next morning,
by break ot day,— ^rode poft, and arrived
in London before evening, as has beea
already related in the beginning of the:
firll volume of this work.

On his going back to the univerfity,.
after the melancholy folemnity of his
father's funeral was over, Celia came
again a little into his head ; and though
he defign'dfhortly to quit Oxford entire-
ly, yet he thought that for the time he
ftaid he could not have a more agreeable
amufement than the profecution of that
amour to divert his afflidion for tke lofs
he had fuftain'd.

To this end he went to the wood, — ^
ranged through every part of that, fcene
of their loves, but found no Celia there •„
— he knew her uncle's name, but not
direcUy where he lived ; or if he had,,
would not have thought it proper to go.
to his houfe to make any enquiry con-
cerning her ; — happening, however, to.,
fee a fellow cutting down wood, he ven.-
tur*d to afk him if one mr, Adams,, a
gardener, did not live fcmewhere there-
abouts*— ^^ Ay, fir, reply 'd the man, if yoii
L 6 tura

228 Th HISTORY of

* turn by that thicket on your right

* hand you may fee his houfe.' — ' Nay,

* faid Jemmy carelefly, 1 have no bufinefs

* with him, — I have only heard he was a

* very honed man.' — * Ay, fir, rejoin'd

* the other, that he is to be fure, as

* ever broke bread ; — I have known him

* above thtfe thirty years, and never heard

* an ill thing of him in my life.'

Jemmy finding this fellow feem'd to be
of acommunica'ivedifpofition, demanded
of him what family mr. Adams had. —

* Ah, fir, faid the man, — he has only two

* boys, — one he brings up to his own

* bufmefs and the other is a gentleman's
« fervant \ — his wife,— reft her foul, has

* been dead two years come Michaelmas

* next, and he would have been quite

* helplefs if he had not got a brother's

* daughter of his to look alter his things ;

* — but Ihe is gone now -, — I know not

* what the poor man will do,^ — he muft

* even hire a maid, and there are fo few

* of them good.' — ' What is his niece

* dead too, cried Jemmy pretty haftily,'

* No fir, anfwer'd he,- — but flie is i^one

* away j — her father, belike, fent for her

* home, — I knov/ not on what account,

* — not 1 ; but fhe has left poor Adams-,.

* and he is in a piteous plight.'

Jemmy

Jemmy jw^ Jenny Jessamy. 229

Jemmy being defirous of receiving as
much intelligence as he could of his little
miftrefs, afFecled to be in fome concern
for the honeft gardener, her uncle, pre-
tending he had heard much in his com-
mendation from thofe that knew him ;
and faid it was a great pity that the maid
lliould be fent for away, as fhe was fo
ufeful to him, and fo notable a manager.

* Ay very handy, indeed fir, anfwer'd

* mr. Adams's friend, — fhe kept every

* thing in the houfe fo clean and fo tight

* it would have done your heart good

* to have fcen it ; — but as to her father's

* fending for her away, — I don't know,.

* — mayhap he had a mind to have her

* under his own eye, — he has the chara<5ter
«■ of a parlous-fhrewd man, and fees

* things a great while before they come.'

' Was there any danger then to be
' apprehended in her flaying, demanded
*■■ Jemmy ?' — *■ I can fay nothing as to
' that, fir, — fhe is as likely, — as comely

* a lafs as any in the county round, — but

* I believe veryhoneffc i — ^though fhe has a

* kind of a leer with her eyes, and is always

* fimpering and fmirkin^ ; and you know

* fir, that gives encouragement •, — there
*■• were a power of young fellows that had

a haa-

230 "^oe HISTORY cf

' a hankering after her, — I have heard my
' wife fay a tlioufand times I beheve, —
' and {he is feldom miftaken, that fhc
' wifh'd Celia might come to good.

' Befides, fir, continued he> fhaking

* his head, we are fo near the Univerfity

* here, and the young ftudents are moft

* of them wild blades, and fpend their

* time more in running after the girls
' than on their books.'

It muft be obferved that Jemmy was
now in his travelling drefs ; for had he
appeared as, a gentleman-commoner, no
body can fuppofe that the countryman
would have been fo free in his difcourfe
with him, which being once enter'd into
he would probably have gone on with
till he had related all he knew of the news
of the whole parifh.

But Jemmy having fatisfied his curio-
fity as fully as he could have defired, and
much more than he had any rcafon to
^xpedl:, grew quite weary of this kind of
converfation, and foon after took leave
of his informer, and waUi'd back to the
College.,

He had now loft his Celia of the woods,
-—fie knew indeed where to find her ;

but

Jemmy /zW Jenny Jessamy. 231

but as his {lay in Oxford was to be very
fliort, and he had many friends to fee
before he went away, he had no time ta
devote to the purfuit of a millrefs fo far
removed -, — befides, he knew not what
inconveniencies might attend his feeking
her at her father's houfe ; and was too
indolent in his nature to rifque any diffi-
culties for the fake of gratifying a paflion
fuch as the beauty of that girl had in-
fpiredhim with.

After he had quitted the Univerfity
entirely, and was fettled in London, be-
fides the fociety of his dear Jenny, whom,
in fpite of the little excurfions of his
youtk, he loved with die moft pure and
refpe(5tful pafTion, new fcenes of life, —
new amufements, — new pleafures, crowd-
ed upon his fenfes, and prefently oblite-
rated the memory of thofc he left behind..

Celia, no more was wifli'd for, no more
though^ on by him, how was it poffible
that after fo long a fpace of time as two
whole years, and having feen fuch a
rariety of beautiful faces, he lliould be
able to recolledt his plain country maid
under the character of a fine town hdy^.
blazing with gold and jewels, attended
by a fplendid equipage, and djgnify*d
•with a title^

This

232 The H ISTOPvY of

This adventure, notwithfLanding, ferved
greatly to diHipate all the chagrine which
the ftory invented in relation to his in-
ridelity to Jenny had involved him in j
— he could not keep himfelf from being,
highly pleafed at meering with a perfoa
who had once fo many charms for him,,
nor v/ith finding, by her behaviour to^
wards him, that fo prodigious a change
of fortune had not made the leaft change
in her fentiments on his account : — in a
word, all the long dormant inclinations
which iic had formerly felt for Celia, now
revived in his bolbm at fight of lady
Hardy -, and he hefitated not a moment
whether he fhould comply with the ap-
pointment Ihc had made him.

How uncertain, — how wandering are
the paflions of mankind, — how yielding
to every temptation that prcfents itfelf j
— feldom are they mailers of their own
hearts or aftions, efpecially at Jemmy's
years •, and well may they deceive others
in what they are deceived themfeJves»

"When they proteft to love no other
object than ih; prefent, they. may,, per-
haps, refolve tobess juft as the.y pretend.;
. — but. ::l:s! — this :s net in their povver^,
even though it may in their will j — -they

can

Jemmv ^;?^ Jenny Jessamv. 233
can no more command their willies than
they can their thoughts, which, as Shake f-
pear tells us, — ' Once loft, are gone be-
< yond the clouds.' — We often fee that
to reverfe this boafted conftancy is the
work of but a Iingle minute, — and then
in vain their paft profeffions recoil upon
their minds ; — in vain the idea of the
forfaken fair haunts them in nightly
vifions.

For mighty love, which honour does

defpile,
For reafon fhews them a new charmer's

eyes.

CHAP. XXIII.

Contains only fuch accidents as are too
common to excite much wonder,

WOULD not be underftood, by the
obfervations made on the generality of
mankind in the clofe of the precedino-
chapter, that the vice of inconftancy ought
to be imputed to the hero of this hiltory ;
what in moft others is the effed of a love
of variety, was produced in him by the
too great vivacity and fprightlinefs of his
temper: he had fometimes very ftrong

inclinations.

I

234 'I'he HISTORY of

inclinations, but never a real afFedion fo/
any but his dear Jenny j and tho' thefe
may have led him into errors which
render him not wholly blamelefs, yet the
permanence of his devoirs to that fole ob-
ject of his honourable paflTion, fhews his
charafter to have in it infinitely more of
light than Ihade.

Let no one therefore pafs too fevere a
renfure on his condudt in regard to this
fair tempter, either as Celia of the woods
or lady Hardy ; — whatever was the firlt
motive of his addreffes to her, curiofity
to know how this transformation came
about might now, and doubtlefs had,
fome fhare in exciting him to renew his
acquaintance with her.

I fhall not, however, as I have more
than once afiured my readers, make any
attempts either to palliate or difguife the
truth : — Jemmy was pundbual to the hour
that had been prefix'd by his miftrefs,
yet found her in the Park before him ;
— fhe had placed herfelf on a bench be-
hind the Mall, as being mod free from
company : — when he firft difcerned her,
fhe fcem'd talking to a young woman
who flood waiting near her, but left her
ladyfhip alone before he could come up
to them.

* How

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 235

• How little pofTible was it for me to

* expe6t this bleffing, — faid he approach-

* ing her.' — ' Hold — hold, — cried fhe

* interrupting him, — we have no time at
' prefent for fine fpeeches, and you will

* be flirprifed to find yourfelf fummon'd

* here only to be told you mull begone.'
' — I fhould be indeed lurprHed, — re-

* join'd he ; — but how hare I deferved
' to be fo unhappy V

' No, no, reply'd fhe fmlling, you are

* not unhappy, though I could eafily tell
' you how you deferve to be fo j — but

* this is no place either for a quarrel or
' a reconciliation : — you muft know I

* could not come out alone for fear oF
' giving fufpicion to my old husband,
' fo brought my woman with me -, but
' as foon as I faw you, fent her home
' under the pretence of fetching my fnufF-
' box, which 1 left behind me for that
' purpofe ; — file will be here again in

* two minutes, for we live but in the

* next ftreet, and have a door into the
' Park ', — therefore take this, continued
' ' fhe, and be careful to do as this diredls.'

* Let me firft examine how I approve

* of the contents, faid he with his ac-
» cuftom'd gaiety/ — ' You may, anfwer'd

' (he-.

236 ^r^f HISTORY c/

' fhe ; but then you will lofe the only

* moment that I have to tell you, I am

* as much yours as ever, and that I have

* not known one joy in life fince lail we

* parted.* — ' Angehc creature ! cried he
*■ with a voice and eyes all tranfport, oh

* that I had the opportunity of throwing

* myfelf at your feet to thank, as it de-

* ferves, this goodnefs ! — where, — when

* fhall we meet again ?'

• The paper I gave you v/ill inform'

* you, reply'd llie ; but do not difappoint
' lady Hardy in the fame manner as you

* did Celia of the woods.' — ' Oh I can

* clear myfelf of thar, cried he, it was
' a fad neccflity that drove me from you,
' and I had no means of conveying a letter

* to you -, — but I have fought you fince.*
' — * And I have fought you too, rejoin'd

* fhe j but we muft talk of this hereafter •,

* — I fee my woman coming, — leave me
' for Heaven's fake, and if you flay in

* the walks pafs carelefiy by, a,.d feem
' not to regard me.' — Jemmy had only
time to tell her, that he would read the
dear mandate, and obey whatever it en-
joined.

After fpeaking thefe words he retired
with as much haftc as he could to tha
other end of the walk, where he examined

what

Jemmv a?2d Je^uy Jessamv. 237

what had been given him by the lady,
and found it contain'd only thefe few ex-
preflive Unes :

GO at fix this evening percifely to
mrs. Comode, the habit-maker,
in * * * ftreet, — fhe is already apprized
of your coming, but knows. not your
perfon ; — fo you have only to fay,-—
you are come for the riband, — -on which
fhe will immediately condufl you to

« Yours, &C.'*

It had been obferv'd through the courfe
of this hiftory, that Jemmy, in fpite of
his gay temper, had fometimcs the power
of thinking very ferioufly •, — the billet he
had in his hand, together with the looks
and geftures of the lady, fill'd him with
refledions which it cannot be fuppofed
fhe either intended or wifh'd to infpire,

To find that the moft timid bafliful-
nefs, — the m.oft innocent fimplicity of
mind and manners thus improved, in the
compafs of fo finall a fpace of time, into
all the allured airs of a woman who had
pafs'd her wlwle hfe in artifice and
intrigue, feem'd to him a thing fo ftrange,,
fo out oi nature, that he would never have
believed it poflible, had he not feen it

verified

23S The HISTORY of

verified in the charafler of his CeJia, at
prefent lady Hardy.

This transformation did not render her
more amiable in his eyes; — he was, how-
ever, pundual to the affignation, though
it is pretty certain his curiofity of know-
ing thofe accidents which had occafion'd
fo extraordinary a revolution, both in
her circumftances and behaviour, had as
great a fhare in carrying him thither as
any other motive.

On his coming to mrs. Comode's he
found the obliging gentlewoman ready
to receive him ; and, on his giving the
appointed fignal, led him with a fmiling
countenance into a back parlour behind
the fhop, where lady Hardy already
waited his approach.

He was doubtlefs about to falute her
with fome fine fpeech, but Ihe no fooner
faw him enter than, ftarting from her
feat, fhe threw herfelf at once into his
arms, before they were even open to re-
ceive her j— ' My dear, dear mr. JelTamy,
' cried llie, with an undefcribeable foft-

• nefs in her voice and eyes, — a few days

• paft how little did I hope this hap-

• pinefs?'

3uch

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 239

Such lovt, — fuch tendernefs, in one lb
young and beautiful, muft have warm'd
the heart of a dull Stoick, miich more
that of one endow'd by nature with the
moft amorous inclinations, : — Jemmy
muft" have been as infenfible as he was
really the reverfe, had he not felt the
force of fuch united charms •, — ^e return*d
all her tranfports, — her carefTes, with in-
tereft ; — they faid the moft paffionate and
endearing things to each other •, but the
energy of their exprefT^ons, as they were
fo often interrupted with kilTes and em-
braces, would be loft in the repetition %
— lor as mr. Dryden juftly fays,

Imperfc(5l fentences, and broken founds.
And nonfenfe is the eloquence of love.

After the firft demonftrations of their
inutual joy on this meeting was over, —
' I will not, faid fhe, be fo ungenerous to
' accufe you of a crime of which i know
' you clear -, — I difcover'd the melan-
» choly occafion which call'd you in fuch
« hafte to London •, — but tell me, my

• dear Jeffamy, continued fhe, did not

• your heart feel fome anguifh on finding
' yourfelf obliged to leave your Celia juft
' as you had prevail'd upon her to fwear
' llie would be yours ?*

He

240 "The HISTORY of

He could not without being guilty of,
as much ill manners as ingratitude,
avoid pretending he had fuffer*d greatly
on that account •, but whatever was want-
ing of fincerity in this ailertion he attoned
for in the relation he made her of the
pains he had taken in fearching for her
on his return to Oxford.

She laugh' d heartily at the detail he
gave her of the converfation he had with
the countryman concerning her uncle
Adams and the affairs of his family ; —
' And, now, faid fhe, I will make you

* the confidant of every thing that has

* happen'd to me lince I had the pleafure

* of feeing you.*

Jemmy then telling her it was a favour
for which he had the utmofl impatience,
fhe immediately gave him the fatisfacftion
he defired.

CHAP.

Jbmmy ^«^ Jenhy Jessamy. 241

CHAP. XXIV.

The hiftory of Cdia i?t the woods pro-
fecufed in that of lady Hardy ^ re-
lated by herfelf to 'Jemmy,

*« T W I L. L not, faid flie, poifon the
*' A fweeta of our prefent moments with
" any defcription of the bitter pangs I
*' fuffer'd in not finding you as I ex-
" pcfted in the wood ; — I had too much
" dependance on your love and honour
** tJ entertain one thought that this dif-
** appointment was an a6t of your own
" choice ; and therefore fear'd that you
*' was either fuddenly taken fick, or
" that fome other ill accident had be-
" fallen you.

'• Under thefe apprehenfions I pafs'd
*« the moft cruel night that ever was •,
" — nor did the day bring me much
" more tranquility -, though I fomstimes
*' flatter'd myfelf that bufinefs, — com-
*' pany, or fome fuch like enemy to love,
'* had kept you from me the evening
*« before, and that you would not fail on
" this to come and make attonement for
'* the difquiet you had given me.

Vol. II, M *« Accord-

,24-2 The HISTORY of

" .Accordingly, in this hope I went
*' about i]-c ulual hour to the dear fcene
" of our paft meetings ;- — I threw myfeif
** on the little hillock where we had fat —
" I kifs'd, — I embraced the tree you had
-" lean'd againft ; — I invoked love and
*' all its powers to bring my Jeflamy
*' once more to my arms •, — and ran to the
*' entrance of the wood, and fent my
" longing eyes towards town, vainly ItUl
" expecting your approach ; — I envied
'' the little birds that hopped among the
*' boughs above my head, and wifh*d to
** be one of theni, that I might fly to ths
*' place which I then thought contain'd
" you, and fee in what manner you were
''*■ employ 'd.

'* I had like to have forgot, continued
^'- fhe, I promifed that I would not trou-
•"- ble you either with my grief or my
*' defpair, yet I am unwarily running
" into a detail of both ; — pardon me, —
'' my dear Jeffamy, — and prepare to
" hear what contrivances my paJTion for
" you infpired m^e with.

" It was almoft dark when I left the
" wood •, qiy uncle was come out of the
*' grounds and at home before me -, he
" chid me for being abroad fo late •, but

" I made

Jemmy <3/z^ Jei^nY JEssAMv. 243

** I made an excufe which, though not
" worth your hearing, pafs'd well enough
" upon him : — I rofe very early the next
** morning, and wrote a Uttle letter to
" you ; but when I had done knew not
*' which way to convey it to you, nor
*' indeed how to dired it properly, as I
*' had never heard you fay to which of
** the colleges you belongedo

" Refolved, however, at any tatc, and

** whatever I did, to be fatisfied concerrr-

" ing your health, and what was become

** of you, I went to Oxford under the ■

" pretence of buying fomething I ftood

" in need of-, — 1 was afraid and alliamed

" to go to the Univerfity to ailc for you •,

" but believing that you mull be known

" in town, enquired at feveral great

" fliops, but without any fuccefs, till a

*' Perriwig- maker djrefted me to go to

'* a coffee-houfe^ which he faid you ufcd

*' every day.

•«' Here I was informed that you had
*' been fent for to London on account of
*' your father's indifpofitions, and y/a^
" gone the day before », but that not
»* having quitted the Univtrfity, it was
" expected you would not long be abfent,
*' — this intelligence a httle comforted
*' me, and I return' d with a fatisfadticn

244 "^^^ HISTORY of
•" in my mind, which I beheve might
*' fprcud a more hao ordinary glee upon
*^ my counceii<ince.

*' But however it was, my looks, it
«' fcems, \Nere that day ordain'd to do for
" me what 1 never had vanity enough to
*' expect from them.

** On my coming home, I found a
*' chariot with two footmen waitmg at
*' our door, and within a very old grave
*'_ gentleman hufy in difourfe with my
*' uncle •, — the latter had fome time before
<' got a flip from a line exotic plant out
«' of a nobleman's garden, which he had
'* rear'd to fuch perfedion that it was
*' now loaded wi h fiCv. trs -, and it was
*' concerning the purchaic of this, and
«' fomx odier curiofuics my uncle's nur-
«* fery afforded, that had brought this
" gueft to our houfe.

" I fancy, m.y dear Jeflamy, that you
<* already imagine that the perfon 1 am
<» fpeaking of was no other than fir
" '1 homas Hardy, whofe v/ife 1 now
*< am, and who you faw yefterday with
** me at the auftion •, — it was he, indeed,
«' whofe heart, without defigning it^ I
«* captivated at iirft fight.

Jemmy

Jemmv and Jenny Jessamy. 245

Jemmy on this could not forbear ma-
king fome complimciits on the force of
her charms j — to which Qie only reply'd,
that of how great fervice fotvcr they had
been to her intermit,, ihe took no pleafure
in looking lovely in any eyes but thofe
of her dear Jeffamy, — and then went on
with her dilcourfe.

" The old baronet, refumed flie, had
** his eyes fix'd upon me f^rom the mo-
" ment I came into the room, and foon
*« took an opportunity of afkingmy uncle "
«' if I was his daughter.' — ' No, pleafe

* your honour, reply'd he, ilie is only mv
« niece; — farmer Adams, one of your'
< hdnour's tenants, is her father.*

^ Oh then, cried fir Thomas, I Hippofe
« he has fent her hither to be out of the
« way of fome handfome young man or
' another whom flie may have taken a
' hking to.' — ' No, pleafe your honour,
' faid my uncle, I hope the girl has no
' fuch thoughts in her head as yet ; — my
*• brother only lets her be here out of
*■ kindnefs to me, to look after my houfe.'

' A very pretty houfe-keeper, indeed,

* rejoin*d fir Thomas •, and I do not doubt

* but manages as well as can be expeft-

M g ed,'

2^.6 ne HISTORY 0/

'*■ cd.* — * For her years, fir, faid my

* uncle' — ' 1 dare fwear fhe dees, crkd

* my new lover •, and it it were not tor

* robbing you, I iliould be glad to have
' fuch a one to look after my affairs,'

•' I could not forl^ear blufhing ex-
** CLflively at thefe words ; tho-jgh I was
*■' Lr from imagining he had any defign
*' in thi-m : — he faid no more, however,
^'- at that time ; but having ordered my
'* urclc to t ririg home the plants he had
" bought of him, v/ent into his chariot,
'-* though not without giving me a very

* * amorous look as he paffed by.

'* For my part, I fhould have thought
^ no more of this (luff afterwards, but
" was very much furprifed vv'hen I fiw
'•* him come again the next day ; ^ — my
*>' uncle happened to be abroad, and I
*» was fitting alone at work in a Htcle
'■* room juft by the door, which was wide
*■* open, and he came diredly in.

* Where is your uncle> my pretty
^ maid, fiid he, I would buy fome things

* of hi-n :' — 'I reply'd, — that I believed

* he v/as not far off, and I would call the
*■ boy to go in fearch of him.*—* It is

* no matter, return'd he, taking hold
*• ot my hand to prevent my doing as I

Jemmv and Jenny J ess am v. 247

had laid •, — and to tt^U you^ the truth, I
am glad of this opportunity of faying,
fomething to you that may be for yoiiF
advantage.'

o

" I wonder'd what he meant, but fat
' down again on his bidding me; — ^ he
' then told me I was a very pretty maid,-
' and would be more pretty dill if I
*< was drefs'd as I ought to be.' — ' 'Tls a
pity, faid h<^, locking on me from head-
to foot, that fuch iimbs as thefe fhould
be employ'd in any hard or fervile
work. — I know very well that neither
your father nor your uncle are able to-
do much for you ; therefore if you wi'l
be one of my fam.ily, you fhall eat and
drink of the beft, — have fine fii.-;
cloaths, and have no bufinefs but to-
fee that the fervants do theirs."

** To all this I anfwer'd, that I v/as
' very much obliged to his honour for
' the offer he macie me, but that 1 was
■* not accuflom'd to the ways of gentle-

* men, and in no refpecc qualified lor

* the place he mentioned.'

' Yes, — my dear girl, cried he, you
are fufiiciently qualified for every thmg
1 fliali require of you ;' — '* in fpeaking

thcfe words he threw his wither' d
M 4 ** hai>ds-

24S Tke HISTORY of

** hands about my neck, and kifs'd me
'* with a vehemence which one would
** not think his jears capable of.

'* I proteft to ycu, continued fhe,
•* that i was fo foohfh as not to apprehend
*<^ thf bafe dtfign he had u| on m-e till
** this laft a<I:tion convinced me oi it. —
** I ilruggied i^nd got Icole from an
*' tmbratt? which was then fo dettflable
*' XQ> iTiC •, — I told him that I was not
** for his purpofe, and that I never
" would fee the wicked creature he v/ouid
** have me.*

* Ycu ?.re a little fool, and do net
*- conhder the value of the offer you re-

* jecl, faid he, throwing a hand/ul of
' guineas into my lap. — See here, — your

* pocket fliall be always fiU'd with thefc
' to difpofe of as you fhall think fit j —

* ycu fhall have what you plcafe, — do

* v,'hat you pleafe, — command me and

* my whole eftate ; — I defire only a little
' love in recompence.'

. *' I defpife all you can give or pro-
*' mife, anfwer'd I ; therefore take back
" your gold or 1 fliall throw it out of
** doors for your fervants to pick up \ —
*' poor as I am-jl will not fell my honefty.*

" It

J'EMUY a/ii/ fENNY Jess am y . 2 49 ;

" It was not in this manner, my"
** Jefllimy, puri'ued Ilie, looking fondly
*' on him, that I withllood the attempts
" you made upon my virtue ; — How
" wide is the difference between love and
*' intereft ? — My old Baronet, however,
" took my behaviour as the effecft of the
'* moft pure and perfeA virtue ; — he was
** both amazed and charmed with it, and.
*' approaching me with looks as refpect-
" ful as they had lately been prefuming-/

* — Well, my lovely maid, faid he, T-
' will not henceforward go about to

* feduce your innocence, — I love you,,
' but will endeavour, to conquer my;

* defires/

" I anfwer'd in a tone pretty rude I,
*' believe, — that it was the only things
" he could oblige me in ; on which he:
" ftood in a coniiderative pofture for,
" fome moments, — at laft coming out of
" it,' — ^ Celia, faid he, looking earneftly

* on my face, — it is my defire to do
'every thing to oblige you •, and fince
' that will do it fhallcome here no more.'
<« — With thefe words he turn'd from me^:
*' and it was with much ado I prevail'd
" on him to take up his money ^ but L
*' protefted a fmgle piece niouid not re-
'* main behind."

M5 Her-

25a TBe BISTORT of

Her ladyihip was going on, but mrs..
Comode, who was all complaifance, came
in with tea, v/hich occafion'd a fmall in-
terruption, after which flie refumed her-
dilcourfe, as will be feen in the next
chapter.

CHAP. XXV.

Contains the fequel of lady Hnrdf'i-
ftory, with other matters of fm7ie
confequence,.

« A FTER my old Baronet Had left;

^ Jl\ nie, faid fhe, and I had leifure to

refleft. on what had pafs'd, though I

was far from repen-ting of having re--

fufed the offer he had made of living;

with him iyetjto confefs the truth, I,

thought there was no neceffity for my

giving myfelf the grand airs I had

done, and that I might have taken the.

c;old he would have forced upon me,,

without any breach either of my mo

defty or virtue j but this it was which,,,

as he has fince told me, gave him fo

hip-h an opinion of my fpirit and de-

•^'- lic'acy, as made him think sne worthy
^ '^ of

Jemmy ^WJennv Jessamv. 251'

" of the dignity he was determined to
*' raife me to.

*'■ The third day after that in v/hich
*'' he had been with me, a man and horfe
" arrived from my father, with cu-ders
" to bring me home diredly. — I cannot
** tell whether myfelf or uncle were molt
»* furprifed at this meflage, but am cer-
** tain that both of us were very much
** fo.' — ' Sure, faid he, brother does not

* intend to take her from me without
'letting me know that 1 might prQvid,e

* for myfelf.'

* I can fay nothing as to that, reply *d

* the fellow ; but I believe fhe \Yill not
'•cofAe back in hafte ; for he bid me
•'tell, her fhe muft bring all the things
'away that llie has here.'—'- This con-
** vincing him that my father had indeed
** took it into his head to keep me ^t
" home, he complained bitterly of his
" unkindnefs, and aflced the man a thou-
" land queftions- concerning my being
** feat for fo fuddenly away, in none of
** which the other. was able to give him
** any fatisfadion.. . .

'* I was all this while in tears, which
" my uncb, poor man, imputed to my
" good- nature and foiTow for leaving him:
M 6 <- thus

252 ne HISTORY of

*' thus deititute ; but alas they proceeded
** from a caufevery dilTerent from what
*"■ he imagined, — that of being obHged
" to remove fo much farther from the
*' only place where I could ever hope to
*' fee niy dear JefTamy again.

*' But there was no remedy, — the
«* orders I had received mult be fub-
** mitted to ; — I therefore went up to
*' my room, — pack'd up my little ward-
•' robe, which I gave to the man to put
*' before him, — took leave of my uncle,
'* — got upon the pillion, and with an
*« aking heart trotted towards home as
'* faft as the horfe thus loaded could
** carry us.

*' On my arrival I found my father
*' waiting at the door to receive me, —
** he lifted me off the horfe himfelf,— -
** kifs'd me, — faid I was a good girl for
** making fuch hafle to come when he
*' fent for me ; — in fine, I never remember
*' to have fttn him in fuch a humour in
'* my whole life : — rriy mother was the
** fame,— flic catch'd me in her arms as
*' foon as fhe faw me, and cried," — ' My
* dear Celia, thou wert born to be a
' blefiing to us ail.' — *' I was flrangely
*' fur; rifed at all this comp'aifance and
*'joy; but as my parents rnxde many

** circum-

Jemmy and Jenny J'essamy. 2^-^\

** circumlocutions in their difcoiirfe before
" they informed me of the motive, I wiii
* ' tell it you in a more brief manner.

*' Sir Thomas Hardy, it feems, had-
'' been with my father, — told him he
'* had leen me at my uncle's, — that he
" liked me, and if he would give his con-
*' fent would marry me as foon as things
" could be got ready for that purpofe.
'' — You may be fure my father did not
*' make many words to this bargain ;
*' and it was agreed between them that I
" fliould be immediately fent for home,
" in order to be cloathed according to the
** ftation I was going to enjoy.

" The aftonifhment I was in at hearing
** all this is impoffible to be exprefs'd ;
** I Ihall therefore only fay, that it was
'* fuch as almoft turn'd my brain, and
"for a good while allowed me not the
*' power of knowing whether I was moft
*^ pleafed or troubled at an. event fo pro-
*' digiou*

" Early the next morning a fervant
** belonging to my lover brought me a
'* portmanceau, in whfch I lour.d feveral
'* roils of various colour'd filks, — a great
" dtalof lace anddrefden worii, v/ithfome
** pieces of holland of an extraordinary

" finenefs ;

25^4^ T^^ H I S T O R Y 0/

'* finenefs -, — in the portmanteau was
" alfo a fmall ivory cafket, containing a
** gold repeating watch and equipage, —
" a fet of diamond buckles for my flays, —
" a large pearl necklace with a folitaire,.
" and feveral other trinkets of a con-
** fiderable value.

** You may believe, continued fHe, that
•* my eyes were dazzled with the fight
** of fuch things as I had never ken in
** my whole life before •, but I had fcarce
•* time to examine them thoroughly be-
*' fore fir Thomas came himfelf to vifit
** me ; — he told me he was glad to fee
•' me at home,. and aik'd me how I liked
" the prefents he had made ; — I was very
** much confounded,, but had courage
** enough to reply, — that I liked them
•' very well, efpecially as they were ac--
" com panied with honourable intentions:
** — this anfwer pleafed him fo much that"
** he could not forbear: taking me in his-
'•• arms, though my, father and mother-
*'* were in the room, faying at the fime
** time, — -my dear girl, I can have nothing
•' for thee but the moft honourable inr-jn-
** tions j and what I have given thee now
** are mere trifles in comparifon of what
**I will hereafter make thee miftrefs of, .

" I le-.

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 2^^

" He ftaid with us near two hours^,
" and before he went away gave my
" mother fifty guineas, to pay for making
•* my cloaths, and to provide for me fuch
** other things as (he fhould find necefTary,
'* earneftly recommending to her to get
'* all ready for our marriage with as much.
•" fpeed as poITible.

" He might have fpared himfclf ths
**. trouble of this injundlion, for never
** were two people more eagerly anxious
'^^ for any thing. than my poor father and
" mother to fee me difpofed of, in a
" manner fo infinitely beyond all they
»* could have hoped : — the perfons em-
** ploy'd in equipping me were fo much
*' prefs'd and fo well paid,, that in a very
" few days nothing was wanting for my
'* nuptials, which were celebrated by. the
•' parfon of the parifh at my father's
*f houfe, afcer which, I was carried to^
** that which is. now my home^ and as
** pleafant a feat as any in the whole
"* county.

*^ During the firft week of ourmarri.igs
" my head was lo taken up with the
*' coach and fix, — number of my fer^vants^
*' — the magnificence of every thing r.bout
'* me, — the title of my ladyfliip, and tJie

" com-

256 The HISTORY of

" compliments made on that occafion,
** that I thought of nothing but my new
"■ grandeur •,:■ — but ail thefe things became
<■• iefs dazling to me as they grew more
" cuftomary, and all my reliOi for them.
" vanilh'd with their novelty.

" The idea of my dear Jeflamy now
** return'dto my remembrance, — I figh'd,
^ — I Janguilh'd and thought I could
** have exchang'd all my prefent opluence
" for one foft hour of love with that firft
5' and only charmer of my foul. .

" My husband's fondnefs for me in-
" creafed every day ; — but alas ! the en-,
*' dearments of a man of his years arc
'" rather difgultful than agreeable •, and:
•* I have often wifh'd, that as it is im-
*« pofTible I fhouid ever have any love
** for him, that he had Iefs for me. in
*' fpite of the advantages I receive by it.

** In this faihion, my dear JefTamy,-
** added Ihe, I pall two whole years, —
" quite hopelefs of evertafting more fub-
<* ilantial joys, till bufmels caHing fir.
" Thomas to Londom, chance has bleft
" me with the fight of him who never
■^* to been abfent from my mind."

Jemmy

Jemmy /jw^Jenny Jessamy. 257

Jemmy^perceiving fhehad done,thank'd
her for the gratification of his cur'.ofity,
and the fliare he had in hf r remembrance 5
and then reminded her that at their laft
meeting in the wood fhe had made a
promife to him which he had now a right
to claim the performance of.

** If J had not intended to pay my
•* debt, reply'd fhe with afmiie, I fhpuld
** certainly have avoided the prefence of
** my creditor.' — ' Whfen then, cried he,
•' where fhall v/e meet ? for I fuppofe
♦' this is no proper place for the contl-
*' nuance of our interviews.'

" You arc midaken, faid Ihe, mrs.
*' Comode and I know each other per-
" fe6lly v/ell ; — fir Thomas carried me
** to Tunbridge laft year, — fhe kept a
*' fhop thereat that time, — I bought all
" my things of her, and we foon grew
" very intimate •,— on mycoming to town
" I renewed my acquaintance with her;
" and I am very fare of her readinefs to
" oblige me in every thing I defira.

" It falls out a little unlucky. Indeed,
*' purfued flie, that we could not go up.
" ftairs to day ; — but itfeems fome other
" company had appointed to drink tea

*' theiTS:

258 "The HISTORY oj

** there before mrs. Comode'knew anjr
" thing ot our coming.'

He then begg'd (lie would prefix a
time for their happy meeting-, — on which
ihe told him that fhe was to go the next
morning to fee Windfor-Caftle, and that
lir Thomas propofed Haying there two
or three days ; but that as foon as they
return'd he might be fure (he would' fly
to her dear jeflfam.y with a tranfport at
leaft equal to his own.

' But how fhall I be appriz'd, cried
. * he, how know when to expeft the blifs-

* ful moment ?' — " I have a contrivance
« for thatj anfwer'd Ihe ; I will fend a
** little note to mrs. Comode, which you
*' may either call for here, or fhe Ihali
" leave for you on, your giving her your
'* dire<51:ions..'

' I will not put her to that trouble,

* faid he, nor fail to wait on her every

* morning till the dear mandate (lialL

* arrive.'—" Then I will take care, rejoin'd
«« fhe, to fend the evening before in order
« to prevent you from being previoufly
" engaged, elfewhere.'

Jemmy was beginning to exprcfs hiny
felf in a very tender manner on this

occafion, .

Jkmmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 259
occafion, when the door immediately flew
open and a lady rufh'd into the room -, — •
perceiving company there fhe flaid not
a quarter of a minute, yet long enough
to put them both into a good deal of
confufion, efpecially Jemmy, who by
this momentary glance difcover'd fhe was
one whom he had often feen with Jenny.

This was indeed that fame officious
friend who had told Jenny the manner
in which fhe had furprifed htm- v but had
he known with what moderation that
young lady received the intelligence, it
would have added, if pofTible, to the
love and admiration he had for her.

But whatever vexation this accident
might give him on his own account, he
took care to conceal it under the ap-
pearance of his great concern for the
reputation of his dear lady Hardy, who,
after the firft hurry of her fpirits was
over, feem'd perfectly eafy, and endea-
voured to make him fo, — faying, that as
fke had been but three weeks in the town,,
and knew very few people in it, fhe did
not apprehend any danger from this, in-
trufion.

rie gave but little attention to what
fhe faid on this fubjed:, — fecond thoughts

made

26o ne UlSrORY^of

made him repent his promile of calling
ev. ry day at mrs. Comode-'s, as there was
more than a poffibility of being met there
agiiin by the lady w'o had juft Idi them,
or of being {cen by fbme other oi Jenny*s
acquaintance.

As foon as mrs. Comode h'sd get rid
of her cufcomer, flie came in and made
an apology for what had fiappen'd, by
relating the accident of the garter, as the
lady had told it to her, affuring them
withal, that the next time they did her
the honour of a vifit ihe would take care
they Ihould not be interrupted.

Lady Hardy then told her they had
been fettling a correfpondence together,
and was going to fay in what manner it
was to be conduced j but Jemmy pre-
vented her by crying out,-* Hold, madam,
' bufmefsor company may detain me from

* receiving your ladyfliip's commands fo
' foon as they arrive, — I Ihould be glad

* therefore that mrs. Comode would be
' at the pains to fend themdiredlly to me.

The obliging ftiopkecper reply'd, that
file Ihould always take a pleafure in ferv-
ing lady Hardy or any of her friends •, —
on which he told her his name, and that
of the ftreet v/herein he lived.

After

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 261

After this nothing miterial pafs'd, and
lady Hard V not judging it proper to ftay
abroad too long, the lovers leparated with
a mutual expectation of feeing each other
again at the fame place in a few days.

CHAP. XXVI.

JVilly in fome meafure^ cojttrihute to
reconcile 'Jemmy to thofe who may
have been offended with hijn.

HOW much foever Jemmy might be
envy'd by the young amorous fparks
of the town for the adventure he was
now engag'd in, yet certain it is he felt
lefs fatisfaction in it than might have
been expeded either from his own years
and warmth of conftitution, or from the
beauty and love of his miftrefs.

Celia of the woods, it is true, had at
firft fight infpired him with very ftrong
defires ; but then it was a tranfient flame,
■ — a hidden flalh of inclination, which
ceafed on being abfent from the objed ;
the idea of her charms had been long
fince forgot •, and if it return'd, on finding
her again in the perfon of lady Hardy,

it

262 72;^ H I S T O R Y ^/

it was but a faint refemblance of what
he felt before, and could be called Jittlc
more than the ghoft of his firft palTion.

The reafon of this is pretty evident,-—
there is a charm in innocence more at-
tracting to a nice and delicate heart than
any other perfection whatfoever -, — the
harmlefs fimplicity of the rural maid was
not only now all loft in the fine iady,
but exchanged for a certain boldnefs of
looks and behaviour, and a fpirit for
intrigue, no way engaging to the penera-
ting Jemmy.

Befides, it muft be remember'd, that
when he firft faw Celia he was two years
younger, and confequently had lefs foli-
dity, and perhaps a lefs fenfibility of the
merits of Jenny than he has fince acquired,
by being a more conftant witnefsof them •,
to this may alfo be added, that an amour
with lady Hardy was not a thing of his
own feeking, but rather in a manner
forced upon him -, — a circumftance which
in moft men would have deftroyed great
part of the rclifh for it.

From all that has been faid, it may
very juftly be concluded that Jemmy con-
fidered the affair he was entering into only
as a mere matter of amufcment for his

fenfeSj

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 26^

fenfes, without allowing it any fliare in
the affeflions of his mind ; and it is a
point which might bear fome difpute, —
whether had the bufinefs which lb long
detain'd him in London been completed,
he would have ftaid one day longer in
refpe(5l to lady Hardy, or have rather
chofe to have gone diredly down to
Bath.

An accident altogether iinexpcfled,
however, prevented nim from being put
to the trial, and left him not at liberty
to do either the one or the other, by
fnatching him away at once from the pur-
fuit both of his honourable and dilhonour-
able flame.

The bufinefs h,e had fo much com-
plain'd of was adjufted while lady Hardy
was at Wind for, and he now had it in
his power either to wait her return to
London or to go down to Bath ; — he was
perhaps debating within himfelf which
of thefe two he fliould do when he re-
ceived a billet from mrs. Comode, with
a fmall piece of paper inclofed in it ; —
that from mrs. Comode contain'd thefe
lines :

To

«^6 Ihe HISTORY of

To James Jessamy, Efq;

Honour*d fir,

«' T JUST now have received the in-
»' clofed from the lady you know of j
*' — it was brought by her footman, un-
«* feal'd as you fee and addrefsM to me,
" to prevent all fufpi. ion : — her ladyfliip
** has a world of wit i but you willeafily
*' comprenend the meaning, and not fail
*' to tavour witii your company, at the
** appointed hour, thofe who fo much
*« defire it, — I am

•* With the profoundeft refpedl,
** Honour'd fir,
'* Your moft devoted,
*« And moft faithful fervant

B. COMODE.'*

«* P. S. You may depend, fir, that
" every thing fhal be order'd fo as you
«* may be here in all the privacy you can
« wifh."

In the other piece of paper he found
thefc words :

I

Jemmy ^//i Jenny Jessamy. 247

To mrs. Comode.
Dear mrs. Comode,

CAME laft night from Windfor,
and am in prodigious want of a new
" robe de chambre, for I am quite weary
" and fick of thofe I have by me ; — -
" therefore pray get me fome patterns
*' offiJks, fuch as you think 1 Ihall hke ;
tt — I will be with you to-morrow at
" five o'clock precifely to make my
" choice. — 1 am

" Dear Comode,

" Yours,

*' Hardy.

" P. S. Be fure you do not fail to get the
" filks ready againft I come.'*

Whatever uncertainty his mind was
in before this turn'd the balance, and he
fent his compliments by the bearer ta
mrs. Comode, with an affurance that he
would wait on her as fhe defir'd -, but he
had fcarce difpatch'd this meflage v/hen
a footman belonging to one mr. Ellwood
.came to let him know his mafter intreated
his company immediately at his houfe, on
bufinefs of the utmoft importance.

Vol. IL N This

248 The HISTORY of

This mr. Ell wood was one of thofe
gentlemen who had been appointed by
Jemmy's father for the truftees and
guardians of his minority ; — he was a
man of great fortune, — great abilities,
and yet greater integrity j — our young
hero had a thoufand obligations to him,
particularly in relation to that perplexing
affair he had lately been involved in,
and v/hich he could not fo cafily have
nccomplillfd without his kind aUiilance.

The eldeft fon of this w^orthy perfon
had been a fellow collegian with Jemmy,
— they had lived together in the mod
perfed: harmony while at the Univcrfity •,
nor had the friendfhip between them
flackened fmce their quitting it : — they
had not now feen each other for a con-
fiderable time, the old gentleman, who
lived for the moft part at his feat in
Bedford (hire, having fent for his fon in
order to make his addrefles to a young
lady of that county, an heirefs to a large
eflate.

The attachment Jemmy had to this
family made him prefently comply with
the fummons that had been fent him •, —
mr. Ellwood hearing he was come, met
him at the top of the ftairs, and with a

countenance

Jemmy /z«^ Jenny Jessamv. 249
countenance which exprefs'd the inward
fatisfadion of his mind, — ' Dear mr,
' Jeflamy, cried he, I have news to tell

* you, which I am certain you wlil par- .

* ticipate in the joy of ^ — my boy has
' gain'd his point, — the lady has con-
' fented, and we muft go and fee them
' tack'd together.*

Jemmy had heard much talk of this
courtfhip, and that it went on very fuc-
cefsfully, but did not think it had been
fo near a conclufion i — he exprefs'd,
however, the intereft he took in fo feli-
citous an event in terms the moft obliging
and fincere.

* I doubt not, faid mr. EUwood, but
' the goodnefs of your heart m^akes you

* pleafed v/ith every thing that gives

* pleafure to your friends •, but this is
' not all we require of you, — Harry muft
' needs have you a v/itnefs oi his mar-
' ria le •, — he preffes me to engage you
' to accompany me to Ham-Hall; — and

* here is a letter for you w^hich he fent
' inclofed in mine •, — I have not been

* fo curious or fo ili-manner'd as to opeji

* it •, but 1 fuppofe it is on the account I
' mention : — pray ice whether I am
< miftaken.

N 2 Tenimv

250 The HISTORY of

Jemniy having taken the letter out of
his hand, inftantly broke the feal, and
read aloud as follows :

To James Jessamy, Efq;

Dear Friend,

HAVE now done with hopes, —

fears, and fafpence ; — the angel I
' have fo long foliicited has at lad con-
' fented to be mine -, and I am fliortiy
<■ to enjoy a happinefs which can hav^e

" no alloy but the want of your pre-

*' fence.

" I v/culd fain flatter myfelf, that the
" earned defire I have to fee you on this
<' bleft occafion will befufHcient to bring
" you to Ham-Hall ; but lefl I fhould
" be too vain in this point, have in-
" treated my father, whofe influence is
" queftionlefs more powerful, to omit
*' nothing which may engage you to ac-
<^' company him ;- and in this expedta-
'' tion remain,

" With the greateil fincerity,
" Dear JelTamy,
" Your mofl affeflionate friend,
*' And very humble feivant,
" H. Ellwood."
This

]e%imy a iJ Jenny Jess amy. 251

This invitation very much difconccrted
Jemmy ; — • the regard he had for thofc
that made it rendcr'd him very unwilling
to deny, and th.e double obligation he
had laid himfelf under, firft of meeting
lady Hardy atmrs. Comode's, andfecondiy
of going down to Bath, made him noi;
well know how to comply.

Mr. Ellwood, on perceiving he paus'd
and leem'd in fome dilemma, told him
he would have no denial, anei remon-
ftrated to him that he could have no en-
gagements in town v/ith any perfons who
were more truly his friends than t. cfe
who now defir'd his company in i> d-
fordfhire.

Jemmy was a little afliamed at th^ r^.r
luftance he had fnewn to this journey,
and could find no better excufe for it
than that which was indeed the chief
motive, — his having promifed Jenny to
follow her to Bath, and the expeAation
he knew fhe was in every day of feeing
him arrive.

' If that be all, cried the old gentle-

' man, the difficulty is eafily removed,

' — you have only to write to her, and

* relate the occafion that keeps you from

N 3 * h^

2SZ 7he HISTORY of

* her fomewhat longer th;~n you intend

* ed, and I wiJ.l anfwer for her Hie has

* good-nature enough to pardon ycu.'

Jemmy, being ftill defirous o\ finding
fome cxcuie to avoid this invitation, re-
peated the difcourfe he had with mr.
Morgan, and the report which was Ipread
about town in relation to hi's fuppoied
infidelity to Jenny, urging the neceffity
of his being vvi:h her beiore fhe fhould
hcar any thing of it.

Mr. Ellwood laugh'd at the apprehen-
fions he difcover'd on this account, —
reply*d, that it was not likely that fuch
an idle frory (hould be told her, efpecially
^/hile (he remain'd at To great a diftance
from the place wh:re it was invented ; —
' but in cafe, continued he, any malicious
' perfon fhould convey the fcandal to her,
' as the thni,^ is utterly withou: founda-
' tion. it may be eafily difproved when
' you c me together, and flie would

* allow it a wealcnefs in , herfelf to have
' given credit to it.'

This, v/ith fome other arguments,
aflifted by Jemmy's own unv/illingnefs
to di'oblige him,foon decided the matter;
and as mr. Ellwood laid he purpofed to
fet out very early the next morning,

Jenny's

Jemmv and Jenny Jessamy. 25?

Jenny's lover took his leave to make
what preparations were nee ffary for his^
departure, as well as [o give an account
to both his midreflcs of what had hap-
pened.

CHAP. XXVII.

Contains, among other particulars^ a
more full explanation of "Jemmfs
imioccnce in fine things which had
*v^cry ?nuch the appearance of being
criminal.

JEMMY had no fooner taken leave
of mr. Ellwood, than he wrote to lady
Hardy, — telling her, that an unavoidable
neceflity had torn him from his wifhes ;
— that he was compelPd to go into the
country the next morning, and con-
fequendy mufl be dcpriveci of the pleafure
©f meeting her, as he had hoped, ac-
cording to appointment •, but added, that
he fhould return in a very fhort time, and
then enjoy the happinefs he languifhed for.
— TliiG he inclofed in another to mrs.
Comode, with an intreaty that flie would
convey it as diredled with all expedition
and fecrecv.

N 4 I'iiat:

254 "^he HISTORY of

That neccfTary friend difcharged the
truil repofed in !ier- with fe much diH-
gence, that on his (roming home pretty
early from Vaux-Haii, where he had been
that evening with fome company, he
found a letter from mrs. Comode, with
another inclofed in it from lady Hardy,
in anfwer to his billet ; — the contents of
both were as follow :

To James Jessamy, Efq;
Honour'd fir.

Know not what you will find in the
inclofed, the' it was wrote at my
houfe, and I faw it wetted with tears
falling from a pair of the moft beauti-
ful eyes in the world. — I doubt not,
however, but you will fbon dry them
up : — it would, indeed, be a great
pity that two fuch charming perlbns
Ihould have any caufe of complaint
againft each other. — You will pardon
this freedom, as it" fprings from my
zeal for your mutual happinefs, to
which you may afTure yourfelf I fiiali
always be proud to contribute, being.
With the moft profound refpeft,
Honoured, fir,

Your very faithful

And obfequious fcrvant,
B. Com ODE.

By

Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 255

By this prelude he eafily guefs'd what
was the purport oF the other, fo was not
furprifed at the reproaches it contained.

To James Jessamy, Efq-,

Si r,

I HAVE juffc now received yours
by the hands of mrs. Comode ; and
fir Thomas being abroad I, have the
opportunity of disburthening myfelf of
fome part of that mingled ailonifnmertt
and grief your cruel epiftle has involved
me in. — Oh, mr. JeiTamy, how can
you treat with fuch indifference a
woman who loves you to difbraclion !
— nothing but yourfelf could ever
have made me believe you were ca-
pable of behaving towards me in this
manner. — Is this the effecft of all your
foft profeflTions? — Is this the recom-
pence of the fondnefs I have fl:iewn to
you ? — You find me ready to rifque
every thing for you, — virtue, — duty,
reputation ; — nay, the dangers of eternal
ruin are too weak to deter me from flying
to your arms : fnould any othcrengage-
ment then, — any bufinefs, — any plea-
fure, have the pov/er to fnatch you
from me ? — The excules you make
mi^ht hav§ pafs'd v/eil enough vvith
N ^ *''me'

256 The HISTORY of

" me when I was the ignorant unjudg-
" ing Celia of the Woods ; but tune,
*' reading, and obfervation has now in^
** formed me better, and I know what
^' a woman has a right to expedl from
" the man who has a real paffion for her ;
" — but I fee you arc infenfible, — un-
*' grateful, — yet ftill I love you j and,
*' in fpite of my refentment, cannot help
*•' wifhing you a profperous journey and
" a fafe return. — You promife me that
*' it fhall be fpeedy ♦, but I know not how
" to give credit to your words i the fooner
*" you come back, however, the more
" you will be intitled to the forgivenefs
'•' of

*' Your too much devoted

"Celi^."

»^ P. S. Sir Thomas talks of flaying
" in London all next winter •, — this would
*' be joyful news to me indeed, if I
*' could flatter myfelf with a belief you-
'•' wifh'd it fo j but dare not hope too
** much after the cruel difappointment
" you have given me.'*

Till the receipt of this Jemmy thought
he had done with lady Hardy till his
return from Bediordlhire j but he now
louod himfelf under a neceffity either of

writing

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jess'a"my. 257
writing to her again, or of giving her.
caufe to complain ot his want of polite-
nefs as well as love.

With the pleafures of an amorous in--
trigue there will be always fome mixture
of fatigue ; — Jemmy liked to enjoy the
one, but was not ol" a humour to endure
much of the other, efpecially at prefent ;
and the tender reproaches and accufation-
in this letter feem'd to him fo many im-
pertinencies which he would gladly have,
been able to difpenfe with himfelf from,
anfwering.

He was alfo obliged to write to Jennv"
that fame night, in order to give her an
account of the motive that carried him
to Ham- Hall, at the very inftant that;
he was about to gratify his inclinations'
in following her to Bath; but this was a.
talk which he was far trom feeling any
relucTtance in the performance of; — fo'
widely different are the effe6ls of an-
honourable and a difhonourabie paflion^

This puts me in mind of a very juft
as well as beautiful Hieroglyphic, which I:
once faw among the paintings of Titian ;,
the capital, figures in the piece were two
Cupids, the one coming down from Jupiter
in a milk-white robe, his fparkiing eyes^
N 6 wid^-

258 rije HISTORY of
wide open, and garlands in his hands of
frefh and unmix'd fweets, ready to crown
the brows of every faithful votary : — the
other in a garment of a dufky yellow,
fpatter'd all over with black, feem'd
afcending from the earth, — condens'd
vapours encircled his head, — a bandage
cover'd his eyes, and in his impure hands
Ys^ere wreaths of half-fhed faded rofes,
thinly blended with thorns and prickly
briars.

The ancients were extremely fond of
expreffing their defigns by emblems, and
this cuftom, which is as old as the Syriac
and Chaldean, is ftill retain'd throughout
the greateft part of Europe in the devices
on their fhields -, fo that by looking on
the efcutcheon of any family, it is eafy to
know for V/^hat great adion it was at tirfb
diftinguifli'd •,— and this, methinks, fliould
remind thofe who wear them to a6t in
fuch a manner as may render themfelves
worthy of the honours acquir'd for them
by their progenitors ; — otherwife they
are no more, according to the words of
a late author, than

Dignify'd dregs of Britain's fall'n race.
Honour's difhonour, and fame's laft

difgrace.

But

Jemmy ^«J Jenny Jessamy. 259

But this is not a work in which re-
monftrances are to be expelled, nor per-
haps would be greatly relifli'd •, — I fhall
therefore leave the world fuch as it is,
and without being much of a prophet,
one may fay is like to be, and return to
the fubjc6t of my hiftory.

Jemmy wrote a long letter to his dear
Jenny, in which he acquainted her with
all the particulars relating to the journey
he was about to take, in compliance with
mr. EUwood's invitations ; and exprefs'd
the utmoft difcontent at an accident which
hinder'd him from going to Bath fo foon
as he had defign'd, and hoped to have
done.

Having finifli'd this, he fet himfelf
about anfwering the complaint of lady
Hardy, which he did in terms that have
no occafion to be repeated, this letter
having been already inferted in the fifth
chapter of this volume, to which if the
reader takes the trouble to turn back he
will eafily perceive to be the fame that
by one of the caprices of fortune fell
into the hands of Jenny, and threw her
into the condition there defcribed.

Jemmy

26c "^je H 1 STORY of

Jemmy in this point a6ted like Ibme
earekfs Apothecaries, v/, o, by fixing,
wrong labels on the potions they prepare,.,
frequently deftroy one patient by what
would have given relief to anoiher ; — fo
he having f al'd both the letters before
he wrote the fuperfcription of either, di-
rected that he defign'd for Jenny to lady
Hardy i and by confequence thit for lady
Hardy to Jenny.

Qui'e ignorant of the mifchief his in-
advertency would occafion, he lent a
fervant vvith thefe difpatches, — the one
to be left at mrs. Comode's, and the other
at the Poft-houfe.

About five the next morning the im-
patient mr. Ellwood call'd on him in his
travelling coach; — what unwillingnefs
foever he had teftity'd lor this expedition,
he had taken care tiiat every thing necef-
fary for it (hould be prepared againft the
coming of his friend, fo being entirely
ready, they fet out tog^.ther immediately,
attended by the fervants belonging to
both of them.

The coachman having orders to make
all the fpeed he could, the horfis being
full of fpirit,. the road good, and no bad
accidtnt retarding the progrefs of their

journeyj

Jemmy ^;zi Jenny Jessamy. 26r
journey, they arrived at Ham-Hall that
fame evening, where it is not to be doubted
but they were received by the intended
bridegroom with ail the demonfbrations
imaginable of joy, — of duty to the one,
and affection to the other.

The wedding was not fo'emniz'd till
two days after, on account of fome
writings which had waited for the old
gentleman to fign, he having agreed to
fettle a pretty large part ot his eftate
upon his Ion at this marriage.

I will not trouble my reader with any
defer iption of thefe nuptials, though they
were celebrated with as much magni-
ficence as the rank of the perfons and
the place they were in would admit of,,
without incurring the cenfure of vanity
and oftentation j — Jemmy ftay'd there
eight days, and was then obliged to tear
himfelf away from his kind hofts, who-
would not have fuffer'd him to part fo
foon but on the fcore of his impatience
to be with Jenny, and the reafons he had
given mr. EH wood for it..

CHAK ,

£62 The H IS TORY of

CHAP. XXVIII.

'Treats of fuch things as the author is
pretty well convinced^ from a long
Jeries of obfervatiotis on the human
mind, will afford more pleafure than
cfence^ even among fome ofthofe who
mojl affeSf a contrary fenfation,

HO W flrangely ignorant are we of
our own hearts ? — How weak a de-
pendance is there to be placed upon our
bell refolves ? — So true is this maxin of
mr. Dryden's :

Men are but children of a larger

growth,
Our appetites as apt to change as theirs.
And lull as craving too, and full as

vain :

Who that has heard with what reluc-
tance Jemmy went dov/n to Bedfordfiiire,
' — the infenfibihty he exprefs'd for all the
gaieties and pleafures oi the nuptial feaft,,
and the impatience he had to tal<:e his
leave of friends who fo much defircd and
valued his campany •, — who, I fay, that
has been informed of all this but would

have

Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 26^
have thought that, according to the pro-
mife he had made to Jenny in his letter
to her from Ham- Hall, he would have
done little more in London than juft
pafs through it in his way to Bath ?

Yet fee the fwift vicifitude, and how
fuddenly the rolhng tide of inclination is
capable of overturning thofe defigns which
even v/e ourlelves have believed were
founded on the mod folid bafis, and im-
poffible to be Ihaken.

But I will not detain the attention of
my reader with any fuperfluous remarks
of my own, the fa6t I am going to relate
will be fufficient of itfelf to prove the
uncertain ftate of human refolution, and
may ferve to abate the pride of thofe who
depend too much on their own flrength
of mind.

Jemmy, who during his flay in the
country had his whole foul abforb'd, as
it were, in the thoughts of his dear and
deierving Jenny, had no fooner reach*d
London than his {lability began to
ilackcn ; and though he did not ceafe to
love her with the fame tendernefs as ever,
yet that burning impatience he had fo
lat-ly felt to be with her became lefs fierce
on fomething coming in his way which
till he faw had almoft Hipt his memory.

He

264 The HISTORY of

He came to town in a pofl-chaife ;
but how his inchnations ftood in regard
to lady Hardy, or whether he would have
endeavoured to fee her before he went to
Bath, is altogether uncertain j fomething
however happen'd which turn'd the ba-
lance on her fide, and reminded him both
of her and the promiie he had made in
that letter, which he doubted not but
llie had received.

He alighted at a coffee-houfc which he
was accuftom'd to frequent very n>.uch •, a
Hop of coaches happening to be in the
ftreet, he faw fir Thomas and lady Hardy
in one of them, juft oppofite to the door
he was going to enter \ — fhe faw him too,
and gave him a very fignificant look, which
was all the falutation the place and com-
pany llie was in would allow ol'.

A young amorous heart, I think, may
with fome analogy be compared to tinder,
as it is ready to take fire from every fpark
that falls •, — how cool foever jemmy
mii-ht have been fome moments before,
this fight fufficed to revive the glov/ing
embers of defire, and m.ade him think it
v/ould not become him to negle(5l totally
fo kind and fair a creature.

He

Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 265

He fupp'd that night with fome com-
pany he met at the coffee-houfe •, but re-
folded to lend to her by the way of mrs.
Comode tke next morning \ — the impa-
tience of the lady, neverthelefs, prevented
his intentions, and on his coming home
he was prefented with a letter which his
people faid had been left for him by a
porter above an hour before.

He opened it with fome eagernefs, nofe
doubting from what hand it came, and
found as he had imagined, the cover from
nirs. Comode, with thefe lines :

To James Jessamy, Efq;

Honour'd fir,

** Y SEND you what T dare fay will
** -■• be a welcome prefent, — your anfwer
" to it with the utmoft expedition is re-
" quefted, to be left at my houfe as ufjal ;
" — I beg you, fir, to believe that I fhali
" always be ready to oblige you and the
" beautiful party to the utmoft of my
" poor power, being

" With the greateft refpe<5b,
'' Sir,
*' Your moft obedient,

" And n oil humble fervant
" To comniand,

*' B. Comode.''
The

266 7^^ H I S T O R Y of

The contents of the inclofed were as
follow :

To James Jessamy, Efq*,
Sir,

** T SEE you are in town, but am far
*' -■- from aflliring myfelf you have any
** thoughts of me \ — the violence of your
" paffion for your charming Jenny, and
*' the hurry you are in to follow her to
" Bath, may probably have made you
" forget that" there is fuch a perfon in
*' the world as myfeif ; — I fend this
" therefore to defire one more interview,
" even though it fhould be to take an
" everlafting leave ; — my happy rival
" would not certainly regret your giving
" that fatisfaftion to a woman who loves
" you more than perhaps fhe is capable
" of doing : — honour and gratitude de-
*' mand this from you, — to them I ap-
*' peal, and (hall commit my caufe.

" Since you went out of town, I have
" anotht^r misfortune added to that of
" having difcovered your engagement
" with jenny •, — mrs. Comode has lett
" her lodgings to to a perfon intimately
*' acquainted with my husband, fo it is
" utterly impra(fticable tor me to fee you

" there-.

Jemmv ^;z^ Jenny Jessamy. 267
'' there ; and I am reduced, by this piece
" of ill luck, to defire you will find out
" fome more proper place for our meet-
" ing -, — whether it be at your own
" houle, or at that of any friend in whom
*' you can confide, is a matter of in-
" difference to me, — only remember that
" 1 will not venture to a tavern, bagnio,
*' or any fuch public place.

" As I am convinced your heart, if
" not wholly loft, is at leaft divided, I
" fhould have little joy in the conti-
" nuance of an intercourfe fo dangerous
" to myfelf, and fo negligently purfued
*' by you ; — you need not, therefore, be
*' under any apprehenfions of my perfe-
" cuting you with a paflion you feem'd
" to have ceafed defiring any farther
" proofs of; — happy fhould I be, indeed,
*' to find myfelf miltaken in what I have
" fo much caufe to fear : — fee me once
^' more, however, and fix the yet uncertain
* fate of her who is,

" With too much fincerity,

«* The unkind JefTamy's

" Still affedlionate

'J And devoted,

« Celia."

^' Pofbfcript.

a68 The HISTORY of

" P. S. If you no longer have any
*' love for me, let pity and good nature
" for that you have infpired me with
" prevail on you not to keep me in
" fufpencc ;-I languifh, I am diftraded,
" till I receive your anfwer with an ap-
" pointment where and when I (hall have
" the opportunity of telling you all my
" foul is full of."

This paffionate epiftle gave Jemmy
much more pain than pleafure, — not
that he was either furprifed or troubled
at the knowledge he found ihe had of his
engagement with Jenny i — he v/as fenfible
a thoufand accidents might reveal it to
her, nor did he think Ihe had any bufinefs
to interfere with the honourable addreffes
he made elfewhere ; and, had fhe ever
queftion'd him upon that fubje^f , would
not have evaded or deny'd the truth.

But it vex*d him a good deal, to find
that the providing a place for their meet-
ing was required of him •, — whatever
amorous intrio-ues he had hitherto been
engaged in had been accompany 'd with
no difficulties, — they had ialien in his v/ay
without any pains of his own, — he had
never been put to the trouble of forming
any contrivances for the carrying them

on ;

Jemmy j?zJ Jenny Jessamv. 26q
on •, and the injun<5tion now laid upon
him was a thing no lefs new than dif-
agreeable to him.

Never had he been fo much puzzled
in his whole life ; — he judged it highly-
inconvenient, for many reafons, to make
an appointment with her at his own
houfe ', and as flie had excepted againft
all thofe he fhould readily have propofed,
he might well be at a very great iols to
whom he lliould apply on fuch an occa-
fion.

What courfe he took in this perplexino-
dilemma, and what confequences attended
this adventure, as well as the cataftrophe
of many others mentioned in this work,'
the reader, if he has patience to wait,
will find fully fet forth and explained in
the fucceeding volume.

End of the Second Volume.

\^A\

t