'^^^^v^^. 
 
 V 
 
 F. R.S. KJ F. A.S. -^ 
 
 THE LIBRARY' OF 
 DAVID AND LULU 
 B O R O W I T Z 
 
ho 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Jemmy and Jenny Jeffamjc 
 VOL. I. 
 
. Jicfl puhJiJhed, I li 
 
 By T. Gardner, at CowUy^s Head in 
 the Strand^ 
 
 In Four neat Pocket Volumes, 
 
 (Price Bound Twelve Shillings) 
 
 Ulth New- Engraved Frontispieces, 
 
 A New Edition of 
 
 The FEMALE SPETATOR, 
 
 C O M P L E A T, 
 
 ^ The great Encomiums beftow'd on this 
 
 * Work by feme oi the^ moft diftin- 
 
 * guiDi'd Judges, "have been fo fre- 
 « quently inferted in all the Public 
 
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 * can be unacquainted with them, and 
 « therefore are thought needlefs here 
 « to be particulariz'd : But that fo ufe^ 
 
 * fill a Work Hiay be more univerfal- 
 ^ ly read (efpecially by the younger 
 ' and politer Sort of Ladies, for whom 
 
 * it is more peculiarly adapted) it is; 
 ' now printed in the above-mention'd* 
 
 * Size, which will be lefs cumberfome 
 « to them, and the Expence being re^ 
 ' duced to one Half of what the Oc- 
 
 * tavo Edition fells at, it may be more 
 ' eafily purchafed.' 
 
T HK,. A 
 
 H IS TO R Y 
 
 O F 
 
 Jemmy and Jenny Jejfamy. 
 
 In Three Volumes. 
 V Q L. I. 
 
 By tjie AUTHOR of 
 The History of Befjy Tbougbflefs, 
 
 v^ L O N D O N: 
 
 ■ "Printed for T. G a r d n e r, at Cowfey's Head, 
 facing St. Clement's Church, in the Strand i 
 and fold by aW Bookfellers in Town and 
 'Country. . ^ ^ ^^ ^^ 
 
 M,D,CC,L11I. 
 
d-i 14 Ji 1 kl <JO 
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2010 with funding from 
 Dul<e University Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/historyofjemmyje01hayw 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 Firft Volume. 
 
 C H A p. I. 
 
 '\/jA ^ fnore properly be called an tntroduSilon 
 J-^-*- to the enfuing hijioryy than a part of it. 
 
 p. I 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Contains the narrative of a very odd adventure^ 
 
 hut perfectly a^-pro-pos, tho* at prefent it may 
 
 perhaps appear a little foreign to the bujinefs in 
 
 hand. g 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Is offlill more importance than the former. 25 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Will probably ouafton various conjeSfures on 
 what is to come. 40 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 Is fomewhat more explicit than th^ former. 55 
 
 C H A P. VI. 
 
 Contains fame things xuell worthy of being ferioujly 
 attended to, by thofe efpecially for whofe fervice 
 they are chief y inferted. 6 1 
 
 A CHAP. 
 
ii CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 Affords frejh matter for edification to ihofe %vh» 
 Jland in need of it, as well as entertaiiimejit is 
 fiich who do not. n c 
 
 C H A P. VIII. 
 Will occafion various fpecidations in the inqiuftive 
 reader. 88 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 Has fomething in it of the irtarvellous. 98 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 . Jffords but fmail ynatter of entertainmeyit ; yet, 
 if tvell confder'd, may he of fuigular ife to 
 joine readers. io8 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 A little more to the purpofe. 1 16 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Contains a very rrotuble Injiance of friendflnp 
 a-la-mode. 127 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Is fidl of remarkable and interefling particulars^ 
 
 137 
 C H A P. XIV. 
 
 Seems big wUh the proj-nife of feme mighty mat- 
 ters hereafter to be brought to light. 147 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 Contains an example that for a %vomon to be tos 
 
 good is not one of thcfc things zvhich are impof- 
 
 'fible to bi found in human life. 158 
 
 C H A P. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Ill 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 Treats only on juch jitattin as it is highly probabh 
 fame readers will he apt to fay might have hetn 
 recited in a more laconi-: 7r.an7ur, if not totally 
 omitted ; but as there art others^ the author 
 imagines much the greater nurnher^ who may 
 he of a different opinion^ it is judged proper 
 tljat the majority footdd he obliged. 1 70 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 Will in all likelihood appear, to the greate/i pai-f 
 cf our readers., a good deal ?}iore interejiiiig 
 than the former. 182 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 Contains a brief accotoit of 'fenny'' s journey to 
 Bath ; and alfo fome paffagcs which happei;''d 
 on her arrivul there. igo 
 
 C H A P. XIX. 
 
 treats of ?nany things, which tho' they may feem 
 at prefent lefs affe^ing than fome others s yet 
 are very neceffary for the reader to be ac- 
 quainted withy before we proceed farther into 
 the hijhry, 2C4, 
 
 CHAP. XX, 
 
 Is taken up ivith a converfation of very great im- 
 portance. 211 
 
 CHAP. XXL 
 
 Gives an account offomepaffages, which ^ added 
 to the former ., affords our heroine much matter 
 oj di foment, 223 
 
 CHAP, 
 
iv CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. XXII. 
 
 Afords feme very ujeful and exemplary hints t» 
 young perjons of both Jexes ; which if they are 
 not the better and wijer for^ it is wholly owing 
 to themJelveSy and not the fault -of the author. 
 
 234 
 CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 Relates bow, in the compafs of an hour, fenny 
 
 met with two.juiprijing adventures ef very 
 
 different kinds \ and the manner in which fbe 
 
 hebaved in them^ with fome other no lefs extra- 
 
 trdinary particulars^ which the reader will 
 
 doubtlefs be puzzled to know the meaning of, 
 
 247 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 
 Contains fc?ne part of the hijlory of the furious 
 
 Jlr anger t as told by herfelf. 257 
 
 CHAP. XXV. 
 
 Contains a continuation of mrs. M 's advin- 
 
 tures. 267 
 
 CHAP. XXVI. 
 
 Iflll gratify the reader's impatience with the ccn~ 
 
 clujion of mrs. M 'j hijlory ; and alfo with 
 
 what effeSfs the recital of it pt oduced in the 
 minds of thofe who heard it, 277 
 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Jemmy and Jenny Jejfamy: 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 May more properly be called an intro-* 
 duSiion to the enfuing hijlory^ than, 
 a part of it. 
 
 EMMY and Jenny Jcf* 
 famy, were originally dif- 
 cended from two male 
 branches of the fame Fa- 
 mily, as it may be reafbn - 
 ably fuppofed, they both 
 being of the fame name, and having the 
 fame efcutchion \ *— but to trace how far 
 B thf 
 
Ihe HISTORY of 
 ^he relationfhip between them was remO' 
 ved, would require much time andtiouble 
 in examining old records, memorandums, 
 and church regiflers, and cod more than 
 the acquifition v/ould be worth, as it could 
 not be found any way material to the 
 hiHory. 
 
 It fhall therefore fuffice to fay, that 
 Jemmy was the only Ion of a gentleman 
 of a competent eftate, and Jenny fole 
 daughter and heirefs of a wealthy mer-, 
 chant j — that their parents had always 
 called coufms, — had lived with each other 
 ill the'moft perfed: friendlhip, the tokens 
 of which each feemed equally defii-ous 
 Jjiould continue beyond the grave j and, to 
 this end, refolved on a marriage between 
 their children, provided that when they ar- 
 rived at ye^« of maturity, neither of them 
 ihould have any objecStion to fuch an union. 
 
 As this agreement was very early ma.de, 
 and the accomplifiiment of it v/as feri- 
 Duliy willied for by both parties, all imar 
 -ginable care was taken to excite in the 
 children a mutual affeftion for each other, 
 and to make the name of love familiar to 
 them long before they knew what was 
 meant by the words, much lefs could have 
 any notion of the pafllon, -— depending on 
 this maxim of the poet : 
 
 Children, 
 
Jemmy an J ^EPtuY Jessamv. 3 
 
 Children, like tender oziers, take the 
 
 bow. 
 And as they firft are faihon'd, ftill will 
 
 grow. 
 
 Jemmy, who had" four years the ad- 
 vantage of Jenny, was taught to call her 
 his little wife, even while in her cradle* 
 and Jenny no fooner began to fpeak than 
 Ihe was made to fay Ihe loved her huf- 
 band Jemmy in her heart. 
 
 As their years increas'd, and they be- 
 came capable of receiving the firft rudi- 
 ments of education befitting their diffe- 
 rent fexes, Jemmy was fent to Eton, and 
 Jenny to a boarding-fchool at a fmall 
 village not far from London ; but to atir 
 tone tor this feparation, they were initruft- 
 ed, by thofe who had the care of them, 
 to write little epiftles to each other, 
 which they diflated in terms fuitable to 
 their age and innocence, and ferved to keep 
 alive that fpirit of affeftion, which had 
 been inculcated in their more early in- 
 fancy. — When the times of breaking up 
 allowed them to return to their friends, 
 they were feldom afunder, — they par- 
 took together all thofe diverfions prepared 
 for them by their indulgent parents, and 
 fometimes Jemmy, and fometimes Jenny, 
 B 2 wera 
 
4 The HISTORY of 
 
 were at the head of the feail, — all others 
 being but their invited guefts. — Jemmy 
 was continually prefenting Jenny with 
 fome curious new invented toy, and the 
 firft fruits of Jenny's handy work, was a 
 fine embroider'd waiftcoat and cap for 
 Jemmy. 
 
 By this means it became a kind of 
 fecond nature in them to love each other, 
 the affedtion they began in infancy, grew 
 up with their years -, and if what they felt 
 as they approach'd nearer to maturity 
 did not amount to a paffion, it was at 
 leaft fomewhat more than is ordinarily 
 found between a brother and a filler. 
 
 The two fathers, however, were highly 
 contented with the effed their endeavours 
 had produced in the hearts of their chil- 
 dren, and doubted not but by the prudent 
 meafures had been taken in the education 
 of both, they Ihould one day fee them 
 make very fhining figures in the ftate of 
 marriage, which they refolved Ihould be 
 delayed no longer than till Jemmy had 
 arrived at the age of one and twenty, at 
 which time Jenny would be fome months 
 paft feventeen. 
 
 But how uncertain is life ! — how fal- 
 lible the profpefts it prefents t — - it often 
 
 happens 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 5 
 happens that when they feem moft near, 
 they either vanifh of themfelvcs, or we 
 are fuddenly fnatch'd from them : — the 
 father of Jenny, though a man whofe 
 healthy conftitution, according to all ap- 
 pearance, promifed a much longer date, 
 died in an apople6lic fit, and fhe be- 
 came an orphan three years before the 
 time prefix' d for the completion of her 
 marriage. 
 
 This fatal accident myift necelTarily in- 
 volve the tender and afFeftionate heart 
 of this young girl in very great afflic- 
 tion ; but it was Icfs feverely felt, as Ihe 
 had always been bred to look on the fa- 
 ther of Jemmy as a fecond parent to 
 herfeif ; — fhe, therefore, hefitatcd not 
 to commit the large fortune {\\^ v/ as -eft 
 miftrefs of entirely to his care, and chofe 
 him for her guardian, according to the 
 forms of law. 
 
 Soon after her father's death, finding 
 Hie had attain'd all thofe accomplifn- 
 ments that could be taught her in a 
 boarding-fchool, fhe removed from 
 thence, and with the approbation of her 
 guardian, went to live v/ith a family 
 where fhe had a much better opportu- 
 nity of feeing the world, and knowing 
 how to conform he/felf to the cufloms 
 B I and 
 
6 ne HISTORY of 
 
 and manners of it, than ever fhe could 
 have done by the precife rules obferved 
 in the place fhe came from. 
 
 Jemmy had feme time before left E- 
 toii, and was gone to Oxford, in order 
 to finifli his (tudies ; but he obtain'd leave 
 from the head of the college to make 
 frequent vifits - to London, — induced 
 thereto, by the double obligation of tefti- 
 fying his duty to his father, and affection 
 to his miftrefs ; — to thefe two motives, 
 a third, perhaps, might be added, equally 
 prevalent with either of the former, — 
 that of partaking the pieafures of the 
 town, of which he was no iefs fond, than 
 mod .others pf his fex and age. 
 
 He was but juft return'd to the uni- 
 verfity, from whence he had made a 
 pretty long excurfion, when he was fud- 
 denly recall'd to London : — The old 
 gentleman was feiz'd with a pluretic 
 tever, which, notwithflanding all the 
 remedies proper in fuch cafes were ap- 
 piy'd, made fo fwift a progrefs towards 
 his heart, as threaten'd an immediate dif- 
 Iblution i — it indeed proved fo, for tho* 
 Jemmy, on the melancholy news, took 
 horfe the fame moment, and rode poft 
 to town, he arrived butjuil time enough 
 
 to 
 
Jrmmy and Jenny Jessamy. ^ 
 to fee this bell of fathers breath his 
 
 laft. 
 
 The pangs of death were on him, yet 
 were his fenfes perfect-, — on his fon's ap- 
 proach, a gleam of fatisfaction difFufed 
 itfelf through ail his late difordered fea- 
 tures J — he colle6led all the ftrength that 
 was left in him to raife himielf a little, 
 and taking hold of Jemmy's hand, and 
 joining it to that of Jenny's, who fat 
 weeping by the bed fide, — ' My dear 
 
 * children, faid he, I regret the lofs of 
 
 * life for nothing fo much as becaufe I 
 
 * fhall be deprived of feeing that hap- 
 
 * pinefs, which I hope you will foon en- 
 
 * joy together •/ — he would have added 
 fomething more, but his voice forfook 
 him, and he expired that inLtant. 
 
 Few young heirs look upon any thing 
 as a real matter of affliflion, which makes 
 them mailers of themfelves and fortunes ; 
 bift Jemmy was of a different v/ay of 
 thinking, he had a great fhare both of 
 good fenfe and good nature •, and befides 
 what filial duty demanded from him, love 
 and gratitude for the indulgence with 
 which he had always been treated by his 
 father, made him lament his lofs v/ith 
 the moll unfeigned and poignant forrow. 
 
 B 4 Jenny 
 
8 ^be HISTORY of 
 
 Jenny was alfo very deeply affe<5led at 
 this event j fhe had been truly fenfiblc 
 of the value Ihe ought to fet upon fo 
 faithful a guardian, and fo fincere a 
 friend j and while fne ufed her endea- 
 ^yours to give his fon fome confolation, 
 ftood in almoft equal need of receiving 
 it herfelf. 
 
 The prudent old gentleman, tho' per- 
 haps without any apprehenfions of being 
 fo near his end, had fome months before 
 made his will, by which it appeared, on 
 examination, that he had appointed 
 truftees to manage both for his fon and 
 intended daughter-in-law, in cafe he 
 fhould die before they arrived at the 
 age of ading for themfelves, and alfo, 
 that by his great ceconomy, he had faved 
 out of the receipts of his eftates feveral 
 confiderable fums ot money, which he 
 had placed in the publick funds, — fo 
 that Jemmy found himfcU in polTeiTion 
 of a much larger fortune than he had 
 imagined, or had been made to hope for. 
 
 Soon after the melancholy folemnity 
 of the funeral was over, he returned to 
 Oxford •, but itay*d no longer there tlian 
 was neceffary to take a d(/cent leave of 
 the gentlemen of the college, and other 
 
 Iludents 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 9 
 flu dents with whom he had contra6bed 
 the moft intimacy. 
 
 But none of his friends or acquaint 
 tance, either wonder'd at, or condemned 
 the hafte he made to qoiit the univerfity, 
 not doubting but the fole motive of his 
 doing fo was the laudable afFedion for 
 the lady intended to be his future bride. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Contatm the narrative of a n)ery odd 
 adventure, but perfe£ily a'-pro-pos, 
 thd' at prefent it may perhaps ap- 
 pear a little foreign fo the bufnefs in 
 band. 
 
 , U R I N G the Ihort time that Jem- 
 my ftay'd at Oxford^ his fair mi- 
 ftrefs took it into her head to make a vi- 
 flt to a friend in the country, about fome 
 one or two and twenty miles diftant from 
 London, where Ihe had received feveral 
 preffing invitations to come, but had 
 hitherto been prevented from complying 
 by one accident or other. 
 
 B 5 , Thia 
 
lo The HISTORY of 
 
 This was^ a young lady, for whom 
 Jenny had as great a regard as far any 
 one of her female acquaintance •, — they 
 had received part of their education to- 
 gether, and tho' Sophia, for fo fhe was 
 called, being fomewhat older than Jenny, 
 had much fooner left the fchool, yet 
 their intimacy was not broke off by this 
 reparation, and they continued to fee 
 each other as often as opportunity per- 
 mitted ; — but the brother of Sophia, 
 who was a batchelor, having prevailed 
 with his filler to come down, and take 
 upon her the management of his houfe, 
 had now occafiofied between thefe ladies an 
 abfence for many months. 
 
 It is not, therefore, to be doubted, but 
 that Jenny found herfelf very fincerely 
 welcome. — Sophia omitted nothing that 
 might convince her that fhe was fo ; — 
 and as nothing more truly demon Urates 
 the cordiality of the heart, than an open 
 and undifguifed behaviour, thefe ladies 
 reciprocally related to each other all 
 the little accidents that had befallen ei- 
 ther of them fince lafl they parted. 
 
 Among other things that Sophia com- 
 municated to her fair gueft, fhe told her 
 that her brother was about marrying, and 
 at prefent was in London, profecuting 
 
 his 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. ir 
 
 his addrelTes for that purpofe, to a young 
 lady of condition, * which, faid fhe, 
 ' if he fucceeds in, I fhall not long be a 
 
 * refident in the country, as he then will 
 
 * have no farther occafion for my afTift- 
 
 * ance, nor fhould I chufe to continue in 
 ' the houfe with a fifter-in-law. 
 
 ' I fincerely wifh him all the happi- 
 ' nefs he can hope for, replyed Jenny, 
 ' not only as he is your brother, but for 
 ' his own fake alfo, — fince I believe 
 
 * there are few men who dcferve more : 
 
 * — we are both extremely obliged to you 
 
 * my dear, returned the other, but I 
 
 * fear' 
 
 She was going on with fomething, 
 which it is likely would have let Jenny into 
 the quality and charafter of the intend- 
 ed bride, but was interrupted by a fer- 
 vant, who came haftily into the room, and 
 told her that his mailer was juft alight- 
 ed at the gate, out of a landau and fix, 
 and had brought a very fine lady home 
 with him. 
 
 ' Blefs me, cried Sophia, in a great 
 
 * furprife, the thing we were fpeaking of 
 ' is certainly completed \ but come, cpn- 
 
 * tinued fhe, let us go down to receive 
 ' them, and be convinced.' 
 
 B 6^ hk 
 
12 The HISTORY of 
 
 In fpeaking thefe words flie took Jen- 
 ny by the hand, in order to do as Ihe had 
 faid, but was prevented by the fight of 
 her brother and the miftrefs of his affec- 
 tion:, who had come laughing up, and 
 were already on the top of the flair-cafe ; 
 on which fhe retired fome paces back to 
 give them room to enter. 
 
 This gentleman, whom I fhali diflinguifh 
 by the name of Rodophil, immediately 
 prefented Sophia to the lady, faying, 
 
 * This, madam, is the fifter I have often 
 ' mentioned to you :' they then faluted 
 each other with a great deal of politenefs, 
 while he paid his compliments to Jenny ; 
 but had no fooner dojie fo, than turning 
 to Sophia, • I am come a little unex- 
 
 * peftedly upon you, fifter, faid he ; but, 
 
 * to make amends, have brought home a 
 
 * lady, who will be fo good to take off 
 
 * your hands the trouble of managing my 
 
 * family.* 
 
 « I am very ready to refign my place, 
 
 * reply 'd flie with a fmile, to one who, 
 
 * I doubt not, but will much better fit 
 
 * it •, but fir, purfued fhe in the fame 
 
 * gay air, I think you fhould have put 
 < it in my power to have given you the 
 
 * laft caft of my office, in a more ele- 
 
 * gant 
 
Jemmy and jEiJNV Jessamy. 13 
 
 * gant manner, than I am now capable 
 
 * of doing in this fudden fijrprife.' 
 
 * Nay, as to that matter, child,' cried 
 the lady in a very familiar, and indeed, 
 fomewhatofa hoydenifh tone, ' you have 
 ' nothing, to accufe him of on this ac- 
 
 * count, for I aflfure you neither of us 
 ' thought of being here to-night, two 
 ' hours before we fet out from London ; 
 
 * but I know not how it happen'd., but 
 ' we were both in a frolickfome humour ; 
 ' he fwore he would have me, and I 
 ' fwore if he had, he fliould run away 
 ' with me ; — the impudent thing took 
 ' me at my word, — fent in a minute for 
 ' a Landau and fix, — thruft me into it> 
 
 * and hurried me away without any far- 
 ' ther preparation than juft as you fee. 
 
 « Then the ceremony is not yet per-^ 
 « form'd,' faid Sophia ; * No, reply'd her 
 ' brother, but I hope to-morrow morn- 
 
 * ing will put a final end to my fuf- 
 « pence, and make me happy in my ut- 
 ' moft wifhesj — "What fay you, madam, 
 ' purfued he to the lady, — fhall it not 
 ' be fo ? — What occafion has the man to 
 « aflc any quefticna !' — anfwered fhe, 
 patting him on the cheek, ' you have 
 
 * got me into your pofieflion here, and 
 
 * muft even do with me what you will.' 
 
 •Soon 
 
14 The HISTORY of 
 
 Scon after this Sophia withdrew, to give 
 the neceffiry orders for preparing fup- 
 pcr, which, in fpite of her being taken 
 lb unawares, was ferved up in a manner 
 that fhew'd there was little need of the 
 apology had fhe made on the firfb entrance 
 of her new gueft. 
 
 Nothing was wanting to complete the 
 elegance of the table, but a little more 
 politenefs of behaviour in the perfon, for 
 whom chiefly fuch care had been taken 
 in furnifhing it-, ^ but, tho' fhe was the 
 daughter of a nobleman, and could not 
 fail of having had an education fuitabie 
 to her birth, yet the pride of blood, — 
 the infolence of fiatter'd beauty, and the 
 vanity of imagining, that fhe could do 
 nothing unbecoming in her, made her 
 aft and talk in lb afFcd:ed, and io odd 
 a iafliion, as greatly defaced all the charms 
 fhe had received from nature. 
 
 ' You are very ugly, Rodophil, would 
 
 * fhe cry ; I wonder what it is I like you 
 
 * lor •, then rejoin'd with the fame breath, 
 
 * well, you are a dear bewitching toad, 
 
 * however •,* one moment fhe would pufh 
 him from her, fwearing fhe hated him, — 
 the next pull him towards her, protefting 
 he could not be too near j — her difcourfe 
 
 to 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 15 
 
 to the ladies was alfo of the fame piece : 
 fhe told Sophia, ihe had a pair of fine 
 eyes, but did not look as if fhe knew 
 fhe had any fach things in her head j and 
 laugh' d at Jenny, as having reafon to 
 accufe nature for not having endued her 
 with the talent of elocution. 
 
 Jenny, indeed, fpoke but little the 
 whole evening -, but as her filence was oc- 
 cafioned only by the other's excefs of vo- 
 lubility, the ufual vivacity of her tem- 
 per was rous'd by this reproach, and 
 ihe reply'd, with fome tartnefs, ' Madam, 
 
 * if Sophia and myfelf were half fo con- 
 ' fcious as your ladylhip feems to be, of 
 ' having every thing we faid approv'd 
 ' of, we fhould certainly be all fpeakers 
 
 * and no hearers, and confequently this 
 
 * gentleman here be in danger of iofing 
 
 * one of his fenfes, if a man in love can 
 
 * be fuppofed to have any.' 
 
 The lady, in fpite of all the alTurance 
 fhe was poffefsM of, could not avoid ap- 
 pearing a lictle difconcerted at what Jenny 
 had faid-, — Rodophil perceivin|^ it, 
 thought himfelf obliged, as a lover, to 
 take up the word, and turning to Jenny ; 
 Madam, faid he to her, ' the m.an v/ho 
 
 * has the honour to be capable of difbin- 
 
 * guilhing the perfections of that lady, 
 
 » muft 
 
i6 7be HISTORY of 
 
 ' muft certainly be fuppofed to have no 
 * fenfes for any thing but her.' 
 
 Jenny made no other reply to this, 
 than that flie doubted not but his paflion 
 was worthy of the obje6t that infpired it ; 
 and, after a few hours paft in a conver-p 
 fation not material enough to be repeat- 
 ed, Sophia conduced the miftrefs of her 
 brother to an apartment fhe had caufed 
 to be got ready for her ; and, through re- 
 fpefc to him, waited in the room till fhe 
 had feen her into bed. 
 
 Jenny having always been a fharer with 
 Sophia in the fime bed, when they were 
 together at the boarding-fchool, would 
 not hear of fleeping apart from her du- 
 ring the time {he. fcay'd in the country, 
 not only to avoid giving any unneceffary 
 trouble to the family, but alfo becaufe 
 Ihe was willing to lofe as little of her 
 company as pofiible. 
 
 Though the night was pretty far ad- 
 vanced when the ladies went into their 
 chaijiber, neither of them had the power 
 to clofe their eyes without difcovering to 
 the oth.er fome part of their fentiments 
 i,i relation to the intended bride. 
 
 That a young maid of quality Ihould 
 
 fuffer 
 
]emmy and Jenny Jessamy. 17 
 
 fuffer herfelf to be conduifled in fo odd 
 a manner by a gentleman to his country 
 feat, and that fhe fhould behave towards 
 him in fo affedted, and indeed fo confi- 
 dent a fafhion, in the prefence of two per- 
 fons of her own fex, whom fhe had ne- 
 ver feen before, had fomething in it fo 
 new, and fo ftrange to them, that they 
 could not well find words to exprefs their 
 aftonifhment. 
 
 * It mud certainly be an excefs of 
 ' love, faid Jenny, that can oblige a 
 ' man of Rodophil's good underflanding 
 ' to bear with fuch extravagancies in the 
 ' woman he makss choice of for a 
 « wife.' 
 
 ' As for love,' repli-^d the other, ' I 
 
 ' believe that is quite out of the queftion ; 
 
 ' I think I may be pretty pofitive, from 
 
 ' a thoufand circumftances, that my bro- 
 
 • ' ther is neither charmed with the beau- 
 
 * ties of her perfon, nor blind to the fol- 
 
 * lies of her temper ; — but he ima- 
 '■ gines, — how rightly I cannot as yet 
 
 * take upon me to determine, that her 
 ' fortune, her birth, and the intereft of 
 
 * her family v^'ill compenfate for all other 
 
 * deficiencies.' 
 
 Women, for the mod' part, are but too 
 juftly accufed of being fevere on the foi-, 
 
 bles 
 
7 8 r/^f' HISTORY e/ 
 
 bles of each other •, and fome will hav^ 
 it, that they even take a malicious plea- 
 fure in finxiing fomething to condemn -; 
 but it was not by this propenfity that 
 either oi thefe ladies were inftigated •, — 
 the one, who loved her brother extremely, 
 was forry and afliamed at having obferv'd 
 fuch errors in a woman who was to be- 
 his partner for life; — ::nd the othtr, more 
 through good-nature than the contrary, 
 was vexed when any opportunity for cen- 
 fure prefented itfelf. 
 
 Rodcphil, however, full of the thoughts 
 of being a bridegroom, quitted his bed 
 much fooner than he was accuftomed to 
 do, and went to a neighbouring clergy- 
 man, who having licences always ready 
 by him., got one immediately fiU'd up 
 with the two parties names ; and as the 
 thing was to be private, promis'd to bring 
 a friend with him, who fhould officiate 
 in giving the 1: dy's hand. 
 
 Sophia alfo rofe very early that morn- 
 ing, being willing, in fpiie of her diflike 
 to this match, to do it all the honour in 
 her power, and that the ibortnefs of the 
 time would admit her. 
 
 None of the family were fluggards on 
 this occafion, — all appeared in their fe- 
 
 veral 
 
Jemmv /sW Jenny Jessamy. iQ 
 
 veral ftations alert and chearful •, fpright- 
 Jinefs fat on every face, excepting that 
 oi the intended bride •, but never was 
 there fo ftrange, — fo fudden a tranf- 
 lormation in any one perfon, — fhe that 
 had the evening before been fo wildly 
 gay and volatile, even to a ridiculous 
 excefs, v/is now become quite moped and 
 ftupid ; — twice had Sophia been in her 
 chamber before fhe could prevail on her 
 to leave it and come down flairs ; and 
 when Rodophil accofbed her with the 
 ufual falutation of the m.orning, and told 
 her it was the happiefl he had ever feen, 
 flie made no anfwer, nor fcarce vouch- 
 fafed to look upon him. 
 
 On the fight of the clergyman and his 
 friend, who came exadlly at the time they 
 were expefted by Rodophil •, — ' What is 
 ' all this for ? faid (he fullenly •, — 1 won't 
 
 * be married : — Not married, madam, 
 — cried Rodophil, ' you are not cer- 
 
 * tainly in earneft : — Indeed, but I am, 
 ' — fo pray let the parfon go about 
 ' his bufmefs ; for he has none with me 
 
 * at this time. 
 
 * What is it you mean ? madam,' — 
 demanded Rodophil, fo much confound- 
 ed that he could fcarce utter thefe few 
 words : — 'I have told you, anfwered 
 
 ' Ihe, 
 
20 The HISTORY oj 
 
 * fhe, that I won't be married, — at 
 
 * leaft at prefent ; — therefore fend away 
 
 * the man. 
 
 * I am forry, fir,' faid the reverend 
 divine, — < that you did not take care 
 *■' to be better acquainted with the lady's 
 
 * mind before you gave us the trouble 
 
 * of waiting on you ;' — and, with thefc 
 v/ords, went haftily out of the room, 
 followed by the gentleman he had brought 
 with him, equally affronted as furpriz'd. 
 
 Rodophil went after them, to make 
 the beft apology he could for the caprice, 
 as he then imagined it, of the lady's hu- 
 mour: — Sophia and Jenny were all 
 this time in fuch a confternation, that " 
 they could only look fometimcs on the 
 perfon who had occafioned it, and fome- 
 times on each other, without being able 
 to fpeak a fingle fyliabie. 
 
 Rodophil rc!:urn'd» and with a coun- 
 tenance which tellifyM ths refentment 
 of his heart, — ' Madam, faid he to the 
 ' lady, — ' what have I done to deferve 
 ' that you fhouid treat me in this man- 
 
 * ner ? — What motive could induce you 
 
 * to render me the jeft of the whole 
 ' country? 
 
 If 
 
Jemmy ^7zi Jennv Jessamy. 21 
 
 * If you thought me unworthy of the 
 
 * honour I folicited,* — purfued he, — 
 « wherefore did you encourage me to 
 ' hope it ? — aflign at leaft fome reafon 
 ' for fo ftrange a reverfe in your beha- 
 
 * viour towards me.' — Thefe queftions, 
 and feveral others to the- fame purpofe, 
 being repeated over and over, fhe ac iaft 
 reply'd, — that flie would fatisfy him, 
 but no body elfe. 
 
 Sophia, on hearing this, ftarted imme- 
 diately from her feat, crying: — 'Oh, 
 
 * madam, we will be no hindrance to 
 ' the eclaircifement my brother has fo 
 
 * much right to expeft ;' — in fpeaking 
 this Ihe left them together, taking Jenny 
 with her. 
 
 Her curiofity was, however, raifed to 
 a pitch too'high not to infpire her with 
 an eagernefs to be one of the firft at the 
 explanation of this myftery, •— it prefent- 
 ly came into her head, that there was a 
 clofet which opened from the paffage, 
 and was divided from the room where 
 Rodophil and the lady were but by a 
 thin partition, and guelTing her friend's 
 impatience by her own, they both v/ent 
 together, as foftly as pofiible, into this lit- 
 tle recefs, where, putting their ears ciofe 
 
 to 
 
22 The HISTORY of 
 
 m the pannel of the wainfcot, they could 
 cafily ciiilinguifli what difcourfe palTed on 
 the other fide. 
 
 As in reaching this place, they were ob- 
 liged to take a circuit through a gallery 
 ot a pretty large extent, they loft Tome 
 part of what had been faid, but arrived 
 timely enough to be witnefles ot the 
 main point, and to which all that had 
 pafs'd before could have been only the 
 prelude. 
 
 * Married !' — they hea-d Rodophil 
 cry, with a voice lonorous enough to 
 have bten audible at a much greater 
 diftance, — ' death and furies, — when, 
 
 * where, — to whom ! — You have no oc- 
 ' cafion, — rephed the lady, to put 
 
 * yourfeif into this violent agitation, — 
 ' I dare fay I may be eafily unmarried 
 
 * again. 
 
 * Confufion, rejoin'd Rodophil, — 
 
 * what trifling is here ! married, — and 
 ' may be eafily unmarried again •, — tor 
 
 * heaven'sfake, madam, explain the mean- 
 
 * ing of all this, if there be really any 
 
 * meaning in what you fay ? 
 
 * Have a little patience,' — replied 
 fhe, — * I will tell you every thing : — 
 
 ' you 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamv. 23 
 ' you mud know, that captain La Val, 
 
 * perfuaded me one day to go with him 
 
 * to May-Fair Chapel, — where a man 
 ' in a black coat read fomething over to 
 ' us, — it was the marriage ceremony I 
 
 * think i — for my part, I did nothing 
 
 * but laugh all the time, yet the creature 
 ' has ever fince taken it into his head to 
 ' imagine I am his wife, 
 
 ' Very likely, indeed, faid Rodophil 
 fcornfuUy, — ' and wliat followed ?' — 
 ' Nay, what fignifies what follow^ed, cried 
 ' Ihe, the bufinefs is to get this fooliih 
 
 * marriage diffolved j which I think may 
 
 * eafily be done, efpecially as there were 
 
 * no wicnciTes, and we now heartily hate 
 ' one another. — Were thefe always your 
 
 * fentiments ? — demanded Rodophil -, — • 
 
 * No, anfwer'd iTie, — he pretended a 
 
 * furious pafilon for me, and I lik'd him 
 
 * well enough, — but he is now as indif* 
 ^ ferent as moft other hufbands, and I 
 ' have never been able to endure him fince 
 
 * I came acquainted with you ; — there- 
 «; fore, my dear Rodophil, help me to 
 
 * get quits rid of him. 
 
 . ' As how pray ? — faid he : *— Oh, 
 ' I have contrived the means, — anfwer'd 
 
 * .Ihe, — you mufb fend him a challenge, 
 ' Iknow he docs not love fighting, tho' 
 
 he 
 
24 The HIST ORY of 
 
 * he has made two campaigns, and I be- 
 ' lieve will be glad to relinquifh nie m- 
 » ther than come to tilt-work ; — but if 
 « he fnoiild venture, you will certainly 
 ' have the better ; for I am told he does 
 
 * not underftand the fword. 
 
 ' I am highly obliged to you, madam, 
 ' reply'd he, with the extr-emeft difdain, 
 
 * for the undertaking you would engage 
 
 * me in •, — but really it is not my hu- 
 
 * mour to rifque my own throat, or at- 
 ' tempt cutting that of another man's, 
 
 * in the hope of becoming mailer of his 
 
 * property •, and am fo far from envying 
 ' the good fortune of my rival, that I 
 
 * willi him all the happinefs a man can 
 ' enjoy with a lady of your confummate 
 ' virtue and difcretion. 
 
 ' Ungrateful creature, cried flie, burft- 
 « ing into tears, is this the love you 
 ' have profefs*d for me, or a recompence 
 
 * for the proofs you ' have receiv'd of 
 
 * mine ? -—Oh, madatb,* — ^ rephed he, 
 ftill more contemptuouily, * you will find 
 
 * I know how to fet a juft value on fuch 
 
 * love as yours, — the landau that brought 
 
 * us is not yet retum'd, and is at your. 
 
 * fervice to conduft you to your hufband's 
 
 * arms, or where-ever you think proper.* 
 
 On 
 
Jemmy ^77^ Jenny Jessamy. 25 
 On this flie caUM him monfter, — vil- 
 lain, and all the names that rage and 
 difappointment could luggeft ; — but he, 
 little regarding what Ilie faid, rung the 
 bell for a fervant, and order'd the landau 
 fhould be immediatly brought. — Our 
 fair eve-droppers thought this a proper 
 cue for enterance, and came forth from 
 th«ir concealment : — ' Sifter, faid Ro- 
 ' dophil, I leave you to tak" care of this 
 
 * lady, who feems a little diforder'd i — 
 
 * I am going out. 
 
 Sophia, after her brother had left 
 the room, began to fay fome civil things, 
 in order to moderate the diftraclion fhe 
 appeared in -, but fheanfwer'dnot a word; 
 and, as foon as the landau was at the 
 gate, flung herfelf into it without any 
 farther ceremony : — but what efFeft her 
 behaviour had on the minds of thofe Ihc 
 left behind, the reader will prefently dif- 
 cover. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Is of Jim more, importance than the 
 former, 
 
 • npHOUGH Rodophil, as Sophia 
 ^ had told Jenny, was notpolTefs'd of 
 Vol. K C a.iy 
 
26 The HISTORY of 
 
 any rea! pafTion for this capricious iady, 
 and had been inftigated merely by the 
 profpe6t of advantage to make his ad- 
 dreffes to her, yet was he fo much cha- 
 grin'd at being expofed, by her folly, to 
 the ridicule of the neighbourhood, from 
 the thought it could not be kept a fe- 
 cret, that he went direftly to the houfe 
 of an intimate friend, and would not be 
 prevailed upon to return to his own for 
 a confiderable time. 
 
 As for the two young ladies, the con- 
 fternation they were in at what they had 
 feen and heard, is not to be defcrib'd ; — 
 nothing but the convic^lion of their own 
 fenfes, could have made either of them 
 believe it pofTible, that a perfon, fuch as 
 had juft now left them, could have afled 
 in the manner fl:ie had done. 
 
 The difcourfe they had together, after 
 fhe was gone, was fuitable to the occa- 
 fion. — - ' I know, — faid Sophia, — that 
 ' there are fome men who have fo much 
 ' vanity and alTurance, that they will take 
 
 * no denial, nor quit their pretenfions 
 
 * without fome extraordinary method be 
 <■ t.-:k€>n to compel them to it ; but I c^.n 
 
 * affure y^u this was not the cafe with 
 
 * my brother : — I have very good rea- 
 < fons to believe flie made him the firil 
 
 * advances i and am certain, that it fhe 
 
 ^ did 
 
Jemmy <J«^ Jenny Jessamy. 27 
 
 * did not, fhe at leaft highly encouraged 
 ' his addrefles. 
 
 * That you may not think, — con- 
 ' tinued llie, — that I am excited to 
 ' fpeak in this falhion through the natu- 
 « ral affedion to my brother, I will fhew 
 ' you a letter, which he happening to 
 ' drop, I took up, and never return'd ; 
 
 * becaule I was unwilling to let him 
 ' know I had feen it.' 
 
 In /peaking thefe words fhe took a 
 paper out of her pocket, and put into 
 Jenny's hands, which the young lady 
 haftily opening found the contents as 
 follow : 
 
 To ****** * Efq ; 
 
 T have had a thoufand lovers, but ne- 
 *• ver found one fo eafily repuls'd-, — - 
 it you had lov'd me with half that 
 violent paffion you pretended, you 
 would have remember' d what the poet 
 makes Jupiter fay .of our fex, 
 
 I gave them but one tongue to form 
 denials. 
 
 And two fine eyes to yield a kind com- 
 pliance, 
 
 C 2 « Mine 
 
28 Ihe HISTORY of 
 
 " Mine mufl have been very unintel- 
 
 " ligible indeed, if they did not inform 
 
 " you that my heart was far from be- 
 
 " ing difpleafed at the fine things you 
 
 " faid to me ; — Were you then to take 
 
 '' it for granted, that I did not Hke you 
 
 •' becaufe I told you fo, and gallop im- 
 
 *' mediately out of town, as it abfolute- 
 
 *' ly defpairing ever to obtain me ? — 
 
 " Faint-hearted creature ! — I pity your 
 
 " want of fpirit ; — a man of courage 
 
 " would have been more enflam'd by 
 
 " refiftance, and never given over till 
 
 ;" he had gained his point. 
 
 " I know this is going a great length, 
 *' and may encourage you to boldnelTes, 
 " which, perhaps, 1 Ihould not be very 
 * ' ready to forgive •, but I have faid it, 
 " and do not think it worth while- to 
 •* fpoil another piece of paper with wri- 
 *' ting to you in a different manner, fo 
 " you muft put what confbruftion you 
 ** pleafe upon words : if you venture 
 ** to town again upon the receipt of 
 »* this, it is pofhble you will have no 
 ♦< reafon to repent your journey; but I 
 *' promife nothing further, than that it 
 •« depends entirely on yourlelf to continue 
 
 *' in the good graces of 
 
 ^ ^ * * * * 
 
 " P. S, 
 
Jemmy^;?^ Jenny Jessamy. 29 
 
 " P. S. I have made an appointment 
 »* with fome ladies to go to Vaux- 
 " Hall the day after to-morrow i — 
 ♦* they will have all their pretty fel- 
 " loNYS with them, and if you come 
 *' time enough, I Oiould chufe ra- 
 *' ther that you Ihould Iquire me 
 " thither than any other man of 
 " my acquaintance. — Adieu. 
 
 * Upon this fummons, — faid Sophia, 
 « — my brother went diredtly to London, 
 ' ami you may fuppofe met with no un- 
 
 * kind reception from the lady, by Vv'hat 
 
 * you have been witnels of.' 
 
 * Yes, my dear, — cried Jenny, — [ 
 
 * have, indeed, been witnefs ot mucn r;.cre 
 ' than I could ever have imagined in 
 ' Vvoman, much lefs in any one who pre- 
 
 * tends to the leaft fhare of honour or 
 
 * reputation.' 
 
 This adventure, it is certain, had made 
 a very extraordinary impreflion on the. 
 mind of that young beauty, — flie had 
 a ftrong difcernment, and an uncommon 
 quicknefs of apprehenfion, — fhe had 
 eafily difcover'd, that the lady they were 
 fpeaking of, tho' vain and affeded to ar> 
 cxcefs, wanted not wit, but judgment^ 
 C q and 
 
30 7be HISTORY of 
 
 and that the errors of her conduft, in re- 
 gard to La Val and Rodophii, were not 
 owing fo much to her folly, as to the 
 inconftancy of her nature. 
 
 * Who can be alTur'd, — faid fhe 
 
 * within herfelf, till experience convinces 
 
 * them, that they themfelves may not be 
 
 * guilty of the fame irregularity of hu- 
 ' mour, tho' their prudence, and the fears 
 
 * 'of cenfure may keep them from ex- 
 
 * pofing the weaknefs of their relolution! 
 
 * — We all of us are liable to change in 
 
 * trifling matters, and frequently dcfpife 
 
 * to-morrow what v/e lik'd to-day ; — I 
 ' fee no reafon, therefore, that we have to 
 ' depend on our own hearts in things of 
 
 * the greatefl importance.' 
 
 Jenny could not, in fpite of the gaiety 
 of her temper, forbear falling into little 
 refveries of this nature, whenever fhe 
 confider'd herfelf as entering into a ftate, 
 from which there is no relief but the 
 grave •, or, what to a woman of any deli- 
 cacy, is yet worfe, — a divorcement. 
 
 She could not keep herfelf from utter- 
 ing fome part of her thoughts on this 
 fubjed: to Sophia -, « Inconftancy, replied 
 
 * fhe, is certainly a very great weak- 
 
 * nefs ; yet what fecurity can be given by 
 
 « the 
 
Jemmy <7;z^ Jenny Jessamy. 31 
 
 * the wifeft of us all, that we never fhall 
 
 * be guilty of it ? — it is an involuntary 
 
 * error-, the efleff of a fudden objed, 
 
 * that when we leaft think of it, ftrikes 
 
 * upon the fenfes, — confounds the un- 
 
 * derftanding, and leads the inclination 
 
 * aftray, before people well know what 
 
 * they are doing. 
 
 ' Since it is fo, — faid Jenny, — and 
 
 * may as well happen after marriage as 
 ' before, I think it is befl not to marry at 
 ^ all, as the confequences ot fuch an ac- 
 
 * cident would then be terrible indeed. 
 
 * Then you would chufe to avoid a cer • 
 ' tain good, — cried Sophia, laughing, 
 ' — rather than run the rifque of falling 
 ' into an uncertain evil ? — but I do noc 
 
 * regard what you fay on this head, — 
 ' we may talk: as we will, but when ic 
 
 * comes to the point, we fhall dojufl as 
 
 * nature prompts.* 
 
 Thus did the odd event of Rodophil's 
 courtfhip furnifli out both ferious and 
 pleafant matter of converfation for thefe 
 two ladies while they continued together ; 
 
 — but Jenny, who had not intended her 
 vifit fiiould be long, took her leave on 
 the third day, and return'd to London, 
 
 — where a fecond difcovery fell in her 
 way, which greatly corrobrated thofe fen- 
 
 C 4 timents 
 
32 "The HISTORY of 
 
 timents which the firft had begun to infpirc 
 -her with. 
 
 Th"fere arc few milliners of more repu- 
 tation in then- way among the beau 
 monde than mrs. Frill; — Jenny had 
 been her cuftomer ever fince fhc had left 
 her boarding-fchool, and happening now 
 to go to her ftop for Ibme things flie 
 wanted, found her behind the counter 
 very bufy, and buftling among her fhelves 
 and band-boxes, — a thing very extra- 
 ordinary with her, as fhe was pretty far 
 advanced in years, — was infirm, and 
 had always kept an extremely adroit 
 fliop-maid, who was ufed to take the 
 trouble of the moft part of the bufinefa 
 off her hands. 
 
 » Blefs me, — cried Jenny, — *tis 
 « a kind of prodigy to fee you below 
 « flairs, — efpecially at this time in the 
 ' morning ; — pray where is mrs. Becky, 
 ' that you are obliged to fatigue your- 
 ' felf in this manner ? 
 
 < Ah, mifs Jeflamy,' — reply ed fhe, 
 pufRng and blowing like a pair of bel~ 
 lows that has lofl its wind, — ' Becky 
 ' has play'd the fool with herfelf, — Hie 
 ' has left me, and is gone into keeping. 
 ' Into keeping,' — cried Jenny ! — 'I 
 
 ' fhould 
 
Jemmy arid Jenny Jessamy. 3;^ 
 
 * fliould never have fufpeded it; -- I 
 
 * thought mrs. Becky had been defended 
 
 * by the plainnefs of her perfon as well 
 ' as by her virtue, from all attacks of 
 « that nature: — ■ but pray who is the 
 
 * man ? — I was of your opinion, — 
 
 * faid mrs. Frill, — but fir J — *** has 
 
 * found charms in her, and Ihe in him ; 
 
 * — he has taken fine lodgings for her, 
 ' and they are almoft always together.* 
 
 She had no fooner mentioned the name 
 of fir J — ***, than Jenny burft into ex- 
 clamations ; — fhe knew very well that 
 he had loved, to the moll romantic height 
 the lady who was nov/ his wife •, — that 
 he had not been marry'd to her more 
 months than it had coft him years of 
 courtfhip to obtain her; — that fhe was 
 a perfon whofe beauty, — accomplifh- 
 ments, — virtue and good nature ren- 
 dered her every way deferving of all the 
 affeftion he had profefs'd for her; — and 
 now to hear he had fo early falfify'd his 
 vows, leem'd a thing fo ftrange, — fo 
 incredible, that fhe could fcarce believe 
 her ears, or that mrs. Frill was not mif- 
 taken in what {he faid; — • fhe afkedover 
 and over if fhe was fure the thing was 
 true, and defir'd her to repeat all the 
 particulars llie knew concerning this fur- 
 C 5 ' pnfing 
 
34 The UJ STORY of 
 
 prifing affair j — to which the other com- 
 ply*d in thefe terms : 
 
 * You mull know, madam, faid Ihe, 
 ' that I had a very curious french capu- 
 
 * chin, — never was there a greater beau- 
 
 * ty of its kind, — it was wrought by a 
 
 * nun of quaUty to be difpofed of for 
 
 * the benefit of the poor \ fcarce a flower 
 
 * that grows but was reprefented in their 
 ' proper colours, intermix'd with gold 
 ' and filver 5 — I Ihew'd it to fuch of 
 
 * my cuftomers as I thought moft likely 
 
 * to be the purchafers, — they all ad- 
 
 * mired it, but did not care to give the 
 
 * price, tho* nothing ever was fo cheap; 
 
 * for I allced no more than fifty guineas \ 
 
 * — but the truth is, moft of them had 
 
 * loft a great deal of their money at play, 
 
 * and you know, madam, that makes ill 
 
 * for us trades-people. — I had kept it 
 
 * above a week, and fearing it would be 
 
 * blow'd upon, propofed a raffle, and 
 
 * got ten ladies to fubfcribe five guineas 
 
 * a-piece j but when the day came ap- 
 •■ pointed to decide to whole lot the prize 
 < fliould fall, one of them fent me word 
 
 * Ihe had changed her mind, and could 
 
 * not come. 
 
 « This a little vex'd me, — continued 
 
 * ihe j —but rather than lofe all, was de- 
 
 *• termined 
 
Jemmy rt«^ Jenny Jessamy. ^r 
 termined to make up the deficiency my- 
 felf, when luckily this very fir J — *** 
 ftept in i — as he was a married man, 
 I ventured to alk him if he would not 
 try his fortune for a prefent to his lady ;, 
 — he readily agreed, and in fine won 
 its — I ofi^er'd to fend it home, but he 
 told me I need not give myfelf that 
 trouble, for his man Ihould call for it 
 the next day, which Becky told me 
 he did j but you will find by the fequel 
 that he intended no fuch thino-. 
 
 'O' 
 
 ' About a week after, as near as I can 
 ' remember, went fhe on, — this au- 
 ' dacious young huffy pretended to go 
 ' on a vifit to a relation, but came not 
 ' home the whole night j which very 
 ' much furprifed me, and as fhe never 
 ' had been guilty of the like before, made 
 « me fear fome accident had befallen her ; 
 ' but the next -morning I received a let- 
 ' ter from her, which I will read to you.' 
 
 In Ipeaking thefe words, fhe took a 
 paper out of her pocket, and read thefe 
 lines : 
 
 To Mrs. Frill. 
 
 " Madam, 
 
 beg your pardon for quitting your 
 
 fervice in fo clandeftine a manner ; 
 
 C 6 « but 
 
 I 
 
36 The HISTORY of 
 
 '* but I had an offer which I did not 
 " think proper to refufe ; — I have a 
 *' quarter's wages in your hands, and that, 
 " I hope, will make amends for my go- 
 *' ing without warning: — pray be fo 
 '• good to fend my box by the bearer.— 
 *' I am. 
 
 «* Madam, 
 
 " your humble fervant, 
 ** to command, 
 
 " Rebecca Trip. 
 
 * I was very much amaz'd, as you may 
 « eafily believe, — refumed fiie, — at 
 
 * the impertinence of the creature in 
 *■ writing to me in this manner j how- 
 
 * ever, had prefence of mind enough to 
 
 * afk the porter from whence he brought 
 
 * the letter, and he readily told me from 
 
 * one madam Trip, in South-Audley- 
 
 * Street; — on which I prefently guefs'd 
 ^« her fituation, though not the perfon 
 
 * who Had occafioned this change in it. 
 
 * But I continued not long in this 
 « fufpence, — purfued Ihe, — one of 
 
 * the ladies, who had been fo unfortu- 
 
 * jBate to lofe her five pieces at the rafHe, 
 
 * told me Ihe had met her in the mall, 
 
 * drefs'd 
 
Jemmy ^^W Jenny' Jessam\^. 37 
 
 * drefs'din a very rich brocade Hiort fack 
 
 * and petticoat, and that very capuchin 
 ' fir J— *** had won •, and I foon after 
 ' heard, by one who is acquainted with 
 ' the perfon at whofe houfe fhe lodges, 
 ' that fhe pafies there for a relation of 
 
 * that gentleman's, and that he vifits her 
 ' every day.' 
 
 Mrs. Frill had juft finifh'd this little 
 narrative when a lady came into her fhop, 
 — after the ufual compliment, — ' I have 
 been jufV giving, — faid mrs. Frill to 
 her, — this young lady an account of 
 the change of Becky's circumflances •, 
 and I afTure your ladyfhip have had much 
 ado to make her believe the veracity 
 of it. — I am fenfible, — reply'd Jen- 
 ny, — that things of this nature too 
 frequently happen ; — but I confefs, 
 that to find a man who loved to that 
 degree fir J — *** has done, fhould 
 adt in fuch a manner is very afbonifh- 
 ing to me. 
 
 ' For my part, — faid the lady, — I 
 ' fee nothing aftonifliing in it, except 
 
 * his want of taile, — for as to his keep- 
 
 * ing a miftrefs, it could not be expeded 
 ' to be otherwife ; that woman is a fool 
 
 * who thinks to keep a pretty fellow to 
 
 * herfelf in a town like this i — 'tis true 
 
 » his 
 
38 The HISTORY of 
 
 ' his wife is a very fine woman, — but 
 ' he has had her, and variety has its 
 ^ charms for us all. 
 
 ' In feme things it may, madam, -— 
 ' anfwer'd Jenny,, — yet I cannot help 
 « thinking that inconftancy, either in 
 ' man or woman, argues a very weak 
 
 * mind. — Lord, mifs, you talk like one 
 ' that knows nothing of the world, — 
 ^ cry'd the other, — I have been married 
 
 * thefe three years, and am wife by expe- 
 
 * rience-, — it is not in nature for two 
 
 * perfons always to be pleafmg to each 
 ' other ; — but if you will not take my 
 ' word for it, I hope you will believe C©w- 
 
 * ley, who was certainly as great a judge 
 
 * of love as even Ovid himfelf. 
 
 The world's a fcene of changes, and to 
 
 be 
 Conftant in nature were inconftancy ; 
 For 'twere to break the laws herfelf 
 
 has made ; 
 Our fubftances themfeives do fleet and 
 
 fade : 
 The moft fix'd being ftill does move 
 
 and fiy, 
 Swift as the wings of time 'tis meafur'd 
 
 To 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 3^ 
 
 'To imagine then that love fliould ne- 
 ver ceafe, 
 
 Love, which is but the ornament of 
 thefe, 
 
 Were quite as fenfelefs as to wonder 
 why 
 
 Beauty and colour ftay not when we 
 die. 
 
 Not this authority, nor all the argu- 
 ments the lady could bring, who poffibly 
 was herfelf a proof of what ihe urg'd,. 
 ceuld make Jenny recede from her opi- 
 nion, or give up the point, the dif- 
 pute between them continued till other 
 company coming in put an end to it. 
 
 Though, by the whole deportment of 
 Jenny, there feem'd to be but little fhare 
 of earth in her compofition, yet had fhe 
 her ferious moments; — what fhe had 
 feen at the houfe of Rodophil, and been 
 told of at mrs. Frill's, came often into 
 her mind •, and Ihe began to fear, from 
 thefe two inftances, that inconllancy was 
 a frailty to which human nature was but 
 too liable, and the reflexions fhe made 
 upon it had no fmall influence on her fu- 
 ture conduft towards Jemmy, to whom 
 it is now high time we fhould return. 
 
 C H A P. 
 
40 The H IS TORY of 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 JVill probably occaj%n vnrioui conjec- 
 tures on what is to come. 
 
 A Very Imall fhare of experience and 
 obfervation may ferve to inform us, 
 that there is no pafTion of the foul which 
 more eafily wears off than that of grief 
 for the death of friends j and indeed it 
 is highly reafonable that it fhould be fo, 
 — religion obliges us to a perfeiSt refig- 
 nation to the decrees of providence ; — ■ 
 philofophy teaches us that it is weak and 
 unbecoming the dignity of our fpecies 
 to bewail woes, which in their very na- 
 ture are irredeemable j — and the laws 
 of fociety forbid us to indulge any emo- 
 tions that might enervate our abilities, 
 and render us lefs ufeful to the commu- 
 nity. 
 
 Whether any arguments, drawn from 
 the above confiderations, could claim 
 a part in enabling Jemmy to recover his 
 former vivacity, I will not take upon me 
 to determine j but, certain it is, that in a 
 
 very 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 41 
 very Ihort time nothing of the mourner> 
 except the habit, was to be feen about 
 him. 
 
 It would have been f mewhat ftrange, 
 indeed, if a gentleman, not yet quite one 
 and twenty, poflefs'd of a very plentiful 
 cftate, and mailer of accomplifhments to 
 recommend him to the beit company, 
 Ihould have had any leifure for melan- 
 choly reflexions in a town like London, 
 fo abounding with every thing that can 
 entertain and raife pleafmg fenfations in 
 a youthful heart. 
 
 In the midft of all the various amufe- 
 ments he gave into, his dear Jenny, how- 
 ever, was not forgot, — fcarce a day pait 
 over without his vifiting her once, if not 
 more, in fome one part of it; — they be- 
 haved to each other in the fame fafliion 
 they had always been accullom'd to do, 
 — quite open and free, without the leall 
 breach of innocence or modefly ; — kind 
 without any mixture of difTimulation, and 
 obliging without taking any pains to be 
 lo. 
 
 Scarce are there any where to be found 
 tv^o perfons whofe difpofitions fo exadily 
 tally'di — both of them were gay and vo- 
 latile almofl to an excefs, — both lov'd 
 
 the 
 
42 The PHSTORY oj 
 
 the pleafures of the town, yet never pur- 
 fued them fo far as to tranfairefs the 
 bounds of ftri6l virtue in the one, nor 
 honour in the other ; — both had an 
 affluence of wit, and a great talent for 
 ridicule ; and both had too much good 
 nature and generofity to extend that pro- 
 penfity to the prejudice of any one : — in 
 line, they were what the poet fays, 
 
 In all fo much alike, each heart 
 Seem'd but the others counter part. 
 
 To the foregoing character of them 
 miglit alfo have been added, that neither 
 of them were poilefS"^ of any ftrong .paf- 
 fions J and though the affeftion they had 
 for each other, was truly tender and fin- 
 Gere, yet neither of them felt thofe im- 
 patiencies, — thofe anxieties, — thofe 
 tranfporting hopes, — thofe diftrafting 
 fears, — thofe caufelefs jealoufies, or any 
 of thofe thoufand reftlefs fenfations that 
 ufuaily perplex a mind devoted to an 
 amorous liame •, — they were happy when 
 they met, but not uneafy when they 
 parted-, — he was not in the leail alarm'd 
 on finding Ihe was frequently vifited by 
 fome of the fineft gentlemen in town •, nor 
 was fhe at ail difconcerted when flie was 
 
 told 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jess amy. 43 
 
 told he was well received by ladies of the 
 moft diftinguifh'd charaders. 
 
 I am well aware, that many of my rea- 
 ders will be apt to fay, — people who 
 could think and a6t in the manner I have 
 defcrib'd, either had no charms for each 
 other, or feem'd incapable of loving at 
 alii — and I am. ready to confefs, that 
 according to the receiv'd notions of love, 
 there was a feeming inconfiftency in this 
 condu6t, and had more the appearance of 
 a cold indifference than the warm glow 
 cf mutual inclinations. 
 
 Yet that they did love each other is 
 mofl certain, as will hereafter be demon- 
 ftrated by proofs much more unqueftion- 
 able than all thofe extravagancies •,-— 
 thofe raging flights commonly ; iook'd 
 upon as infallible tokens of the pafTion, 
 but which, how fierce foever the fires 
 they fpring from may burn for a while, 
 we fee frequently txtinguifh of them- 
 felves, and leave nothing but the fmoke 
 behind. 
 
 All the formalities of a firfb and fecond 
 mourning for the dead being over, every 
 one now cxpe6led they Ihould foon fee 
 the completion of a marriage they knew 
 had been fo long intended \ — Jemmy alfo 
 
 h ad 
 
44 Tie HIST ORY of 
 
 had fome though'-s of it himrdf, and be- 
 gan to confider oa fuch things as were 
 proper to be done previous to the folern- 
 mty. 
 
 On looking over his father's papers 
 he had found marriage articles between 
 iiiiTJ and Jenny, vv^ith a deed of fetticment 
 on her by way ot dower, which the old 
 gentleman had caufcd to be drawn up 
 fome time before his death; — thefe writ- 
 ings he now put into his pocket and 
 carried them to her, in order tor her ap- 
 probation. 
 
 * What are thefe ? cry'd Cii'!', when he 
 
 * prefented her with the packet ; — They 
 ' are what concern you as nearly as my- 
 
 * felf, — replied he, — therefore, I 
 
 * v/ould have you examine the contents 
 ' at fome leifm'e hour, and let me know 
 ' if you think there is any thing in them 
 
 * that requires alteration or amendment. 
 
 ' They ought to be things of great 
 ' confequence, indeed, by their bulk,' — 
 faid flie fmiling, and beginning to unfold 
 the parchment, — ' You know,' — re- 
 fumed he with the fame gay air, — ' for 
 ' what wc are defign'd by both our i'a- 
 ' thers •, — and I fuppofe mine, as being 
 ' vour guardian alfo, thought himfelf the 
 
 ' mofi^ 
 
Jemmy a?7d ]enky Jessamt. 4^ 
 
 ' moft proper peribn to decide the terms 
 ' on which we Ihould come together. 
 
 ' I have no reafon, — anfwered fhe, — 
 *■ to fufpeft either his juftice or good 
 « will towards me; — however, I will 
 ' take the tirft opportunity of feeing what 
 
 * he has done for me on this fcore -,' — 
 in fpeaking this llie lock'd the writings 
 he had brought in an efcrutore that v.'as 
 plac'd juft behind her j — then turning 
 haflily to him, — ' but, my dear Jem.my, 
 ' — continued flie, — you muft excufe 
 ' me for this evening ; — you muft know 
 
 * I have promifed fome company to go to 
 
 * Ranelagh, and I believe they are airea- 
 ' dy beginning to expecSt me. — It hap- 
 •• pens very luckily, — faid he, — tor 
 ' there are three or four yoimg fellows 
 ' of us, who have promifed to give fome 
 ' ladies the mufic on the river to night, 
 
 * — and I could not have ftay'd above 
 
 * three minutes longer with you ; for they 
 ' depend upon me to fee the hands all 
 
 * ready, — fo, my dear Jenny, I will not 
 ' detain you ; — farewel. — Farewel 
 ' Jemmy,' rejoined (lie, — and with thefc 
 words both ran down ftairs together^ — 
 he went into one chair and flie into ano- 
 ther, to fulfil their feveral engagements. 
 
 The 
 
46 The HISTORY of 
 
 The next day they faw each other again, 
 tfs ufual, — alter iome Httle chit chat on 
 ordinary affairs, he afl<;ed her if flie had 
 touid cime to look over the writings he 
 had brought the day before; — ' Yes,' — 
 anfwer*d flie, ' I hreakfafted on them 
 ' this morning; — ' Well,' — cried he, — 
 ' what objeftions have you to make ? — • 
 
 * None at all,' — reply'd (lie, — ' I rather 
 ' think your father has made a better 
 ' provifion for me than my own would 
 ' have defired or expe(5led 
 
 ' Then I fuppofe there is nothing left 
 ' for us to do, — faid he, — but fign 
 ' and feal, and go together before a par- 
 
 * fon. — Some people may fay fo,' — re- 
 ' ply'd fhe ; — but for my part I am of 
 ' a quite different opinion, and think 
 ' there is a great deal for us both to do 
 ' before we come to the words, — to 
 ' have and to hold. 
 
 ' I eafily comprehend what you would 
 
 * be at, — refumed he laughing i — new 
 
 * eloaths for ourfelves and fervants, — 
 
 * fome addition to the equipage, — a 
 
 * more fafhionable chariot, — another pair 
 
 * of horfes perhaps. Hold, — hold,' — 
 cried (he interrupting him, — ' I have 
 
 * no fuch ftuff in my thoughts, I do alTure 
 
 * you i 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 47 
 
 * you i — what I mean is infinitely more 
 ' material tlian all you have mention'd i 
 
 * — and that is, — the being certain 
 ' within ourfelves of never repenting the 
 ' engagements we are about to enter 
 
 into. 
 
 ' Repenting, — faid he, — there is 
 ^ no danger of that I believe ; — I will 
 ' promife you to make as good a huf- 
 ' band as I can, — and I am fure you 
 ' will make a good wife.' — * That is all 
 
 * as chance direfts, — anfwer'd Ihe, — 
 ' we may think perfectly v/ell at one 
 ' time, and ad: very ill at another \ in 
 
 * fine, my dear Jemmy, — continued 
 ' flie, — I think we ought to know a 
 
 * little more of the world and of our- 
 ' felves before we enter into feriousma- 
 ' trimony. 
 
 ' Why faith, Jenny, — anfwer'd he, 
 ' — I cannot help faying but that you 
 
 * are in the right •, — I fliould not much 
 
 * like, methinks, to be quite {o foon the 
 
 * father of a family. — And I fhould hate 
 ' to be called mamma, — rejoin*d" flie, 
 
 * — before I arrive at an age to write 
 ' myfelf woman. 
 
 o^ 
 
 ' I wonder, — purfued ilie, — how 
 * people can refolve to cut themfelves otf 
 
 * from 
 
48 T^e' H I S T O R Y o/ 
 
 * from all the pleafures of life, juft as 
 ' they are beginning to have a relilh for 
 « them ; — how fhould I regret being 
 
 * confin'd at home by my domeftic af- 
 ' fairs, while others of my lex and age 
 
 * were flaunting in the mall, or making 
 
 * one at the rout of a woman of quality ? 
 
 * — and how would it mortify you to 
 ' hear the ladies cry difdainfully, Jemmy 
 
 * JelTamy is a very pretty fellow j — but 
 
 * he is married, — and then tols up their 
 
 * heads, and in contempt of you turn 
 ' the doux yeux on the next man in com- 
 
 * pany, though perhaps he happens to be 
 ' one of the moft infignificant fops that 
 
 * the follies of the times ever fafliioned, 
 
 * and without any one merit to recom- 
 
 * mend him but merely his having no 
 < wife ?' 
 
 Jenny, who had always fomewhat ami- 
 ably ftriking in her eyes and tone of 
 of voice, appeared at this inftant fo par- 
 ticularly brilliant, that Jemmy could not 
 forbear catching her in his arms with the 
 utmoit rapture, — crying at the fame 
 time, — ' Ilhail little regard the contempt 
 « of all the women in the world, while 
 
 * bleft with the kindncfs of my dear, — 
 
 * dear Jenny. 
 
 < And 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 49 
 
 ' And I think too/ — reply'd fhe, re- 
 turning his embrace, and looking on him 
 with a moft enchanting foftnefs, — « that 
 
 * I could forgo ail other joys of life for 
 ' thofe of my dear Jemmy's love ; yet 
 ' after all, — continued Ihe, — we may 
 ' both of us be deceived in our own 
 
 * hearts •, — I have heard the wife fay, 
 
 * that nothing is fo difficult to acquire 
 ' as the true knowledge of ourfelves, — . 
 ' and who can tell what time and acci - 
 
 * dents may produce !* 
 
 Here Jemmy was beginning to make 
 the moft fervent protellations, that it 
 was not in the power of fate itfelf to oc- 
 cafion the ieaft alteration in his prefent 
 fentiments on her account ^ — and Jenny 
 was half perfuaded, by what Ihe felt in 
 her ownbrcaft, that an afFeftion, ground- 
 ed and habitual as theirs had been, was 
 
 incapable oi varying on either fide ; 
 
 fo that if this tender converfation had 
 continued but a very little longer, it is 
 highly probable they had agreed to put 
 the finifhing ftroke to the work, their pa- 
 rents had laboured for, by an immediate 
 marriage. 
 
 Of this, however, there can be no po- 
 sitive afTurance, as it was broke off by 
 Vol. L ■ D fome 
 
50 The HISTORY of 
 fome company coming in j — but whether 
 fortunately or unfortunately for the loVers, 
 this interruption happen'd in fo critical 
 a moment, the reader, if he has patience 
 to wait, will in the fequel of this hiftory 
 be inform'd. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Is fomewhat more explicit than the 
 former. 
 
 TH E perfons who had furprifed our . 
 lovers in the midft of the moft in- 
 tcrelling difcom-fe they ever yet had en- 
 tertained each other with, were two young ^ 
 ladies of Jenny's intimate acquaintance \ * 
 — they had been driven out of the park 
 by a fhower of rain, and could not go 
 home without calling on her, to commu- 
 nicate fomething which they thought 
 ■would be equally diverting to her as it 
 had been to themfelves. 
 
 On feeing Jemmy with her, — ' We 
 
 * have catch'd you alone together, faid \ 
 
 * one of them, and it is happy for you 
 
 * that you have been fo, as nothing but 
 f the pleafure of each other's company, j 
 
 ' could;. I 
 
Jbmmy and Jenny Jessamy. Ji 
 
 * could Wave attoned for what you have 
 
 * loft by not being in tke mall to-night. 
 
 * As how pray ? — demanded fhe. — - 
 « Lady Filk, — refumed the other,. — Oh, 
 ' fuch fleering, — fuch pointing, — fuch 
 ' an univerfal titter as foon as ever fhe 
 ' appear' d ! — Lady Fifk, — cried Jemmy, 
 
 * interrupting her, — ^I am afraid, jnadam, 
 ' your intelligence is ftale, — that lady 
 ' has play'd over all her tricks long ago, 
 ' and can do nothing new for us to 
 ' laugh at. ** 
 
 ' You are quite miftaken, I aflure you, 
 ' anfwer'd fhe •, — • fhe has now, as Colly 
 ' fays, outdone all her ufual outdoings, 
 
 * as you will be obliged to confefs when 
 ' you have heard the ftory. 
 
 « What, cried he, — > can any thihg 
 
 * go beyond her adventure in Covent- 
 '* Garden, — where fhe went in men's 
 
 « cloaths, — ■ pick'd up a woman of the 
 ' town, and was feverely beaten by her 
 ' on the difcovery of her fex ? 
 
 ' Or what happened to her at Baf- 
 > tholomew-Fair, — faid Jenny, — where 
 ' being a little too pert wiih fome young 
 
 * apprentices, who had attack'd her as a 
 ' lady of pleafure, a riot enfued, and fhe 
 
 D 2 « was 
 
5? *n;^ HISTORY £;^ 
 
 * was glad to produce her feal with the 
 
 * coat of arms upon it, and a letter fhe 
 
 * had received that day from her lord, 
 
 * to prevent being lodg'd that night in 
 
 * the watch-houfe, and carried before the 
 
 * fitting alderman next morning* 
 
 • Neither of thefe exploits,' — reply'd 
 
 * the lady that had fpokc firft, — comes 
 
 * up to what we have to tell you, or gave 
 
 * her half the mortification ; — it would 
 
 * be the firft ftory in the world if one 
 
 * could but find out the beginning ; — 
 
 * but the misfortune is, that nothing but 
 
 * the cataftrophe as yet is come to light. 
 
 « It is but half a ftory then, at beft, 
 faid Jemmy laughing ; — but let us 
 hear it however. — I Ihould not have 
 kept you fo long in fufpence my dear, 
 if this thing here, — cried fhe, giving 
 Jemmy a flap on the ftioulder with her 
 fan, — had not interrupted me ; :— you 
 muft know, that fome night laft week 
 lord and lady Fiflc had a moft terrible 
 quarrel, — they were juft going into 
 bed, — flie was undrefs'd all but her 
 under petticoat •, — what Ihe iaid or 
 did to provoke him to luch wrath Hea- 
 ven knov/s i but he pufh-d her out of 
 the chariiber, — drove her down ftairs, 
 
 ^ and 
 
Jemmv and Jenny Jessamy. 55 
 ' and in that condition turn'd her into 
 
 * the ftreet, charging the porter not to 
 ' open the door on any account. 
 
 * Never was the pride and Ipirit of 
 
 * any lady fo humbled as her's, — con- 
 
 * tinued this talkative lady •, — after find- 
 
 * ing that knocking and calling loud was 
 
 * to no effect, fhe condefcended to put 
 
 * her mouth clofe to the key-hole of the 
 ' door, and befeech the porter, in the 
 
 * moft fubmiflive terms, to let her in, 
 
 * though it were no farther than the hall ; 
 
 * while her remprfelefs lord looked 
 
 * through the window, and inlulting her 
 
 * diftrefs, told her it was a fine night, 
 ' and that it was good for her ladyfhip's 
 
 * health to be thus alfrefco. 
 
 * After having had his fill of laughter 
 
 * at the miferable plight to which fhe 
 ' was reduced, he confented to her ad- 
 
 * mittance ; — fhe was no fooner within 
 ' the doors than fhe flew up flairs j — 
 ' the difpute between them was renewed 
 ' with almofl the fame vehemence as be- 
 *■ fore ; — he loaded her with a thoufand 
 ' foul names', — fhe, in return, called him 
 
 * toad, — devil, and every thing her 
 « pafiion could fuggefl •, — till having 
 
 * both rail'd themfelves out of breath, 
 
 D 3 ' they 
 
54 57^ HISTORY cy" 
 
 * they agreed to go into bed togctlierj 
 
 * in order to finifh the quarrel. 
 
 * But now comes the jeft, — went fhe 
 
 * on, — How long a time do you think 
 
 * it took up to compofe this difference ? 
 
 * why no lefs than three whole days 
 ' and nights fuccelTively, during ail which 
 '. fpace the chamber door was never 
 
 * .opened, but to take in f©me refrefli- 
 « ment, which was placed for them in 
 ' the next room : this evening was the 
 « firfl of their appearance fmce their re- 
 « furredion from the fepuichre of down ; 
 
 * my lord received fuch congratulations 
 
 * upon it as made him glad to quit the 
 
 * park i but her ladyfhip, having fomc- 
 
 * what more affura^xe, flay*d till the 
 ^ change of weather obliged iier, as v/cll 
 
 * a's- ourfclves, to take flieiter in our 
 
 * chairs* 
 
 * I cannot help confcfllng, — faid 
 
 * Jemmy, but that there is fomewhat 
 
 * pretty extraordinary in this affair, and 
 « alfo that one of them has a greater 
 ' fhare of complaifance than I fufp.edted -, 
 ' fince it is plain that which ever of them 
 
 * was in fault the other did equal penance.* 
 
 A good deal of pleafanCry paffed on 
 this adventure, during the whole time the 
 
 1 adits 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 55 
 ladies flayed, which indeed was not very- 
 long •, — they had here opened their pac- 
 quet, and were upon the wing to carry 
 it to thofe other of their acquaintance to 
 whom they thought it might be equally 
 new and agreeable. 
 
 The ladies had no fooner taken their 
 leave, than Jenny began to animadvert, 
 with more ftrength of reafon than could 
 have been expected from a perfon of her 
 years, on the ridiculous fa6t they had 
 been relating j — ' You hear. Jemmy 
 
 * faid flie, what unaccountable things 
 ' married people are fometimes guilty 
 
 * of •, — inilead of living together in a 
 
 * mutual harmonv, it feems methinks as 
 
 * if they took a kind of pleaiure in ma- 
 
 * king each other wretched -^ — and fure 
 
 * they muft do fo, or they would no; 
 
 * thus expofe themfelves to the contem.pt 
 
 * of the world, and become the j-:fi: cvca 
 
 * of their own fervants, v;ho muft njxei- 
 
 * fai-ily be the firft witncfles of their folly, 
 
 ' We ought not, however, replied he, 
 « to lay on marriage the blame of ail 
 » thofe prepofterous things we fee afled 
 
 * in that ftate, by perfons we have been 
 ' fpeaking of ; — becaufe long before 
 
 * their enterance into it, both of them be- 
 
 * haved in fuch a manner as to Hiew 
 
 D 4 ? they 
 
56 The HISTORY of 
 
 * they were wholly govern'd by caprice, 
 « and not by that farcical pafTion which 
 
 * many people are poflefled of, in a more 
 ' or lefs degree, for making a great noife, 
 ' and being talked of in the world, tho' 
 
 * it is only for foibles, which one would 
 
 * think they fliould rather labour to con- 
 
 * ceal. 
 
 « But I muil own, continued he, that 
 « I have fometimes been very much fur- 
 ' prifed at the little concord I have ob- 
 » ferved between perfons whofe principles, 
 
 * humaours, and behaviour, in the general, 
 
 * would make one imagine them equally 
 » qualified to give each other perfect hap- 
 ' pmefs. 
 
 « What you fay is extremely juft, cried 
 Jenny, a<id I have often had occafion 
 to make the fame reflections ; — it fol- 
 lows then, that every one before they 
 engage in marriage fhould be well vers'd 
 in all thofe things, whatever they are, 
 which conftitute the happinefs of it ; — « 
 this town is an ample fchool, and both 
 of us have acquaintance enough in it to 
 learn, from the miftakes of others, how 
 to regulate our own condud and paf- 
 fions, fo as not to be laugh'd at our- 
 lelves for what we laugh at in them. 
 
 « Spoke 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 57 
 
 ' Spoke like a philofophorefs, rejoined 
 « Jemmy •, and upon fecond thoughts I 
 ' agree with you, that as every thing is 
 ' ready for us, and we can marry when 
 ' we will, it will be beft for us both to 
 « flay till we have got fome farther lights 
 ' into the myfterious duties of the conju* 
 ' gal union.' 
 
 Jenny, who as yet had not the leaft 
 inclination to enter into the ferious road 
 of matrimony, and would have been 
 equally loath to have appear'd too re- 
 fradtory, if he had infilled on the per- 
 formance of the covenant made between 
 their fathers, was quite tranfported to 
 find his fentiments fo conformable to her 
 own on this head -, but forbore teflifying 
 all the fatisfa6lion fhe felt, for fear of 
 making him call in queflion the fincerity 
 of her affedion for him. 
 
 She only told him, that fhe was cer- 
 tain it would be for their mutual intereft 
 to do as he had mentioned ; — on which 
 he purfued his difeourfe in thefe terms : 
 
 * But, my dear Jenny, faid he, as learn- 
 
 * ing will not come of itfelf, and we 
 
 « Ihould be equally perfed in the difFe- 
 
 (^•j rent parts we are to aft together here- 
 
 ;* aft'^r ; f^Jppofe we Ihould refolve to 
 
 ©5 com- 
 
58 The HISTORY of 
 
 ' communicate to each other all the di^- 
 ' cover ies we are able to make, among the 
 ' feveral families that either of us con- 
 ' verfe with, and alfo all the confidences 
 
 * which arc repofed in us ; — by this 
 ' means I Ihall be acquainted with all 
 *'the humours of your fex, and ycu no 
 
 * flranger to thofe of mine ; fo that nei- 
 ' ther of us will be at a lofs to bear with 
 
 * the foibles which nature or cufiiom 
 ' may have implanted in the other •, be- 
 
 * fides, added he, this is no mor^ than 
 
 * praftifing before-hand one of thofe 
 
 * points, which, as I take it, is very eflen- - 
 *- tial to the happinefs of both a husband 
 
 * and a wife, — which is the havihg no 
 
 * i:eferve.* 
 
 '*^*I am tharmM with your projeft, an- 
 « ft^er'd fhe ; but then each of us muft 
 
 * be fure to preferve an inviolable fe- 
 ' crecy in what has been imparted by the 
 « other, which is another main effential 
 
 * towards conjugal felicity.' 
 
 Jetnrriy having aflfured her, that wihat>- 
 cver fhe faid to him on this account 
 Ihould be no more than talking to her 
 own heart, they were beginning to divert 
 themielves with the idea of the many 
 whimfical pafTages they fhould have to 
 recite to each other, when a footman 
 
 brought 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 59 
 
 brought a letter to Jenny, — the con- 
 tents whereof were as follow : 
 
 To mifs Jessamy. 
 
 Dear creature, 
 
 " T F this finds you at home and dif- 
 ** -■' engaged, I flatter myfelf you will 
 " immediately comply with the requeft 
 ** it contains ; — I am now alone, and 
 "in a fituation which requires both 
 " confolation and advice, neither of 
 *' which lean hope for more effedtually 
 •' than from the friendfhip with which 
 " you favour me ; — I would have wait- 
 ** ed on you, but am prevented by rea- 
 " fons which you will be no ftranger to 
 " on feeing me. I am, 
 
 •' with- the- moft perfed amity, 
 
 *' miy deSfmifs Jessamy, 
 
 " yours, &c. . 
 
 « E. Marlove. 
 *» P. S. If I am unhappily ckprived of 
 ** your company to-night, I beg you 
 *' will not fail corning as early as 
 ♦* poJfTibie in the morning -, for I am 
 *' all impatience to kt you into the 
 ;** hiftory of tnj misfortunes." 
 
 t) 6 • See 
 
6o The HISTORY ef 
 
 * See here, — faid fhe, giving the 
 letter to Jemmy, — ' fortune already is 
 likely to prefent me with fomething 
 that may be worth your knowledge ; — 
 the lady who writes in this manner 
 has honour and virtue ; — fhe has been 
 but four months married to a gentle- 
 man whom fhe preferred to a great 
 number of other admirers, and who 
 fecms paflionatcly fond of her ; — you 
 will not wonder that I am in as much 
 hade to hear the occafion of her com- 
 plaint, as Ihe is to tell it me.' 
 
 She then ordered a chair to th© door, 
 and calling for her gloves and capuchin, 
 hurried them on while he was reading -, 
 the motive which carry*d her away was 
 too agreeable for him to offer to detain 
 her i and they parted without farther ce- 
 remony than a kifs, and good night. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Jemmy <7«^ Jenny Jessamy; 6i 
 
 CHAP. VL 
 
 Contains fome things well worthy of be- 
 ing ferioujly attended tOy by thofe 
 efpecially for whofe fervice they are 
 chief y inferted, 
 
 THOUGH Jenny had not doubt- 
 ed, by the lady's letter, but that 
 fomething very extraordinary and per- 
 plexing had happen'd to her, yet fhe was 
 far from expecting to find her in the 
 condition Ihe now did. 
 
 That half diflracfled fair one was lying 
 extended on a couch, — her hair loole 
 and hanging in wild diforder over her 
 face, — her lovely eyes pouring forth 
 tearSj — all her features diftorted/with ex- 
 cefs of pafllon, and every fymptom of 
 defpair, grief, and rage about her. 
 
 Jenny was quite frighted ; and indeed, 
 who that had beheld her in this manner, 
 but mull have thought the moft terrible 
 accident imaginable had befallen her I 
 « Ah, my dear mifs Jeflamy, faid Ihe, 
 
 * as foon as Ihe faw her enter how chari- 
 
 * table is this vifit to the moft undone, 
 
 ' forlorn 
 
62 The HISTORY of 
 
 ' forlorn, and miferable woman upon 
 « earth! 
 
 * Blefs me, — cried Jenny, fea'ing 
 
 * herieli near her, — what can have oc- 
 ' cafioned this ludden change in your 
 
 * late happy condition ? — Oh, I will 
 ' tell you all, replyed the other ; but 
 
 * when you Ihall hear how I have been 
 ' treated by my ungrateful, — my per- 
 ' fidious husband, you will torfwear mar- 
 ' riage, and curfc the whole race of falfe 
 ' diffembling man. 
 
 * I fent for you, — continued fhe, — 
 ' to make you the confidante of my re- 
 
 * fentment, as you have always been of 
 ' my love ; for this unworthy man, whom 
 ' from my Have is now become my ty- 
 
 ' rant •, and, inftead of ftudying how to 
 ' pleafe me, has the infolence to attempt 
 
 * making me fubfervient to his will, and 
 
 * to contradict me even in things wher© 
 
 * every woman has a right to rule. — 
 ' Could you ever have believed it, my 
 
 * dear mifs JeHamy, — went fhe on, — 
 
 * the vain creature imagines I have love 
 
 * enough for him to be fatisfied with * 
 
 * whatever he does ? 
 
 * I thought, indeed, faid Jenny, that 
 
 * both of you had love enough to be fa- 
 
 tisfied- 
 
 I 
 
Jemmy^;?^ Jenny Jessamy. 63 
 
 * tisfied with what the other did -, — But 
 t prav what may be the fubjefL of the 
 t prefent difpute between you ? — Oh fuch 
 t a grofs affront upon my underftanding, 
 t my humour, — my every thing that is 
 dear to woman-kind, repiy'd mrs. Mar- 
 ' love, — But of what nature,' — again 
 demanded her impatient friend ? 
 
 It was in vain fhe repeated the queftion 
 over and over for feveral times fucceffive- 
 ly, mrs. Marlove was too much overcome 
 by her paflion to be able to give any di- 
 re£t account of the occafion, and all that 
 could be gather' d from her incoherent 
 exclamations was, that a favourite fer- 
 vant of mr. Marlove's had quarrelled with 
 her waiting-maid •, — that fhe had infift- 
 ed on the man's being turn'd away, and 
 he as ftrenuoufly that Ihe lliould part with 
 her maid ; — that very high words had 
 rofe on this occafion -, — that he had en- 
 deavoured to exert the authority of a huf- 
 band, and fhe to maintain the refpedl and 
 cornplaifance due to a wife ', and that af- 
 ter having abfolutely refufed to do as fhe 
 defired, he had flung out of the houfe in 
 very great difcontent. 
 
 She was but juft beginning to enter 
 fbmewhat farther into the merits of the 
 caufe, when a fervant put his head be- 
 tween 
 
64 The HISTORY of 
 
 tween the door, and told mrs. Marlove, 
 that the cloth was laid for fupper, — 
 and that his mafter was come home. — 
 
 * Well, and what of that, cried fhe hafti- 
 ' ly? Nothing, madam, faidthe man, on- 
 
 * ly my mafter defires that your ladyftiip 
 < and the young lady will be pleafed to 
 
 * walk down. — Tell him,' — reply'd fhe, 
 with the utmoft difdain in her voice and 
 countenance, — * that I am not pleafed 
 ' to do any thing that he defires ; and 
 
 * that I will neither eat nor fleep with 
 « him while he keeps that fellow Jona- 
 ' than in the houfe.* ; 
 
 On this, he faid no more but with- 
 drew, and mr. Marlove came up in a 
 moment after -, — his looks exprefs'd the 
 utmoft difcontent ; — * he faluted Jenny, 
 however, with refpe<5t, and then turning 
 to his wife : — ' I am furprifed, my 
 
 * dear, cried he, that you fhould expofe 
 
 * yourfelf in this manner : family difputes 
 
 * ought to be difcufs'd in private ; it is 
 
 * impertinent to trouble our friends with 
 
 * them, and ridiculous to make our fer- 
 
 * vants die witneiTes of them ; — for 
 
 * Heaven's fake, therefore, conlider a 
 « little. — 
 
 ♦ I fhall confider nothing, faid fhe is- 
 
 * terrupting him, but your unkindnefs 
 
 * and 
 
Jemmy /jW Jenny Jessamy. 65 
 
 * and ingratitude ; — What, purfued flie 
 
 * with vehemence, — to refufe me in fo 
 
 * poor a trifle as the difmiflion of a fer- 
 ' vant ? 
 
 * Trifks, madam, anfwerM he very 
 
 * gravely, when infilled on too peremp- 
 
 * torily, become things of confequence ; 
 ' beiides, you have often heard me fay 
 ' this man hved with my father j — that 
 
 * when I went abroad he gave him to me 
 ' as the choiceft prefent he could make ; 
 
 * that he attended me in my travels 
 
 * through the greateft part of Europe ; 
 
 * and that I have experienced his love 
 ' and fidelity to me in a thoufand in- 
 ' fiances : — it would therefore be highly 
 
 * unjulh and ungenerous in me to turn 
 
 * him off ; and I can look upon it as no 
 
 * lefs unrealbnable in you to requeft it 
 
 * merely on the idle complaints and 
 
 * tittle-tattle of a chamber-maid. 
 
 < That chamber-maid,* — faid Ihe in 
 •* the moll haughty tone, — while Ihe 
 ' belongs to me, is at leall upon a level 
 ' with your valet, — though in fpite to 
 ' me, I fuppofe, you have now raifed 
 ' him to your houfe-lleward.* 
 
 ' Mr. Marlove grew very red at thtCc 
 words, and was about to have made fotae 
 
 reply. 
 
66 77^^ HISTORY 0/ 
 
 reply, which perhaps might have height- 
 en'd the quarrel, when the perfon who 
 had been the occafion ©f it enter'd the 
 room. 
 
 * He was a grave, well lookM man, and 
 had a certain open honefly in his coun- 
 tenance, which anfwer'd to the charailer 
 given of him by his mafter. 
 
 ' Sir, faid he to mr. Marlove, bowing 
 ' in the moil refpedful manner, — I have' 
 ' never known in my whole life fo real 
 
 * a grief as I now feel, in finding myfelf 
 
 * the unhappy caufe of any difagreement 
 ' between your honour and my lady j — • 
 *- I therefore moft humbly befeech you 
 
 * will be pleafed to permit me to quit 
 
 * the houfe diredly ; for it is not fit your 
 ' honour's peace of mind fhould fuffer 
 
 * any difturbance, or my lady the leaft , 
 ' uneafinefs, even for a moment, on fo j 
 ' worthlefs a fubjeft as myfelf. 
 
 ' How, Jonathan, demanded mr. Mar- 
 
 * love, are you in fuch hafte to leave my 
 « fervice, that you would go before I am 
 ' provided with a proper perfon to fup- 
 ' ply your place ? — Oh, there is no 
 < reafon for detaining him on that ac- 
 ' count, cried mrs. Marlove, my Abigail 
 
 * has a brother juil now come out of 
 
 ' place i 
 
Jemmy anJ Jehhy Jessamy. 6y 
 
 ' place i — by the chara6ler I have heard 
 ' of him he will be extremely fit for you, 
 
 * and we can have him at a minute's 
 
 * warning. 
 
 * 'Tis very likely,' — reply'd he -, — 
 then having paufed a little on v/hat his 
 wife had faid ; — ^ Well, Jonathan, — 
 ' purfued he, we will talk farther on this 
 ' matter to-morrow ; but leave the room, 
 
 * and bid fomebody Send Abigail'hither.' 
 Mvs. Marloye exulted within herfelf on 
 hearing him fpeak in this manner, and 
 pulling Jenny by the fleeve, — My dear, 
 cried fhe to her in a low voice, ' I fnali 
 
 * conquer this domineering husband at 
 
 * lail.' 
 
 Abigail immediately obeying the fum- 
 mons, that had been f«nt for her •, Well, 
 Abigail, faid mr. Marlove, with a half 
 fmile i which fhe then took for an indica- 
 tion of his being in great good humour 
 with heti but, as it afterwards proved, was 
 no more than a farcaftick fneer, ' I am 
 ' told you have a brother perfe6lly qua- 
 ' lified for my fervice. 
 
 * Yes, pleafe your honour, anfwer'd 
 ' flie fimpering ; and, though J fay it, 
 •' as clever a fellow as ever ftepp'd in 
 ■' flioe-leather j he can comb a wig to a- 
 
 ' charm, 
 
68 The HISTORY of 
 
 * charm, and buckle too upon occafion j 
 ' he does every thing in tafte, I aflure 
 ' your honour j — befides, he is a fpruce 
 
 * young man, and a thoufand times fitter 
 ' to attend your honour than the old for- 
 
 * mal creature you have now.' 
 
 ' It may be fo, faid mr. Marlove ; but 
 
 * I have no bufmefs for him, nor have 
 
 * you any in my houfe longer than this 
 ' night •, therefore pack up your trum- 
 
 * pery and begone to-morrov/' morning :* 
 Ihe was opening her mouth to fpeak, 
 but he prevented her by faying, in a fbern 
 and refolute voice, * No raparties, minx, 
 
 * I will have no incendiaries in my fa- 
 ^ mily ; — out of my fight this moment 
 ' and come into it no more/ 
 
 Though fcarce any creature was ever 
 endow'd with a greater fhare of confi- 
 dence than this wench, yet was fhe now 
 fo terrified at the looks of her mafter, 
 that fhe durll not utter a fingle fyllable 
 while in his prefence, and contented her- 
 felf with muttering all the way fhe went 
 down ftairs, what fhe had not courage 
 to fay loud enough to be heard. 
 
 But it is altogether impolTible to de- 
 fcribe the rage mrs. Marlove was in at 
 this lalt proof of her husband's refolution-, 
 
 which 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 6^9 
 
 which was the more infupportable to her, 
 as llie had not above a moment or two 
 before flattered herfelf with a beHef that 
 Jie was incUnabie to conform to her de- 
 fires. 
 
 She would have fpoke, but excels 
 of paflion choak'd the pafTage of her 
 words J — fhe flew into her chamber and 
 threw herfelf upon the bed, where fhe 
 certainly would have fallen into a fit, if 
 Jenny, who had immediately follow'd her, 
 had not cut the laccings of her ftays, in 
 prder to give her air. 
 
 On |;his Ihe began to revive a Httle, and 
 Abigail that inftant coming up gave her 
 ; A glafs of cojd water, which perfected the. 
 ( ,cure : -^ the firft ufe Ihe made of her re- 
 ceived breath was to inveigh againft the 
 injuftice, as fheterm'd it, of her husband : 
 • !— Jenny was endeavouring to perfuade 
 !her to more moderation, but was inter- 
 irupted in the midft ot what ihe was fay- 
 ing by Abigail, 
 
 < Nay, madam, cried that malapert 
 ' ^ huzzy, for that matter my lady has as 
 '* much reafon to be vex'd as I ;^-for my 
 ^^ part, I do not know what my mailer 
 '• means by ufing me as he has done j — 
 '• he gives himfelf ftrange airs, methinks ; 
 
 » I am 
 
70 The HISTORY of 
 
 ' I am fure it is not like a gentleman to 
 ' ihew fo little rcfpeft tor a fervant.* 
 
 Thefe fancy refleftions brought mrs. 
 Marlove more to herfelf than all the afli- 
 ftance that had been given her ; angry as 
 fhe was with her husband, fhe coujd not 
 bear to hear him mentioned by fuch a 
 creature in the manner Hie now did. Airs, 
 cried flie, — ' rerpe6l, — was ever any 
 
 * thing lb ridiculoufly impudent ! fure, 
 
 * wench, thou h?.il forgot that the gen- 
 
 * tieman thou fpeakeft fo contemptuoufly 
 
 * of is my husband. 
 
 * No, madam, anfwered fhe, brid- 
 ling up her head, * I forget nothing 
 < that I ought to remember j and I muft 
 ' fay again, that it does not become him 
 
 * to treat either you or me fo unhand- 
 ' fomely as he has done. — What, does 
 ' the odious thing pretend to make com- 
 
 * parifons ?' cried mrs. Marlove ; and, 
 provoked beyond all patience at the in- 
 Iblence of her deportment, fnatch'd a 
 powder-box from off the di effing- table 
 and threw it at her head, — faying, at 
 the fame time, ' Be gone this inllant -, — 
 
 * I fhall keep no fuch bold-face about 
 
 * me. 
 
 » Bold' 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 71 
 
 ' Bold-face, madam, returned the au- 
 
 * dacious creature ; very pretty truly j 
 ' but don't think I fhall beg to ftay j 
 
 * there are other places to be had, and I 
 
 * do not value.* — She would have ran 
 farther on in the fame ftrain, if the fudden 
 appearance of her mafter had not flopp'd 
 her mouth, and made her think proper to 
 go out of the room. 
 
 Mr. Marlove b'eing heartily afliamed 
 [that Jenny had been witnels of this 
 'fooliCh affair, refolved to falve it up, if 
 .pofTible, before fhe went awa;y j and, to 
 (that end, came into his wife's chamber ; 
 ichufmg rather to recede a little from what 
 he thought his juft prerogative as a huf- 
 band, than fuffer her to depart with the 
 I notion of his having aflerted it "too far. 
 
 As he came into the room at one door 
 .Abigail was going out at the other ^ — 
 he ealily perceived.; by her countenance, 
 that fome brulee had happened between 
 her and her lady, which taking for a good 
 omen of fucceeding in his defign, he 
 approach'd mrs. Marlove -, and, with an 
 :iair perfedlly degagee and unembarras'd, 
 I hope, my dear, faid he, you are by 
 this time convinced, that your maid 
 had a farther view in quarreling with 
 
 * Jonathan 
 
72 T^^ H I S T O R Y e^ 
 
 * Jonathan than fhe pretended, and alfo 
 ^ how little Ihe defer ves you fhotild ef- 
 ' poufe her cauie. 
 
 * She has been impertinent, indeed, 
 
 * anfwer'd fhe ; but it is no wonder that 
 » fhe is lb i when a woman is ill treated 
 ' by her husband, flie can exped no other 
 
 * than to be fo by her lervant;s alfo ; and 
 
 * it is to you, — to you alone, that I 
 
 * either have, or fhall hereafter be de- 
 ' prived of the relpedl due to me from 
 
 * our domeftics. 
 
 * Accufe me not, iaid he, of a thing 
 
 * fo contrary to my nature ♦, — your me-. 
 
 * rits, and my juft fenfe of them, will 
 
 * always engage me to behave towards 
 
 * you, both in public and in private, 
 
 * with all the complaifancc and tender- 
 
 * nefs that man can pay or woman can 
 
 * expeft. 
 
 * Then you would not contradi(5l me 
 
 * in trifles, cried ihe, a little foften*d. 
 
 * I will contradi<5t you in nothing, faid 
 
 * he, that my reafon will permit me to 
 
 * grant, or your own, on mature delibe- 
 
 * ration, induce you to defire. — As for? 
 
 * the prefent difpute between us, conti- 
 
 * nued he, I only beg you will defer any 
 
 * farther fpeech of it till to-morrovyi and if, 
 
 • in! 
 
Jemmy^w^ Jenny Jessamy. 75 
 
 in that time, you do not find caufe t^ 
 altec your opinion, I fhall endeavour i^ 
 accede to yours. 
 
 ' A very fair propofal, indeed, fir, 
 faid Jenny fmiling ; and, my dear mrs. 
 Mario ve, if you do not accept it I 
 Ihali lay the whole blame of all the dif- 
 agreements that may hereafter happen 
 between you entirely on your ill-nature. 
 
 « That is a very fevere inference, re- 
 '• ply'd (he ; however, to oblige you, I 
 ■ fhall comply with mr. Marlove's re- 
 
 • queft.' — ' I am glad to obtain it at any 
 
 • rate, cried he ; — and I hope we may 
 
 • now go down to fupper, which has 
 waited for us this half hour.' — Mrs. 
 
 Vtarlove faid fhe did not care for eating, 
 ind defir*d they would excufe her ab- 
 sence ; but, by the intreaties of her huf- 
 oand, and fome little pieafantries Jenny 
 nade ufe of on this occafion, flic was at 
 aft prevailed upon, and they all went 
 lown together into the parlour. 
 
 1 Jenny kept an obfervant eye over both 
 I he husband and the wife all the time they 
 vere at table -, and, as fhe was happy in a 
 lenetration, which few of her fex, efpe- 
 ially at her years, can boafl of, eafily 
 lerceived that though he behaved with a 
 Vol. i. K poiitenefs 
 
74 The HISTORY of 
 
 politenefs beyond what could have been 
 cxpefted after what had pafs'd, and Ihe 
 ieemed to have abated a great part of her 
 late haughtinefs and refentment, yet nei- 
 ther of thern were fincerely inclined to 
 fubmit to the will of the other, in any 
 thing v/hich was not entirely agreeable 
 to their own. 
 
 The apologies they made to her, how- 
 ever, on the account of the unpleafing en- 
 tertainment Ihe had met with in this vifit, 
 with her obliging anfwers to them in re- 
 turn, and repeated good wifhes for their 
 future peace, engroffed a great part of 
 their converfation during the whole time 
 ihe ftayed. 
 
 But the night being pretty far advanc- 
 ed, when fupper was ended fhe took her 
 leave of the half reconciled pair, and 
 went home full of thofe reflections which, 
 on the fcenefhe bad been witnefs of, muft 
 naturally have occurred even to a perfon 
 of a much lefs confiderative difpofition. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. y^ 
 
 CHAP. vir. 
 
 Affords frejb matter for edification, 
 to thofe who Jl and in need of it, ai 
 well as entertainment to fuch wha 
 do noti 
 
 I E N N Y had an infinity of good na- 
 •^' ture, and was extremely troubled ac 
 the diiagreement fhe had feen between 
 two perfons whom fhe thought had beea 
 entirely happy in being united to each 
 other : — the more fhe ruminated on 
 the behaviour of mrs. Marlove, the more 
 fhe found in it to condemn -, but then 
 fhe was alfo equally furprifed to find fo 
 great a change in that of her husband^ 
 fhe had frequently been in their company 
 while in their days of courtfhip ; —. fhe 
 had feen him humour all the little whims 
 and caprices which the vanity of flatter'd 
 beauty had made her guilty of j — (he 
 had heard him praife even her very foi- 
 bles, and feem charmed with what the refb 
 of the world molt blamed her for. 
 
 ' Good God, cried fhe to herfelf, lioW* 
 
 * ftrange a reverfe does marriage bring f 
 
 , ' who that fees a man a husband would 
 
 ^ ^ ' * evcjT 
 
76 Ihe HISTORY of 
 
 ' ever think he had heen a lover ? — • 
 
 ' till Ihe was a wife, he would not have 
 
 * prefumed to argue with her on any 
 ' point fhe took upon her to aflert •, — 
 
 * he would not then have oppofed 
 
 * his reafon to any folly fhe committed; 
 
 * 'tis true fhe has infilled on a thing, 
 ' which he mull have been both ungene- 
 ' rous and weak to have comply'd with ; 
 
 * yet would he once not have dared to 
 
 * have contradidled her in much greater 
 
 * matters : — if fhe is proud, — impe- 
 ' rious and vain, it is on his own too ob- 
 
 * fequioufncfs he ought to lay the blame. 
 
 * Oh, why will men endeavour to per- 
 ' fuade us we are goddefles, only to create 
 ' themfelves the pains of convincing us 
 
 * afterwards that we are but mortals ! 
 
 ' Yet after all, fiid flie again, we know 
 
 * that the extravagant encomiums fo la- 
 « viflily bellowed upon us before mar- 
 ' riage, are mere words of courfe ; the 
 « homage, — the fubmiflions paid us by 
 ' the lover, all form and empty Ihew ; 
 <• and, as they are put in praftice only to 
 ' footh our vanity, ought not to deceive 
 
 * our underftandings fo far as to make 
 
 * us imagine we either deferve, or have a 
 
 * right to cxpe6t the continuance of them, 
 
 * when the motive that induced them is 
 ^ no more. — Marriage, as it removes all 
 
 » coyrefs 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jess amy. 77 
 
 * coynefs and referve in the women, fo it 
 
 * deftroys all fufpence in the men : — he 
 ' is then in pofleflion of his wifhes, has 
 ' done with hopes and fears j and foilici- 
 ' tations of courfe muft alfo ceafe. 
 
 * "Stripp'd, therefore, of that imagi- 
 ' nary authority with which we ones 
 ' flatter'd ourfelves, it is certainly the 
 ' bufmefsof our fex to endeavour, by the 
 ' mod foft and obliging behaviour, to 
 
 * preferve and improve, if pofTible, the 
 ' love of him, whom it is no longer 
 
 * in our power to awe by a contrary way 
 ' of ading. 
 
 * A too great tenacioufnefs of our own 
 
 * merits, purfued fhe •, the pride of doing 
 
 * whatever we have a mind to, and of 
 
 * impoUng the laws of our own will on 
 
 * that of the lover, may be fubmitted to 
 
 * while we are miftreffes ; but will never 
 
 * be borne with when we are wives : — 
 
 * the men, confcious of that fuperiority 
 
 * which cuftom and the matrimonial co- 
 
 * venant has given them, never fail to 
 
 * exert it, and oppofition on our fide is 
 ' ftruggling againlt the ftream, and but 
 ' ferves to Ihew our weaknefs the more 
 ' in the vain attempt. 
 
 * In my opinion, went Ihe ftill on, tfee 
 
 E 3 « way 
 
78 Ti?^ HISTORY cf 
 
 ' way to accomplifh what wc aim at, is 
 
 * not to urge it with too much vehe- 
 
 * mence, even in the mofl reafonable 
 
 * things, much lefs can we exped fuccefs 
 
 * when we infift on fuch as are in them- 
 
 * felves unjuftiBable : — as in the cafe of 
 
 * mrs. Marlove •, and I much fear, that 
 
 * if many contefts of this nature happen> 
 
 * they will by degrees weaken her huf- 
 
 * band's affedion for her *, perhaps, in 
 ' time, utterly deftroy it, and render hep 
 
 * both unhappy and unpitied.' 
 
 In this manner did the fagacious Jenny 
 reafon within herfelf upon the caufc in 
 queftion ; and upon the whole, her judg- 
 ment entirely acquitted mr. Marlove of 
 all blame, and gave the verdict againil 
 his too affiiming wife, for whofe late be- 
 haviour Ihe could find no excufe, except 
 her extreme youth, and inexperience of 
 the temper of mankind, that lady be- 
 ing but fixteen, which was two years fhort 
 of the age Ihe had attain'd herfelf 
 
 This naturally led her into refleflions 
 on the folly of two perfons uniting them- 
 ieives together by the folemn ties of 
 marriage, without having well confider'd 
 the duties of the flate they were about to 
 enter into, and confirm'd her in the refo- 
 lution fhe before had taken of living 
 
 ' fingle, 
 
Jem My and Jenny Jessamy. 79 
 
 fingle, till fhe was as well afllired, as hu- 
 man reafon could make her, that both her- 
 feif and the man who was to be her 
 husband, were equally qualified to ren- 
 der each other truly happy. 
 
 She longed, however, to fee Jemmy, 
 tliat fne might relate this ftory to him, 
 and hear his fentiments upon it ; but fhe 
 faw him not all the next day, which a 
 little furprifed her, as four and twenty 
 hours feldom paifed over without his ma- 
 king her one viiit, if no more ; the acci- 
 dent, v/hich now occafioned hisabfence fo 
 much longer than ufual-, was, indeed, of 
 a pretty particular nature ; — it was this : 
 
 On his coming home the night before 
 lie found a letter that had been left for 
 him, requefting his company at an enter- 
 tainment to be given the next day on a 
 very extraordinary occafion, by a gentle- 
 man who had been an intimate acquain- 
 tance of his father's \ — the invitation, 
 was too prefling for him to refufe com- 
 plying with it, which otherwife he would 
 gladly have done, as he expedted not 
 to find any guefls there fui table to his 
 age or humour. 
 
 He found himfelf, however, agreeably- 
 deceived in this conjecture, and was fur- 
 
 * prifcd;^ 
 
8o The HISTORY of 
 
 prifed, on his entrance into a fpacious 
 Toim^ to fee it fill'd with a very brilliant 
 company of both fexes, v/ho being af- 
 fembjed in order to celebrate the moft 
 joyous circumftance that can happen in 
 private lifcj came with a fincere refolu- 
 tion of contributing every thing in the 
 power of each to do honour to the feaft 
 prepared for them. 
 
 But not to keep the reader in fufpence-, 
 the perfon who made this invitation was 
 a gentleman of birth and fortune •, — he 
 was married in his youth to a lady of ce- 
 lebrated beauty, and every way his equal ; 
 but, through a too great love of pleafure 
 on his fide, and fome errors in ccndudt, 
 though without any breach of virtue on 
 her's, they had been feparated for four- 
 teen years, without the leaft probability of 
 being reconciled, and even lefs of their 
 ever living together again, as all the in- 
 terpofition of their friends for that pur- 
 pofe, during fo long a fpace of time, 
 had been in vain, and was, at laft, en- 
 tirely given over : — the unhoped for 
 event, notwithftanding, came to pafs ; — 
 both parties were alike touch*d with a 
 jurt fenfibility of their former miftal^es, 
 and return'd to the embraces of each 
 other, with more ardency of affe(5lion 
 
 than 
 
Jemmy ^;7^ Jenny Jessamv. 8f 
 than that with which they had firft mst 
 in marriage. 
 
 There is certainly nothing which fo 
 much demonftrates the fmcerity of our 
 reformation, as a free confeflion chat we 
 have been in the wrong. — ' I was, faid 
 the gentleman, in pofleflion of a trea- 
 fure before I had attain' d to an age ca- 
 pable of knowing the true value of it 5 
 I wore it as an idiot does a diamond, 
 carelefs on my arm, and liable to be 
 fnatch'd from me by the firft perfon 
 who admired its luftre j — but heaven 
 has preferved it as a bleffing for my 
 riper judgment.' 
 
 He concluded thefe words with kiffing 
 his lady's hand, and then went on, ' I 
 
 ♦ was, continued he, one of thofe thoughr- 
 
 ♦ lefs wretches, (vhich the poet, doubt- 
 
 • lefs, had in his eye when he wrote thefc 
 
 • lines : 
 
 * Fiflitious joys ailur'd my dazzled 
 
 ' fenf^s, 
 
 * And led them in the miftic maze a 
 
 * while i 
 
 * Beguil'd with empty air, my reftlefs 
 *■ heart 
 
 « Still after feme untalled pleafure 
 
 * roam'd 5 
 
 E 5 • Bttt 
 
82 The HISTORY of 
 
 * But now the wanderer feeks hispeace- 
 
 ' ful home, 
 
 * And there finds all it vainly fought 
 
 • abroad. 
 
 * I cannot fuffer you, my dear,* faid 
 the lady, with a moft becoming fmile, 
 
 * to take upon yourfelf the whole blame 
 
 * of that unhappy difagreemcnt, which 
 
 * has fo long divided us -, — I alfo have 
 
 * had my fhare of guilt, though in a 
 
 * different way from yours ; — if you 
 
 * have been too gay, I have been too in- 
 
 * confiderate j— I have endeavoured not 
 
 * to make home delightful to you •, — I 
 
 * rather, by a thoufand impertinencies 
 
 * and follies, render'd my prefence tire- 
 
 * fome ■, I had no idea of the duties of 
 
 * my place, but behaved, when fet at the 
 
 * head of a family, as I had done in the 
 
 * nurfery, and expedbed to be humour'd 
 
 * in the fame manner.' 
 
 Thus did this lately re-united pair 
 equally condemn themfelves for the mif*- 
 carriages of their paft condud •, but, 
 ■while they were fpeaking, there were not 
 a few in company of both fexes, who 
 hung down their heads, as confcious of 
 not being wholly free from the errors 
 they heard mentioned. 
 
 * Jemmy, 
 
Je mm y and Je n ny Jz ss amt. 8 j: 
 
 Jemmy, according to the agreement 
 made between him and Jenny, kept aa 
 obfervant eye on all thofe whom he found 
 were married, and eafily perceived, by 
 the looks which one of them in particular 
 frequently gave his wife, that they were 
 far from living together in a perfedl har- 
 mony •, tho', as he had never feen ei- 
 ther of them before, and was wholly 
 unacquainted with their circumftances> 
 conditions, or humours, it was utterly 
 impoflible for him to guefs from what 
 latent caufe the difcord he difcover'd pro- 
 ceeded j — but as it was the husband 
 who feem'd moft diffatisfied, he con- 
 cluded, without knowing any thing of 
 the matter, that it muft be the wife who 
 was to blame. 
 
 The men are apt to be too partial to 
 one another on this fcore : — in the little 
 time that Jemmy had at prefent for re- 
 fieclion, thefe lines of mr. Dryden's came 
 diredly into his head : 
 
 Few know what cares a husband's 
 
 peace deftroys. 
 His real griefs and his dtllembled joys. 
 
 It is altogether impra<5licable for mar- 
 ried people, when fo unhappy as to have 
 E 6 any 
 
84 Tbe HISTORY of 
 
 any real or imagined caufe of complaint 
 againft each other, to keep the iineafi- 
 nefs they labour under from being vifible 
 to the world •, — however perfedl, as to 
 other things they may be in the art of 
 diflimulation, in this, fpite of their utmofl: 
 endeavours, the fentiments of their hearts 
 will break out •, — every look, — every 
 gefture, betrays the inward pangs they 
 feel ; — which fhews, that of all circum- 
 ftances of difcontent, thofe of marriage 
 are with the moft difficulty fuftain'd. 
 
 Jemmy was afterwards informed, that 
 the laft mention'd gentleman was one of 
 the many whom, it is not in the power of 
 fortune to make happy ; — that he took 
 a kind of gloomy pleafure in creating 
 to himfelf ideal ills, and then ftarted at 
 the apparition, which nothing but his 
 own produdive fancy had conjured up. 
 
 His wife was far from being a beauty ,; 
 and as to her perfon, fhe had received 
 no more from nature than would juft 
 ferve to make her pafs for not difagree- 
 able -, as to her behaviour, it was affable 
 and chearful, but v/ithal extremely mo- 
 <kft i for as jfhe never affected a too great 
 referve, fo fhe was equally free from all 
 that had the appearance of levity ; but 
 i.tither the little pow^r her eyes had of 
 
 captivating. 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 85 
 captivating, nor the prudence of her 
 carriage, could hinder him from imagin- 
 ing every man that looked upon her 
 had a dirfionourable defign towards her, 
 and alfo that fhe had no difmclination to 
 encourage it. 
 
 The whole of the entertainment con- 
 cluded with a kind of ball -, and as there 
 were more gentlemen than ladies prefent, 
 the cloudy husband, with two others, re- 
 tired to one corner of the room, and fat 
 drinking to the healths of thofe that 
 danced. 
 
 It was by mere accident, and without 
 the leaft defign on either fide, that 
 Jemmy had for his partner the wife of 
 this fufpicious gentleman *, — but it was 
 pleafant enough for thofe who fat near 
 him to obferve with what eagernefs his 
 eyes purfued each motion in them, which 
 the regulation of the dance required, — 
 how his colour changed, — how his lips 
 trembled, whenever that couple fet to 
 each other, or turn'd hands ; it was in 
 vain they fiU'd his glafs and reminded 
 him of the negleded toall, though it 
 were even that of the royal family ; — he 
 thought of nothing but his wife, and fee- 
 ing her, as he imagined, encouraging the 
 dumb courtOiip of a perfon who would 
 
 invade 
 
86 rhe HISTORY of 
 
 invade his rights, he had no longer pa- 
 tience, and the fecond dance was butjufl 
 led up when he role from his feat and 
 faid he muft go home, for he had letters 
 of importance to write, which till thac 
 moment he had forgot. 
 
 This put all into diforder % — the gen- 
 tleman who had made the invitation 
 would fain have perfuaded him to flay, 
 but was filenced by the other, urging 
 the necefTity of his departure : — the lady 
 then told him, with a great deal of po- 
 litenefs, that if they mufb be fo unhappy 
 to be deprived of his company, fhe hoped 
 
 they fhould not alfo lole mrs. , who 
 
 fhe fuppofed had no letters to write. 
 
 * No, — no madam, replied he, with 
 
 * very great emotion, my wife may ftay 
 
 * if fhe thinks proper ; I do not want 
 
 * her, not I :' — fhe was advancing to 
 take her leave while he v/as fpeaking, 
 nor would fuffer herfelf to be prevailed 
 upon, by all the lady could fay, to ftay 
 behind her husband ; but it was eafy for 
 any one to fee her inclinations took the 
 contrary pare, and denied herfelf the fa- 
 tisfadion fuch good company aflbrded, 
 merely through the apprehenfions of pay- 
 ing too dearly for it when Ihe came 
 home. 
 
 Thus 
 
Jemmy^;z^ Jenny Jessamy. ^7 
 
 Thus induflrioufiy do fome people la- 
 bour to bring on what moft they would 
 avoid i — if this lady had been pofTefs'd 
 of a little more beauty, or to fpeak more 
 juftly, had fhe b^en miftrefs of a Jefs 
 Ihare of difcretion, there were, doubtlefs, 
 fome in company who would have been 
 excited, by the jealoufy of her husband^ 
 to have attempted that chaftity he took, 
 fuch ridiculous meafures to preferve. 
 
 As it was, however, the behaviour of 
 the husband ferved to render him con- 
 temptible in the eyes of every one, and 
 that of the wife to give her charms, 
 which otherwife could not have been re- 
 marked in her. 
 
 The farcafms pafs'd on this unhappy 
 felf-tormented gentleman would be too 
 tedious to repeat, yet were much fhortcr, 
 than they otherwife would have been, if 
 the mufic's fprightly founds had not re- 
 minded the company, that their feet at 
 that time demanded more employment 
 than their tongues. 
 
 It is not to be doubted but that on 
 going home every one made their feveral 
 remarks on what they had feen, but the 
 mind of Jemmy was affofted by it in a 
 
 particular 
 
88 The H IS TORY of 
 
 particular manner, as he confidered all 
 that had prefented itlelf to him that day 
 concurred to make up one great inftruc- 
 tive leffon tor himfelf. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Will occafmn various /peculations in 
 the inquifitive reader, 
 
 WHEN our pair of lovers came to 
 relate mutually to each other the 
 foregoing narratives, they were both of 
 opinion, that moft of the difagreements 
 that happened in marriage were occa- 
 fion'd chiefly by the parties entering into 
 that ftate too early, and too precipitately. 
 
 * If your friends, who nov/ fo much 
 
 * rejoice in being reunited, faid Jenny, 
 
 * had taken care before marriage to 
 
 * attain thofe qualifications neceflary for 
 
 * the performance of the duties required 
 
 * from their rcfpedive ftations, they would 
 « probably never have fallen into thofe 
 
 * errors which caufed their feparation 
 
 ' Nor would their guefb, continued 
 
 * fhe, be fo unreafonably jealous of his 
 
 * wiie's, conduct, if, previouQy to his 
 
 ' becoming 
 
 \ 
 
Jemmy ^;;^ Jenny Jessamy.. 89 
 
 * becoming a husband, he had made him- 
 ' felf well acquainted with her principles 
 
 * and difpofition, and alfo equally fo with 
 ' his own humour, 
 
 ' Nor would mrs. Marlove, replied 
 ' Jemmy, if fhe had at all ftudied the 
 
 * temper of mankind, have been fo vain 
 
 * as to expe6t the fame fubmiffion from 
 ' her husband as fhe received from him 
 ' while her lover ; — much lefs have pre- 
 
 * tended to contradict him in things 
 ' where it was not her province to intcr- 
 
 * fere. 
 
 ■ * Right, refumed Hie fmiling, and you 
 
 * may now eafily perceive the advantage 
 
 * it is to us not to hurry ourfelves into 
 
 * wedlock, as too many people do, with- 
 
 * out refleding what they are about, or 
 
 * being any way prepared to make the 
 
 * noofe fet eafy. 
 
 * Then you perfift in your refolution, 
 
 * rejoined Jemmy, of not being married 
 
 * yet a while ?' to which Hie anfwering in 
 the ajffirmative, and repeating the argu- 
 ments fhe had before made ufe of in her 
 vindication, he readily enough yielded to 
 thejuftice of her reafons ; but that he 
 did fo was not fo much owing to his 
 difcretion, as to another motive, which, 
 
 though 
 
90 rhe HISTORY of 
 
 though jenp.y was ignorant of, it is not 
 convenient that the reader fliould be fo. 
 
 He had, in reality, met with fome ad- 
 ventures of late which had given him 
 too high a reHfri for the modifli pleafures 
 Oi the town for him to be able to quit 
 them without reiuftance, and which he 
 had too much good fenfe not to know 
 it would ill become him to indulge the 
 purfuit of after he (hould be a married 
 man. 
 
 i^mong the many places of diverflon 
 this great and luxurious town abounds 
 with, lady Racket's. alTembly his been al- 
 ways look'd upon as the moil general 
 rendezvous for all the young and gay 
 of both fexfcs. 
 
 Jemmy went frequently thithe!^ and it 
 happening that one evening tlie company 
 playing very high, he was ftripp'd of all 
 the money and bank not:s he had about 
 him, which amounted to a confidcrablc 
 fum. 
 
 A little vex'd at his ill fortune he was 
 retiring to a window, in order to com- 
 po(e himfelf, when the found of a female 
 voice very loud made him turn his head •, 
 he found it proceeded from Liberia, — 
 
 the 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 9 i 
 
 the celebrated Liberia, who having been 
 playing at another table, had loft all her 
 money, and had not temper to bear it. 
 
 * Was ever fuch curfed luck !' cried fhe, 
 ftarting up from her feat, * I have not 
 
 * a fingle ftake left •, — I have a good 
 ' mind to make a folemn vow never to 
 ' touch a card again.' ' Patience, — . ati- 
 ' ence, madam,' — faid Jemmy, advance- 
 ing towards her ; — ' behold in me your 
 ' brother in afflidion •, theJe things will 
 
 * happen if we depend on the blind god- 
 
 * defs.' — ' Have you loft all your money 
 
 * too ? demanded flie. Every doit, upon 
 my foul, repiy'd he •, fo neither of us 
 have any thing to do at prefent but to 
 
 * obferve the late of others. 
 
 * That would be an infipid way of 
 
 * killing time indeed, faid fhe ; fuppofe 
 ' you and I Ihould fet down to picquet, 
 ' as we both are in the fame condition^ 
 
 * and can play with nobody elfe.' — * With 
 
 * all my heart, anfwered he, and ftake 
 
 * honour againft honour.' — ' Perhaps that 
 ' would be juft nothing at all, cried fhe 
 ' laughing. — I dare truft yours, rejoined 
 ' he, if you v/ill put the fame confidence 
 ' in mine. 
 
 « It 
 
 I c 
 
92 rioe HISTORY of 
 
 * It would be ungenerous in me, re~ 
 
 * ply'd fhe, not to return good opinion \ 
 
 * with good opinion \ — but I think it is 
 
 * againil: the rules of gaming to play 
 
 * merely upon credit •, — I will fet my 
 
 * folitaire againil that ring you have upon 
 
 * your finger.' 
 
 Jemmy hada great regard for tMs ring, 
 not fo much for the intrinfic value of it, 
 though it was a fine diamond, as becaufe 
 it had been his father's, who had given 
 it to him fome little time before he died : 
 a moment's recoUedlion, however, ferved 
 to make him know what he fliould do 
 on this occafion ; and he reply'd with 
 great alertnefs, — * Madam, I heartily 
 
 * agree to your propofal, with this pro- 
 
 * vifo, that which ever of us is the win- 
 
 * ner, the flakes may be redeemable •, — 
 
 * nor would it be fair in me to play with 
 
 * you on any other terms, as your folitaire 
 
 * is worth much more than my ring. 
 
 * Well, it fhall be jufl as you would 
 
 * have it, reply'd fhe, twenty guineas 
 
 * fhall be the event •,' — to which Jemmy 
 agreeing, they fat down to a table which 
 fome company had jull quitted ; fhe 
 pluck'd off' her folitare and he his ring, 
 both the pledges were laid under the 
 candlcflick, and to play they went •, — 
 fortune, for feveral deals, feem'd dubious 
 
 in 
 
Jemmt tfW Jenny' Jessamv. 9-^ 
 in whofe favour Hie fliould decide j but 
 at length, after a hard fought battle, gave 
 the vidory to Jemmy. 
 
 « Was ever any thing fo unluckly, faid 
 * fhe, but I won't give out, come, fir,' 
 continued fhe, fhuffling the cards, ' tvven- 
 ' ty guineas more j — or, if you pleafe, 
 ' thirty ; I fhall then either be indebted 
 ' fifty pieces to you, or have a claim on 
 ' you for ten.' 
 
 Jemmy would fain have perfuaded her 
 to give over, but fhe would hear nothing 
 he faid on that fcore ; they cut the cards, 
 poor Liberia, had the advantage of the 
 deal, but was nothing a gainer by it, 
 fhe had not even the fatisfaftion of a fe- 
 cond flruggle •, he immediately produced 
 point — queen — and quatorze, without 
 the trouble of playing a card. 
 
 « Confufion, cried fhe, burfling into 
 ' tears, fure all the flats in the firmament 
 ■5 have confpired this night againfl me !' 
 with thefe words fhe rofe from, table j 
 
 * you have won, fir, purfued fhe, I know 
 
 * your direftions, and will fend the rrtoney 
 ' in a day or tv/o.' She flayed not to 
 hear what anfwer he would make, but 
 flew out of the room with an air which 
 denoted thv^ utmofl agitation of mind. 
 
 I /Iberia 
 
 P: . 
 
94 '^/^^ HISTORY of 
 
 Liberia had a great fhare of beauty, 
 and Jemmy of good nature ; the diftreis 
 fhe appeared in render'd her more lovely 
 in his eyes than ever he had thought 
 her j his heart was that inftant fill'd with 
 emotions (he had never before infpired it 
 with ; — he followed, with the folitaire 
 in his hand, and overtook her as fhe was 
 pafTmg through a room in order to reach 
 the flair- cafe. 
 
 « Madam, faid he to her, I cannot fufter 
 
 « that beautiful neck fiiould be without 
 
 ' fo becoming an ornament, even for the 
 
 ' fmalleil fpace of time ; I befeech you 
 
 ' therefore, to refume this jewel, and alfo 
 
 ' to alTure yourfelf, that I dare take your 
 
 ' word of honour as a fufficient fecurity , 
 
 ' for a much greater fum than the trifle 
 
 ' to which fortune has juft now entitled 
 
 * me. I 
 
 * No mr. Jeflamy, anfwer*d fhe, that 
 < mufl not be, my lord is at prefent out 
 
 * of town, or if he were at home, I ' 
 ' fhould not chufe to acquaint him with 
 
 * my loiTes at play ; — it is alfo impro- 
 ' per for me to let the fteward know any 
 
 * thing of the matter -, — it may be lon- 
 - ger than I could wifh, or you perhaps 
 
 * exped, before I can, with any conve- 
 
 nience, 
 
Jemmy aigd Jenny Jessamy. 95 
 
 * nience, difcharge my obligation ; — fo 
 
 * defire you will fay no more, but keep 
 ' the pledge till in my power to redeem 
 ' it.' 
 
 All this was delivered in a voice fo 
 .broken and hefitating, that Jemmy ea- 
 fily perceived by that, as well as by 
 her loo^s, that it was with the utmoft 
 reluctance fhe refufed the offer he had 
 made, though her pride would not fuffer 
 her to accept it. 
 
 Something, which the reader will pre- 
 fcntly difcover, coming that moment into 
 his head, ' Since you infift, madam,* faid 
 he, looking tenderly on her, * and svili 
 ' needs force me to retain fomething of 
 ' yours in my hands, confent, at lead, 
 ' that I exchange this mortgage for fome 
 ' other, if you will permit me to wait 
 ' on you home, and look over your 
 
 * trinkets, I lliall certainly find fomewhac 
 
 * that will pleafe me as well, and you 
 
 * can much better fpare. 
 
 « I muft not rejed every thing you 
 
 * propofe,' replied fhe with a half fmile, 
 and then received the folitaire from him, 
 
 , which he alTifted her in replacing, and 
 while he was doing fo gave her neck 
 -a gentle preffure, which fhe was not lb 
 
 infenfibie 
 
96 rZ;^ HISTORY e/ 
 
 infenfible as not to know the meaning 
 
 There needed no more, — fhe gave 
 bim her hand to lead her down flairs, — 
 her own chair waiting in the hall fhc 
 went into it, and he follow'd in a hackney* 
 
 On coming to her houfe, fhe condudred 
 him direftly to her drelTing room, where 
 her woman being fitting at work, flie 
 bad her fet a bottle of wine on the 
 table, and retire till call'd for, — fayirtg 
 flie had fome accounts to fettle with 
 that gentlem.an. 
 
 This attendant was no fooner with- 
 drawn than the reduced Liberia opened 
 a little cabinet, which containM her 
 Jewels. — ' Here, fir, cried fhe, are all 
 ' the toys of this nature I am miftrefs 
 I of.' — Jemmy fcarce vouchfafeing a 
 glance towards them, reply'd, — * They 
 « muft be fine, indeed, fince owned by 
 ' you, and mufl dazzle the fight of a 
 ' man lefs knowing than I pretend to be 
 ' in what is truly valuable ; — but what 
 ' is all the luftre they can boafl while 
 ' you are in prefence ? — How faint are 
 ' the rays ol the diamond to thofe your 
 ' eyes fend forth ! — how infipid, — how 
 * weak is the glow of the ruby to thefe 
 
 » lips! 
 
 He 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 97 
 
 He began this fpeech with looking in- 
 tently on her face, and finding nothing 
 there to difcourage his attempt, conclud- 
 ed it with throwing his arms about her 
 waift, and giving her more lively indica- 
 tions of his lenfe of the perfections he had 
 praifed, than all in the power of language, 
 could have done. 
 
 They were alone, —a couch was in 
 the room, Ihe refilled not his encroach- 
 ments, and one moment gave him the 
 full pofieflion of a happinefs, which not 
 half an hour before he had not even the 
 leaft thought of ever folliciting. 
 
 Scarce had he time to exprefs the 
 tranfports of his gratitude for the un- 
 hoped favours he had received, when 
 Liberia, hearing the found of voices on 
 the flairs, rang her bell to know who 
 was there •, on which her woman imme- 
 diately came in, and told her that two 
 ladies, who had been at lady Racket's 
 alTembly, and feeing her leave the com- 
 pany fo abruptly, had call'd to know the 
 occafion, fearing Ihe might be indifpofed. 
 
 * Lord, how impertinent is foine peo- 
 
 ' pie's friendfhip ! cried Liberia \ — Why 
 
 did you not tell them I was well, but 
 
 Vol. I. F * very 
 
98 Ihe HISTORY oj 
 
 « very bufy ?' *I did fo, madam, reply*d 
 
 * the other, and that you was fhut up in 
 
 * your clofet, writing letters j but they in- 
 ' lifted on feeing you, — ran up ftairs in 
 ' fpite of me, and are now in the draw- 
 
 * ing room.* 
 
 * "Well, — - there is no remedy for thefe 
 
 * things, faid fhe, I muft go to them, or 
 
 * they will bruft in upon me here •, you'll 
 ' excufe me, mr. Jeflamy, — it is highly 
 
 * improper you fhould be feen ; — then 
 ' turning to her woman ; Hiew him down 
 
 * the back ftairs, added ftie, with as little 
 ,' noife as you can.' 
 
 She faid no more, but went out of the 
 room to receive her company, and Jemmy^ 
 fuffer'd himfelf to be conducted by her 
 woman in the manner ftie had order'd. ? 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Has fomething in it of the mar'vellous, 
 
 nr H O U G H Jemmy had as fmali a 
 Ihare of vanity in his compofition as^ 
 •any man that ever lived, yet it would 
 have been a thing almoft fupernatural in 
 him, if an adventure, fuch as he had juft 
 now met with, had not elated a heart fo 
 
 unejcperienced 
 
Jemmy ^«/ Jenny Jessamy. 99 
 
 unexperienced as was his ; — Liberia \yas 
 a woman of diftinftion, young, beautiful, 
 and had every requifite to render her the 
 delight and admiration of mankind ; to 
 what elfe then, but a peculiar liking of 
 his perfon and behaviour, could it feem 
 poffible to him to impute the conceflions 
 llie had made ? 
 
 It is not to be underftood, however, 
 that the pleafing fenfation he felt at this 
 event proceeded from the gratification of 
 any paffion he had entertain'd for the 
 lady, v/ho fo highly had obliged him ;— • 
 no, on the contrary, his afFeclion for 
 Jenny was a fure defence from the at- 
 1 tacks of any other charms -, he had often 
 feen Liberia, had thought her a fine wo- 
 man, as every one did j but he had never 
 I been touched with the leaft Ipark of 
 an amorous defire on her account ; nor, 
 on looking on her, had even coniider*d 
 the difference of fexes : but though what 
 , had happened between them was merely 
 i> cafual on his fide ; yet he could not help 
 : believing, that it was a previous inclina- 
 i 1 tion on her's which alone could have ex- 
 |( cited her to ad in the manner flie had 
 it done. 
 
 The hurry in which they were com- 
 , peird to part, took from him all oppor- 
 tunity of teftifying that defire of continu- 
 F 2 ino; 
 
100 The HISTORY of 
 
 ing a correfpondence with her, whic^^ 
 otherwile, he thought, fhe would have 
 had reafon to expedt ; and which even 
 gratitude, poUtenefs, and even common 
 good nature, would have exacted from 
 him. 
 
 He therefore went the next morning 
 to her houfe, certain in his mind of meet- 
 ing with a reception fuitable to the kind- 
 nels ihe had given him fuch proofs of 
 the night before ; — fhe was juft drefs'd, 
 and going to court ; but, on his fending 
 up his name, gave orders for his ad- 
 mittance ; the fervant who introduced 
 him immediately withdrawing, he ap- 
 proach'd to falute her with the air and 
 freedom of a favour'U lover. 
 
 But how unfpeakable was his furprife, 
 "when, going to take her in his arms, Ihe 
 ilarted back^ and with a countenance all 
 awful and auftere, * Hold off, fir, faid 
 
 * Ihe, this is a familiarity neither becom- 
 
 * ing you to take, nor me to grant :' the 
 confufion he was in not permitting him 
 to make any immediate reply -, ' I do 
 
 * not now, continued Ihe, owe fifty pieces 
 « to you. 
 
 * No, madam,' reply 'd he, a little re- 
 covering himfelf j ' but you owe me a 
 
 ' heart 
 
Jemmv and Jenny Jessamy. lOi 
 heart in return for that I have devoted 
 to you.' — ' I have nothing to do with 
 your heart, refum'd fhe •, and as for mine 
 it is my husband's due.' — ' If you really 
 think lb, madam, cried he, wherefore 
 did you flatter me laft night with ha- 
 ving lb large a part } ' — ' What happen- 
 ed laft night, faid ihe, was merely ac- 
 cidental i I had loft all my money, and 
 the debts we contract at play, you 
 know, are debts of honour -, but where 
 my own is not concern'd, be alllired I 
 (hall always have a juft regard for that 
 of my husband's.' 
 
 In fpite of the confternatlon Jemmy 
 was in, he could not refrain fmiling at 
 the dillin(5tion this lady made, and with 
 an air, which had fomething of contemp- 
 tuous in it, * I thought madam, faid he, 
 
 * that the honour ot the husband and the 
 
 * wife had always been infeparable. 
 
 * They are fo, I allow, anfwer'd fhe 3 
 
 * but necefTity fometimcs compels a wo- 
 ' man to cfo what otherwifc fhe would 
 » not be guilty of; therefore I beg you 
 » will think no more of what has hap- 
 ' pened, it was a foolifh affair indeed ; 
 ' but as it cannot be recall'd, fhould be 
 
 * forgotten.' 
 
 F 3 He 
 
103 The HISTORY of 
 
 He was about to make fome reply, 
 which it is Hkely would not have been 
 very pleafing to her, but fhe went to the 
 door and call'd to know if the chariot 
 was ready, and being told it was, * Adieu, 
 
 * mr. Jeflamy, faid fhe, I am obliged to 
 
 * attend the princefs ; I hope whenever 
 
 * we meet, you will always treat me as 
 ' the wife of lord ***.' 
 
 She had no fooner fpoke thefe words 
 than fhe fhot like lightning out of the 
 room, leaving Jemmy in a fituation of 
 mind not eafy to be defcribed, or even 
 conceived, by any one who has not been 
 under the fame circumftances. 
 
 It was not that his pride was fo much 
 mortifyed at this unexpecled rebuff, as 
 his comprehenfion was confounded at iti 
 being given ; the more he endeavoured to 
 fathom the myfterious meaning, the more 
 he was abforb'd in wonder ; in fine, he 
 knew not what to think, nor by what 
 motive to account for a proceeding fo 
 llrange, fo contradidory to the very na- 
 ture of the fex. 
 
 The firll fhock of any thing is very 
 difficult to be conceal'd • ■— the fpirits, 
 when fuddenly alarm'd, are in a hurry for 
 
 a while. 
 
Jemmy jW Jenny Jessamy. 103 
 a while, then fink into as extreme a lan- 
 guor. — Jemmy dined that day at a ta- 
 vern, by an appointment he had made 
 with fome gentlemen of his acquaintance ; 
 but neither their converfation, nor the 
 glafs which went brifkly about, had the 
 power of diffipating his chagrin, or dri- 
 ving Liberia entirely from his thoughts. 
 
 The lead air of ferioufnefs in perfons 
 of an extraordinary vivacity cannot fail 
 of being taken notice of j — Jemmy was 
 looked upon as the life and foul of all 
 the company he went into ; and now to 
 find him, inftead of infpiring others with 
 good humour, ftand in need of being ia- 
 Ipired himfelf, made every one defiro'.is 
 of knowing what had occafioned this 
 fudden transformation j but the affair was 
 not a thing proper to be talked on, and 
 he evaded giving any direct anfwer to 
 the queftions put to him on this head. 
 
 He did not long, however, preferve a 
 taciturnity on this occafion, which was 
 pretty painful to him •, — the company- 
 being broke up, and only one gentlman, 
 with whom he had a greater intimacy 
 than with any of the others, {laying be- 
 hind, he could not forbear fpeaking of 
 what fo much engrofs*d his thoughts ; 
 in fine, he related to him the whole hif- 
 F 4 tory 
 
104 The HISTORY cf 
 
 tory of his late whimfical adventure, 
 concealing only the name of the heroine 
 concerji'd in it. 
 
 But how ftrangely was he difappoint- 
 ed, when inftead of hearing his triend 
 exprefs fome aftonifhment, as he expedcd 
 he would have done, at an event fo new 
 and uncommon, he only buril into fuch 
 a violent fit of laughter as hindered him 
 from fpeaiiing for fome moments. 
 
 * What, cried Jemmy, I fuppofe the 
 
 * ftory I have been telling you is too ro- 
 
 * mantic to be believed, and you rurpc<ft 
 
 * I have been endeavouring all this while 
 
 * to impofe upon your underftanding an 
 
 * invention ot my own, in the room of. 
 
 * a real fad ? 
 
 ' No, upon my word, rcply'd the o- 
 ther, I am fo confident of the truth of 
 all you have repeated, that upon occa- 
 fion I would be your voucher for every 
 particular of it ; — but what made me 
 fo merry was, the great care you have 
 taken in keeping the name of this fine 
 lady a fecret •, — What will you fay 
 now, continued he, if I tell you at once 
 that I am very certain no woman bu: 
 Liberia is capable of behaving in the 
 manner you have defcrib*d ? 
 
 Liberia 
 
* Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 105 
 
 Liberia herfelf had fcarce given Jemmy 
 more furprife than his friend did in men- 
 cioning her as the perfon they were talk- 
 ing of. ' Liberia, cried he. What have 
 ' I faid to raife fuch a conjedlure in you ? 
 
 u*!« Nothing, upon my foul, anfwer'd the 
 '* other ; you have nothing to accufc 
 
 * yourfelf of in this point, and might 
 
 * have told the ftory to five hundred 
 « people without any one of them being 
 
 * able to guefs at the woman ; — it is 
 
 * not my penetration but my experience, 
 « has let me into the fecret of this mat- 
 
 * ter -, — and to make you mafter of an 
 « other, I muft tell you that I have been 
 < beforehand with you. 
 
 Jemmy, not perfedlly comprehending 
 thefe words, afkcd what he meant ? ' It 
 «. happen'd, faid he, the other day, that one 
 
 * evening I play'd at the fame table with 
 
 * this extraordinary lady \ — I fwept the 
 » ftakes, and fhe being out of calh, we 
 
 * went on upon credit -, — fortune ftill was 
 
 * on my fide •, — Ihe loft a conliderable 
 
 * fum to me, which I had the fame 
 ' equivalent for that fhe beftow'd on you ; 
 
 * and when I waited on her fome days 
 ' afterwards, in order to repeat my de- 
 ^ voirs, received aifo juft the fame re- 
 
 F 5 * pulfe 
 
io6 The HISTORY of 
 
 * pulfe you did, and found that it was 
 
 * her humour ; — no play — no love. 
 
 * Then neither of us, cried Jemmy, 
 « are obHg'd for the favours we have re- 
 
 * ceiv'd to an amorous inchnation on 
 
 * her part.' 'No, faith, reply'd his friend, 
 « I rather take her to be one of the in- 
 
 < lenfibles that way -, — but her luft of 
 ' gaming is infatiate •, — fhe would be 
 
 * eternally at it, — there all the paffions 
 
 * of her foul are center'd j and though 
 
 * at prefent a profeft enemy to religion, 
 
 * would be the greateft devotee imagin- 
 
 * able, were ihe once perfuaded there 
 
 * were gaming-tables in heaven. 
 
 • In fine, my dear Jemmy, purfu'd 
 
 * he, the cafe ftands thus, — ihe lofes more 
 
 * at play in one month, perhaps, than 
 « the rent-roil of lord * *'s eftate pro- 
 duces in a year •, and being, either 
 
 * through fear or tendernefs, unwilling 
 5 to make him acquainted with her ill 
 
 * luck, prudently takes the method you 
 
 * and I have experienced, of fatisfying 
 
 * the winners, and thinks herfelf no ill 
 
 * wife in fo doing j fince flie forfeits her 1 
 
 < b«sband*s honour only to preferve his f 
 
 * peace, and never repeats her tranfgreflion 
 « with the fame man, unlefs compell'd to 
 
 «it 
 
Jemmy W Jenny Jessamy. 107 
 ' it by a fecond necefTity of the like na-, 
 » ture.* 
 
 Jemmy being now, by this detail, en- 
 tirely freed from the perplexity of 
 thought which the firll furprize at the 
 ftrangenefs of Liberia's behaviour had 
 involved him in, it is not to be doubted 
 but that thefe two young gentlemen were 
 pleafant enough on the affair in queltion, 
 and mutually laugh'd at each other for 
 the difappointment each of them had re- 
 ceived, in imagining they had been fa- 
 voured with a peculiar liking by that 
 lady. 
 
 Neither of them having any engage- 
 ments on their hands, they pafs'd the 
 whole evening together till the nighc 
 was very far advanced, and called them 
 to repofe -, during all which time little 
 elfe but Liberia was talked on. 
 
 But as the repetition of a converfation, 
 founded on fuch a topic, might not be 
 very agreeable to fuch of our readers as 
 we ihould be molt ftudious to oblige ; 
 and belides, would be not at all mate- 
 rial to the bulinefs of this hiftory, wc 
 may reafonably hope being eafily excufed 
 for pafTmg it over in filence. 
 
 F 6 CHAP. 
 
io8 The HISTORY ») 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Affords hut frnall matter of entertain- 
 ment ; yet^ if well confider'd, may be 
 ojfingular ufe tofome readers. 
 
 THERE is a certain haughty fur- 
 linefs almoft inherent to old age, 
 which will not let people, when they come 
 to be any thing advanced in years, allow 
 the leaft Ihare of underftanding in thofe 
 of a younger fort ; — they treat them as 
 mere idiots, incapable of comparing, — 
 judging, or even of knowing right from 
 wrong. 
 
 But this is a partiality which betrays 
 that want of difcernment in themfelves 
 which they accufe in others ; — if youth, 
 through too much fire, is adidled to va- 
 nity, rafhnefs and impetuofity •, age, 
 through too much phlegm, is no lefs 
 liable to peevilhnefs, -— obftinacy, and 
 pride : — in both, the faults of conftitu- 
 tion have but too great an effect upon the 
 will, and deprive reafon of half its force. 
 
 The 
 
Jemmy /?W Jennv Jessamv. 109 
 
 The faculties of the mind certainly de- 
 cay, and grow weaker in proportion as 
 the vigour of the body is impaired ; — a 
 keennefs of conception, — a readinefs of 
 thought, and what is generally call'd 
 wit, are the gifts of youth ; — when the 
 organs, through which the foul is faid to 
 operate, are in their full flrength as na- 
 ture made them, unobftruiSled by difeafes, 
 and unworn by time. — Age is chiefly 
 wife by experience, and by improving 
 thofe obfervations, which a long feries of 
 years had treafured up. 
 
 It muft therefore be allow'd, that young 
 people are far from being incapable of 
 making the moft juft reflexions j but 
 the baits of fenfe, — the excitements of 
 pleafure, and the whirl of a thoufand 
 different pafllons, which inceflantly agitate 
 the ideas, prevent thofe refledlions from 
 making any lafting impreflion, and con- 
 fequently from being of any real ufe in 
 regulating their anions ; — fo that they 
 can be faid to be difcreet only by ftarts j 
 and it is in this alone that all the boafl;- 
 ed advantages of age confifts. 
 
 Nothing was ever more flri(5lly true 
 than what that celebrated poet, mr. Dry- 
 den, fays, when fpeaking of the difference 
 
 between 
 
no The HISTORY of 
 
 between youth and age, he exprefles the 
 whole fenfe of the argument in thefe 
 two equally elegant and comprehenfive 
 lines : 
 
 Experience vainly in our youth is 
 
 fought, 
 And, by age purchasM, is too dearly 
 
 bought. 
 
 Our Jemmy^ was one of thofe who 
 never did any thing which reafon could 
 condemn, without being immediately 
 felf-convidled and afhamed of his error, 
 though, as I faid before, through the fire 
 of youth, — the enchantments of plea- 
 fure, and the prevalence of example, he 
 could not fometimes avoid falling again 
 into the fame. 
 
 As to play in particular, without any 
 extraordinary propenfity of his own, he 
 was frequently drawn in to make a party 
 at feveral gaming-tables, both private 
 and public, yet did he never refied: on 
 what money he had loft without being 
 convinced he could not have difpofed of 
 it a worfe way ; — nor did he ever win 
 of any gentleman, whofe circumftances 
 he knew could not well bear a diminu- 
 tion, without being fhock'd to the foul 
 
 for 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jissam y. hi 
 
 or havins; been one of thofe who had 
 contributed to his misfortune. 
 
 He was perfedly fenfible both of the 
 vice and folly of gaming, as at prefent 
 pra6ticed among almoft all degrees of 
 people -, arkd ftood amaz'd whenever he 
 recolledted, that he had feen men of the 
 firft figure and fortune in the kingdom, 
 not only condefcend to mix in company 
 with the common fharpers and gamblers 
 of the town, but alfo to make ule of the 
 fame low arts they did, in order to force 
 chance as it were, to be their friend. 
 
 He could not think, without a mixture 
 of pity and contempt on thofe, who neg- 
 lefting the accounts of their effates, and 
 trufting all to their ftewards and bailiffs, 
 boafted how well they were verfed in 
 mr. Hoyle's calculation in the cutting of 
 a pack of cards, and fwear five pieces an 
 hour was too fmall pay for the inftruc- 
 tions of fo learned a doctor in the great, 
 myfterious, and moft polite fcience of 
 gaming. 
 
 He very often run over in his mind 
 all the various amufements of the town ; 
 and on comparing them with this of 
 gaming, none of them feem'd to him to 
 have fo fmall a plea for engroiling either 
 
 the 
 
it2 The HISTORY i)/- 
 
 the time or attention of a man of fenfe 
 and honour. 
 
 * Every other pleafure or diverfion, 
 
 * faid he within himfelf, have fomething , 
 
 * in them deferving of that name ; they | 
 ' either regale the fenfes, or exercife the 
 ' body, or reUeve the mind ; but gam- 
 
 * ing is the contrary of all thefe ; it im- 
 
 * pedes the gratification of our mod na- 
 
 * tural appetites, it enervates the limbs 
 ' with too long fitting, it racks the brain 
 
 * with cares, it fills the bofom with 
 
 * anxieties, and in fine, is a fatigue, which 
 » were it not the effeft of our own free 
 
 * choice, vould be intolerable. 
 
 * Nor IS this all, would he ibmetimes 
 
 * add i an inordinate love of gaming cer- 
 
 * tainly proceeds from avarice, the moll 
 
 * fordid pafTion of the heart, and con- 
 
 * fcquently ct. Trroys all that is generous, 
 
 * noble, and fincere -, deadens that focial 
 
 * feel, that kindly warmth, which nature 
 
 * has implanted in us towards our fellow 
 
 * creatures j and renders the man devo- 
 
 * ted to this vice capable of no other 
 
 * wilK than to enjoy the infamous tri- 
 
 * umph of bearing off the fpoils of him 
 
 * he plays againft, though it fhould even 
 ' happen to be on^ he calls his friend, 
 
 * or one wh© mull be entirely ruined by 
 
 the 
 
Jemmy <7«^/ Jenny Jessamy. 113 
 
 ' the lofs of what he is now in pofTeffion 
 * of, through the favour of fortune, or 
 ' a fuperior fkill in the deftruftive art.* 
 
 He concluded from all this, that to 
 undo others, or be undone onefelf, was 
 the almoft certain coni'equence of gaming 
 high ; for which reafon he made many 
 rcfohitions to avoid it as much as pofTible-, 
 and indeed perfifted in them more than 
 could be well expeded from a man of his 
 gay temper, and who, by the company 
 he kept, was continually furrounded with 
 temptations of that for.t. 
 
 But if he thought the love of play fo 
 pernicious a thing in thofe of his own 
 fex, in what light muft he behold it in 
 regard to thofe of the other ? — He had 
 read fome old mufty authors, who main- 
 tained that modefty was the peculiar 
 chara6teriftic of womanhood ; that an in- 
 nocence of deportment was the chief beau- 
 ty of a virgin j and oeconomy in private, 
 and a decent referve in public,, that of a 
 married woman ; and he could not get 
 it out of his head but that thefe maxims 
 were juft contrary, as they were to what 
 he had feen praftifed at play by fome 
 ladies, who pafs for patterns of polite- 
 nefs and fafliionable good breeding •, and 
 in comparing the difference, he could not 
 
 forbear 
 
114 'I'f'' HISTORY of 
 forbear crying out, — ' Sure, when thef^ 
 
 * books were wrote, gaming was a thing 
 
 * never heard of amonQ- women !* 
 
 ■ Thefe having always been his notions, 
 it could not be otherwife but that the 
 example of Liberia muft greatly contri- 
 bute to fortify them in him, as he had 
 now experienced what he had many times 
 been told by thofe better acquainted with 
 the ladies, that thofe debts, which are 
 called debts of honour, are frequently dif- 
 charged by lofs of honour. 
 
 ' "What an amiable figure in life might 
 ' this woman make, faid he, fpeaking of 
 ' Liberia, if it were not for this mad 
 
 * attachment to gaming ? — I dare believe 
 
 * fhe has no vicious inclinations of her 
 
 * own, and her quality and marriage with 
 
 * lord * * defends her from all imperti- 
 
 * nent addrefles of our fex. — How flrange . 
 
 * then is the infatuation which compels 
 
 * her to run the fatal rifque of being re- 
 
 * duced to yield fuch condefcentions, as 
 
 * otherv/ife her pride would fcorn, and 
 
 * her virtue (hudder at !' 
 
 He never ruminated in this manner 
 without falling immediately after into a 
 profound rcfverie, which whoever had 
 feen him in would not have taken him 
 
 for 
 
Jemmy and Jen a y Jessamy. 115 
 
 for that gay, laughing, fpirituous crea^ 
 ture he appeared at other times •, but it 
 generally happens that perfons of that 
 humour, when they think at all, think 
 more deeply than thofe of a heavy and 
 phlegmatic difpofition. 
 
 The many mifchiefs which fometimes 
 befall the fair fex, by indulging themfelves 
 in this dangerous amufement, made him 
 tremble for Jenny j he knew llie play'd 
 occafionally, but though he had never 
 heard her tellify any extraordinary plea- 
 fure in.it, yet he could not afllire him- 
 felf that fhe might not, by degrees, be 
 drawn into a better liking of it, and 
 confequently become liable to the fame 
 inconveniencies, to which fo many others 
 of her fex were every day fubjedted. 
 
 Love, friendlhip, and the confidera- 
 tion of his own intereft and honour, as 
 Jenny was one day to become his wife, 
 obliged him therefore to do every thing 
 in his power to prevent fo great an evil ; 
 nor could he think of any method more 
 effeftual for that end, than by reminding 
 her, in a delicate way, and without feem- 
 ing to do it with defign, of the dangers 
 to which women who love play, could 
 not fail of being expofed. 
 
 He 
 
ii6 The HISTORY of 
 
 He had no fooner thought on this, 
 than he relblved to put it into immediate 
 execution ; and to give the greater weight 
 to what he intended to fay, ranfack'd 
 his memory for all the alarming circum- 
 ftanccs of a gaming-table, that he had 
 ever either feen or heard of. 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 A little more to tlje purpofe. 
 
 JEMMY knev/ that his fair miftrefs 
 kept a great deal of company, and 
 that moft of her afternoons were taken 
 up with giving and receiving vilits •, — 
 whenever, therefore, he had any parti- 
 cular converfation to entertain her with, 
 he always went to her in a morning ; 
 the bufinefs he had now to communicate 
 feeming to him of too much importance 
 to be delay'd, his impatience carried 
 him thither more early than was his 
 cuftom •, yet had he not the fatisfadlion 
 of finding her alone ; the two lovely 
 daughters of mrs. G — were juft gone up- 
 ftairs before him ; but he was not much 
 difconcerted at their prefence, as he faw 
 they were in their dcfhabillee, and he 
 could not doubt but that the hour of the 
 
 day 
 
Jemmv and Jenny Jessamy. i 17 
 
 day would Ibon call them home, in order 
 to ornament thofe charms which were too 
 much admired not to make them de- 
 firous of fhewing tiiem to the beft advan- 
 tage, whenever they appeared in public 
 places, which they feldom or rather ne- 
 ver fail'd to take all oppoitunities of 
 doing. 
 
 Thefe ladies, whofe hiftory it is pro- 
 bable will fome time or other make a 
 very interefting figure in the world, were 
 difiinguifhM more by the name of the 
 two beautiful fifters, than by that of their 
 family •, they were, indeed, lovely be- 
 yond what language can defer ibe, or 
 tancy, without feeing them, delineate ; 
 both of them were tall, finely fliaped, 
 of a muft graceful air, had the moft re- 
 gular features ', eyes at once command- 
 ing and attracfling love and admiration ; 
 and fo equally had nature dealt her boun- 
 ties to them, that hard it is to fay which 
 of them excell'd in any one of thofe per- 
 fections which each polTefs'd in fo lavifli 
 an abundance. 
 
 But being fo alike beautiful was cer- 
 tainly a misfortune to them ; for each 
 feeming moft lovely when the other was 
 away, yet neither of them having the pre- 
 ference when together, the beholder's 
 
 eye 
 
ii§ The HISTORY c/ 
 
 eye was kept in a continual motion, 
 without knowing on which to fix ; and 
 this it was, which, join'd with fome other 
 confiderations not my bufmefs to enquire 
 into, that perhaps kept them much lon- 
 ger Irom being married, than many who 
 have not the thoufandth part of their 
 power ot charming. 
 
 This confideration, however, feem'd 
 to have but httle weight with them ; they 
 lived in the moft perfect harmony, were 
 rarely feen afunder, — whether at the play, 
 the opera, — :the court, — the mall, — vaux- 
 hall, — ranelagh, in all places of refort 
 they were infeparable as the twin ftars 
 that grace the zodiac. 
 
 In fine, fo much the fame in every 
 refped was this pair of charmers, that if 
 mr. Waller had lived in their days, one 
 would have imagined he could have no 
 other in his eye when he wrote thefe lines : 
 
 Not the filver Doves that fly, 
 
 Yoak'd in Cytharea's car i 
 Not the wings which foar fo high. 
 
 And convey her fon fo far. 
 Are fo lovely, fweet and fair. 
 
 Or do more ennoble love, 
 Are fo choicely match' d a pair, 
 
 Or with more confent to move. 
 
 Foi«- 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamv. 119 
 
 Fortunately for Jemmy's defign, it fo 
 fell out that the converfation turn'd 
 chiefly on the fubjed of gaming on ac- 
 count of a certain lady, who having no 
 more than five and twenty hundred 
 pounds per annum, had, according to 
 her own confeflion, loft nine thoufand in 
 one feafon at play. 
 
 Jenny exprefs'd, with fo much warmth 
 and fpirit, the contempt flie had of thofe 
 who made a kind of bufmefs, or trade, 
 as it were of this amufement, as fuffi- 
 ciently denoted the fincerity of her heart, 
 while (he was fpeaking, and gave Jemmy 
 an infinite fatisfaftion in hearing her. 
 
 The two beautiful fitters made but a 
 very (hortvifit, as Jemmy had conjedlu- 
 red, and after they were gone, he refum- 
 ed the topic they had all been talking 
 on i * You women, faid he fmiling, have 
 much the advantage over us men ; fome 
 of you, at leaft, have been ingenious 
 enough to have found Out a very eafy 
 method of difcharging all the debts 
 they contrad at play : I could give you, 
 continued he, a thoufand inftances of 
 what I fay i but fhall content myfelf 
 with only one, in wkich a friend ot mine 
 made me the confidant, and on whofe 
 
 ' veracity 
 
120 rije HIST OKY of 
 
 < veracity I dare as much depend, as if 
 ' I had been in his place, and one ot the 
 ' chief parties concern'd in it.' 
 
 Finding Jenny iook'd earneftly upon 
 him all tlie time he had been fpeaking, 
 and feem*d in a difpofition to give atten- 
 tion to every thing he faid upon that 
 fubjedl, he went on, and related to her, 
 with as much brevity and modefty as 
 fuch an affair would permit, all that had 
 pafs'd between himfclf, Liberia, and the 
 other gentleman, who had been a lliarer 
 with him in the favour of that lady, 
 I'liding from her only the names and fome 
 few circumftances which might have gi- 
 ven her room to guefs more than he 
 wifli'd llie fhould do. 
 
 Jenny was fhock'd to the very foul at 
 this recital ; fhe had been witnefs of 
 many extravagancies that women, who 
 devote themfclves to gaming, are often 
 guilty of ; Ihe knew very well that they 
 reduced themfelves to great ftreights,fome- 
 times even to the total ruin of their own 
 and husbands fortune ; but could never 
 have imagined that any of them, merely 
 for the fake of play, would have proceed- 
 ^•d to thofe frightful lengths ihe now was 
 told of. 
 
 After' 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 12 1 
 
 After having exprefled fome part cf 
 her aftonifhment and indignation at fuch 
 a depravity of nature, * How ought, cried 
 
 * file, every one to guard againft the 
 ' firft approaches of this dangerous pro- 
 « penfity ! and then again, blefs me I 
 ' added fhe, how can any one, who has 
 
 * a tongue to fpeak, and common fenfe 
 ' to diSate what they fay, iavifti thofc 
 
 * hours in gaming, which might be pafs'd 
 
 * in an agreeable and improving conver- 
 
 * fation ! If no other ill confequences than 
 ' bearly lofs oftime attended it, methinks it 
 ' were enough to hinder any one, not al- 
 ' together void of reafon, from purfuing, 
 ' with the eagernefs fome do, an amufe- 
 ' ment at the beft trifling and idle.* 
 
 It is not to be doubted but that Jemmy 
 was quite tranfported, at finding in his 
 fair miilrefs fentiments fo juft and fo 
 cxadly conformable to thofe he had, with 
 the greateft ardency, wifli'd fhe fhould be 
 infpired with *, he had no words which 
 feem'd to him fufEcient to praife, as they 
 deferved, her prudence and penetration, 
 yet faid enough on that occalion to put 
 her modefty to the blulh. 
 
 * Do not fancy me to be pofleftM of 
 
 * more merit than I have, anfwer'd Ihe ; 
 
 VoL.I. G « I bc-^ 
 
122 The HISTORY of , 
 
 * r believe that many of our fex, with 
 ' as little inclination as myfelf to play, 
 
 * have been enticed to it by the examples 
 
 * of thofe whom we are lo filly as toj 
 ' think it an honour to imitate, even in i 
 " their vices j whatever we fee pradlifed ) 
 '. by thofe ot the great world becomes a ! 
 ' law to us of the inferior clafs ; and I 
 
 * can tell you, that it is not to my own 
 ' judgment, but_ to mere accident, that 
 VJ am brought to a more reaionablc 
 ^"way of thinking. 
 
 * You muft know, continued flie, that 
 ' a lady, who is a diftant relation of mine, 
 
 * took me with her one evening to the 
 ' route of a perfon of condition ; there 
 
 * was a prodigious deal of company, 
 
 * three large rooms made into one, and 
 
 * no lefs than fourteen tables let out for 
 ' different forts of gaming -, — every 
 ' body played, and though I never was 
 
 * fond of cards, yet was afhamed, in fo 
 
 * public an aflembly, not to do as others 
 ' did, fo engaged myfelf with a party 
 
 * who were fitting down to wiuft : either 
 ' through want of flvill, or attention, I, 
 ' foon loft tvv'cnty pieces, v;hich was all 
 « I held about me at iXvciX time ; but ha- 
 
 * v.ng no notion of giving over, as the 
 
 * others were for continuing, I went to 
 ? n\Y coufm, v/ho was at quadrille at 
 
 ' another 
 
Jemmy .^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 123 
 another table, in order to get a frefh fup- 
 ply from her; but, to my great mortifi- 
 cation, found ilhc was entirely ftript as 
 well as myfelf ; there was none of the 
 company, with whom I was intimate 
 enough to become a borrower. 
 
 * I muft confefs, purfued fhe, that I 
 then was filly enough to be heartily 
 vex'd at this difappointment, and re- 
 tired to the other end of the room, de- 
 bating within myfelf whether I Ihould 
 go quite away, or ftay to fee how my 
 coufin would behave, who I found was 
 ftill at play with the fame party flie 
 had been engaged in. A-s I was in 
 this perplexity, the earl of ***, who 
 had betted at ou^ table, and been wit- 
 nefs b )th of my ill luck and prefent 
 confufion, -came towards me, and put- 
 ting a purfe, that feem'd very weighty, 
 into my hand, whi-^h he held faft 
 grafp'd between both his, — It is 
 pity, faid he, that fb fine a young 
 lady fhould be deprived of her diver- 
 fion on any account whatever, much 
 lefs on that of a little paultry cafh •, 
 accept thcfe few pieces, they may be 
 more lucky to you thm your own.; 
 bat if it prove otherwife, command as 
 G 2 * many 
 
124 "^^^ HISTORY of 
 f. many from me as you fhall (land in 
 « need of. 
 
 \ 
 
 ' I proteft to you, went fhe ftill on,! 
 that I was fo confounded at finding myl 
 felf accorted in this manner, that I hads 
 neither courage nor prefence of minq 
 enough to relent at firft fo impudend 
 an overture, as I ought to have done ;j 
 and it was the fimpHcity of my beha- 
 viour which, perhaps, encouraged him 
 to proceed ; for I only afking what his 
 lordfhip meant, he reply'd with an air 
 and voice fufficiently explanatory of the 
 bafe thoughts he had or me,' ' I mean 
 to devote myfelf, and all I have, at the 
 altar of your charms j happy if you 
 fmile upon the facrifice.* 
 
 « Never was any poor creature fo over- 
 « whelm'd with different pafTions as I 
 
 * then was -, amazement, fhame, difdain, 
 
 * and rage, at once rofe in my bofom, 
 « and almoft flopp'd the pafTa^e of my 
 
 * breath. I forgot all refped of his birth 
 ' and place ; and throwing the purfe he 
 ' had given me upon the floor, — carry 
 « your offers, faid 1, to thofe who want 
 ' them, I defpife both them and the har^cj 
 ' from which they came. 
 
 « With 
 
Jemmy ^«i Jenny Jessamy. 125 
 ♦ With theie words I burft from him 
 and rejoin'd the company ; my coufin 
 was ftill playing, having borrow*d of 
 fomc perfon Ihe was acquainted with, 
 and I kept leaning over the back of 
 her chair all the time we ftay'd •, his 
 lordihip pafs'd by me more than once, 
 and difcover'dby his looks that he was 
 no lefs affronted at my behaviour than 
 I had been at his, which, contrary to 
 what it is likely his vanity might make 
 him imagine, gave me more fatisfadion 
 than difcontent. 
 
 * I was, however, very much agitated 
 to think that any man, how great fo- 
 ever, had dared to treat me with the free- 
 dom he had done ; on coming home I 
 complained of it to my coufin, but 
 fhe only ridiculed me for it •, told me 
 I v/as a novice in the ways of the town •,, 
 that if fhe had been in my place, fhe 
 would have taken his money and laugh*d 
 at him afterwards for beftowing it -, for 
 which I liked her fo ill, that I have 
 ever fince avoided her as much as 
 poffible. 
 
 ' Thus you fee, my dear Jemmy, *^' 
 added fhe, on concluding her little nar- 
 rative, ' that my diflike of gaming is 
 * not owing to ray prudence in confider- 
 G 3 ■ * ing. 
 
126 7be HISTORY of 
 
 ing the folly of it, for I confefs I never 
 thought much about the matter, but 
 merely to my lord ***'s behaviour j 
 for certainly no young woman of com- 
 mon modefty, if treated as I was, will' 
 ever indulge herfelf in an amufement 
 that renders her virtue liable to be ex- 
 pofed to fuch infolent attacks.' 
 
 It was not in the power of all Ihe could 
 lay, however, to make Jemmy defift | 
 from giving her the praifes fhe deferved, 
 nor from entertaining in his mind the' 
 moft high idea of her underftanding, as 
 well as her virtue, infomiich, that 
 could he have thought himfeif equally 
 qualified in what might be expefled from 
 a husband, as Hie was in every tldng that ' 
 could be wifh'd for in a wife, he would ' 
 have feen no reafon for delaying their 
 mutual happinefs one moment. 
 
 But a juft confcioufnefs of fome little 
 frailties, which afforded him too much 
 pleafure to be able as yet to redify, made 
 him forbear to prefs her on the fubjeft 
 of their naarriage for the prefent. 
 
 C H A P. 
 
Jemmy and Jennv Jessamy. 127 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Co?itatns a 'very notable injlance of 
 friendjinp a- la -mode. 
 
 WHILE our lovers were thus en- 
 deavouring to form their minds in 
 fuch a manner as fhould enable them to 
 render each other pcrfedtly happy, when 
 they fhould come to be united together, 
 there were not wanting fome who made 
 it their chief ftudy to contrive the means 
 of feparating them for ever. 
 
 Jemmy had contra6led a very nume- 
 rous acquaintance fince his father's death, 
 many of whom had a large fhare of his 
 efteem and friend fhip •, but there v/as one 
 above the reft whofe humour and beha- 
 viour he was particulatly taken with," 
 and with whom he converfed with the 
 moft unreferved freedom. 
 
 This gentleman, who was called Bell- 
 pine, was defcended from a very ancient 
 family, and had been, through the extra- 
 vagance and ill management of his fa- 
 ther, deprived of all that ought to have 
 been his patnmony, except two hundred 
 G 4 pounds 
 
128 "The HISTORY of 
 pounds a year, which had been fettled 
 upon his mother by way of jointure, 
 and could not be diflipated. 
 
 He had, notwithftanding, been flat- 
 ter *d with the expeftation of being one 
 day in poffefTion of an eftate of near 
 three thoufand pounds per annum, being 
 the undoubted heir of an uncle, who ha- 
 ying lived a batchelor till a Ytry ad- 
 vanced age, there M^as not the leaft pro- 
 bability of his ever changing his condi- 
 tion, and much lefs of his having any 
 children, even in cafe fuch a thing fhould 
 happen; and this dtpendance it was that 
 hindred him from being bred up to any 
 bufmefs or profeflion, and alfo gave hii.. 
 an air of felf-fufficiency, in fome rqeafurt 
 conformable to the fortune he fo reafoH^ 
 ably hoped to become mailer of. 
 
 This uncle, however, to the extreme 
 furprife of all that knew him, at the age 
 of eighty-two, and equally laden with 
 infirmities and years, took it into his 
 head to marry a daughter of one of his 
 tenants in the country, — a girl fcarce 
 nineteen. 
 
 An accident fuch as this, could not, 
 when it happen'd, but give a very great 
 fl;pck to Bellpine, as he could not aflure 
 
 himfelf 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 12^ 
 liimfelt but that, in fpite of his uncle's 
 great age, a child, fome way or other, 
 might come, and cut him off at once 
 from the inheritance he had been made 
 to depend upon j yet did he not fuffer 
 his fpirits to fmk on this occalion, he 
 rather exerted them all, in order to find 
 fome means to remedy, or, at leaft, to- 
 abate the afperity of this difappointment j, 
 the moft feafible ones, he thought, would 
 be to procure, if pofiible, fome genteel 
 employment about court, and, at the 
 fame time, make his addreffes to fome 
 lady of an handfome fortune for a wife. 
 
 He was foUiciting at the levees of the 
 great for the accomplifhment of his firft 
 projed: ; and calling about in his mind 
 where he fhould direct his courtlhip with 
 the moft probability of fucceeding in the 
 other, when he commenced an acquain- 
 tance with Jemmy ; chance brought them 
 at firft together, and a mutual liking, 
 of each other's converfation, by degrees, 
 grew up to that intamacy between them 
 already mention'd. 
 
 Jemmy was of the moft open com- 
 municative difpofition that man eould 
 pofiibly be ; he had very few affairs in 
 life which he made fecrets of to any ot 
 thofe whom he call'd his friends ; but 
 G 5 with 
 
130 Tue HISTORY of 
 
 with Bellpine he maintain'd no refer ve 
 he made him the confidant of all his 
 loofer pleafnres, his foibles, his very 
 thoughts were not conce^'d from him -, 
 it therefore may be fuppofed that he 
 difguis'd not the honourable affeftion he 
 had for Jenny, the care that both their 
 parents had taken to bring them up in 
 notions of being united together when 
 they arrived at years of maturity, and 
 alfo the reafons urg'd on her fide, and 
 agreed to on his, for delaying, for fome 
 time, the celebration of their nuptials. 
 
 As his heart was warm with a pafllon, 
 which duty and the cuftom of looking 
 on her as the perfon ordain*d for his 
 wife, had at firft infpired him with, and 
 a juft fenfibility of the many aniiable 
 qualities fhe v/as miftrefs of, had after- 
 wards greatly heighten'd in him, he Ipoke 
 of her in a manner fufficient to inflame 
 the heart of the hearer with envy at his 
 happinefs ; in this, indeed, it muft be 
 confefs'd that he IhewM more fincerity 
 than prudence ; but as one of our poets 
 obferves, 
 
 Thofe free from guile themfekes, caii 
 
 fcarce believe. 
 That others will be falfe, 
 
 Nor 
 
JkMxMY^ and Jenny Jessamy. 13 i 
 
 Nor was this all ; he contented not 
 himfelf with giving him a bear idea ©t 
 what fbe was, he introduced him to her 
 acquaintance, he frequently made him a 
 partner in his vifits to her, recommend- 
 ed him as a perfon highly worthy of 
 her efteem and friendfliip •, and , in fine, 
 fpoke of him in terms which obliged her 
 to treat him as fuch ; little, alas, fuf- 
 pefting that while doing this he was 
 whetting the edge of a fv/ord that might 
 one day be pointed ugainft his own 
 bofom. 
 
 Bellpine was far from being the man 
 the honeft heart of Jemmy miftook him 
 for •, he was poflefs'd, it is true, of many 
 accomplifhments both natural and ac- 
 quired i but had no fund either of ho- 
 nour or generofity ; he knew perfe(5lly 
 well how to infinuate himfelf into the 
 good graces of thofe he con vers' d with ; 
 but thought himfelf not bound to make 
 an adequate return for any favours he 
 received from them ; all his wifhes were 
 center'd in felf- gratification, aad no con- 
 lideration for others had ever any weight 
 to make him delift that favourite purfuic. 
 
 Being of a difpofition fuch as I have 
 
 delcribed, it is not to be wonder'd at 
 
 that the fine perfon and large fortune of 
 
 G 6 Jenny 
 
132 TJje HISTORY of 
 
 Jenny fhould make him envy the hap- 
 pinefs of him who was to be the pofleflbr 
 of that double treafure ; he lov'd her on 
 the fcore of her beauty, her wit, and the 
 many amiable qualities he had obferved 
 in her ; but adored her as being the 
 miftrefs^ of what he fo much wanted} 
 and fiU'd with the idea of thofe advan- 
 tages he might reap in an alliance with 
 her, made him refolvc on the attempt, 
 and to take all the methods his inven- 
 tive fancy could infpire to alienate her 
 affedions from his friend. 
 
 He had often heard ^Jemmy fay, that 
 the agreement between them for protra6l- 
 ing the celebration of their marriage 
 had been firft propofed by her •, from 
 whence he concluded,, that the paflion 
 Jflie had for him was not fo violent but 
 that it might be eafily withdrawn, if fhe 
 was once made to believe there was a 
 decay in that he profefs*d for her. 
 
 He was fenfible, notwithftanding, that 
 there required a more than common fhare 
 of caution and addrefs in the manage- 
 wient of this defign ; he faw very well^ 
 that Jenny had a great deal of fagacity,. 
 and penetration -, it behoved him there- 
 lore, either to throw fuch a temptation- 
 in Jemmy's way as (hould render hinr 
 
 ia 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 13^ 
 in effeiift ungrateful anJ perfidious, or 
 contrive fuch appearances of his being fo, 
 as could not be difcover'd from reality 
 by any human wit. 
 
 With the firfl of thefe meafiires h& 
 eommenc'd the profecution of his defign, 
 though of the two the lead feafibJe to be 
 accomplifh'd, as it was very difficult to 
 find a woman who exceli'd Jenny in any 
 one perfeftion, that can attract the eye, or 
 captivate the hearts * Love, faidhe within 
 '^ himfelf, is feldom fo much the efFet^t 
 
 * of reafon as of fancy, and if I can be 
 
 * ft) lucky as to prefent an object capa- 
 ' ble of firing the heart of this too 
 *■ happy rival with an amorous flame, 
 ' and fhe has virtue or cunning enough 
 
 * to refufe the gratification on any other 
 ' terms than thofe of marriage, it may 
 ' fo happen, that all the merits of Jenny, 
 'and his engagements with her, will be 
 *■ too light to over-balance inclination.' 
 
 He knew that Jemmy was extremely 
 fond of mufic •, he had feen him in the 
 utmoft raptures on hearing a melodious 
 voice, or an inflrument finely plajffd 
 upon ; and it was by this bait he hoped 
 tro allure Jemmy from his vows ; or, ac 
 leaft, to draw him into fuch a manner 
 of behaviour as Ihould picque the pride 
 
 of 
 
134 '^^^^ HISTORY of 
 
 of Jenny, and reader her indifferent to^ 
 
 wards him. 
 
 To difTolve the cement of that tender 
 affcilion, with which they now regarded 
 each other, would go a great way towards 
 gaining the point he aim'd at •, he flat- 
 ter'd himfelf, that if he could once fet 
 them at variance, he was at prefent 
 enough in Jenny's favour to be able to 
 obtain the firft fhare in her tendernefs, 
 when taken off from the man who now 
 engrofs'd it. 
 
 The perfon, whofe charms he in'iended 
 as the fnare to entrap the conftancy of 
 Jemmy, was call'd mifs Chit •, flie pafs'd, 
 in the opinion of moft people, for the 
 daughter of a gentleman diftinguifhed in 
 the world for nothing fo much as for 
 being her father ; but it was whifper'd, 
 by thofe who' pretended tabe conniollieurs 
 in the fecrct intrigues of the great, that 
 Ihe really fprung from parents of a much 
 more elevated ftation. 
 
 She was young, handfome, well fnap- 
 edff»and though of fomewhat too diminu- 
 tive a ftature, had an air and mien ex- 
 tremely ftrieking •, fhe wanted neither 
 wit nor affu ranee to fet off the talents 
 fhc was miftrefs of to the beft advan- 
 tage ; 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 135 
 
 tage ; fhe was a great courtier, and per- 
 fedly fkill'd ia all the rudiments of mo- 
 difh good breding i but the chief induce- 
 
 !ment that Bellpine had to make choice 
 
 I of her as the inftrument of his purpcfti 
 was this -, nature had given her a voice 
 
 I that feem'd the very foul of harirony, 
 and when accompanied by her harpfi- 
 chord, which fhe finely touch'd, the mel- 
 lifluous founds had power to calm the 
 moft raging pafTions of the mind, and 
 convert all into love and foft defire ; fo 
 that what the poet fays of Mira might 
 be juftly enough afcrib'd to her. 
 
 The wretch, who from her wit an^ 
 
 beauty flies, 
 If Ihe but reach h'rm with her voice, 
 
 he dies. 
 
 Bellpine frequently vifited this lady, 
 and was welcome to her on account of 
 his facetious converfation, and the intelli- 
 gence he pick'd up among his acquain- 
 tance, and was continually bringing her 
 of the intrigues of the town. As he was 
 well received by her, he could not fail 
 of being fo by her father, who, it was 
 eafy to perceive, was but the fecond per- 
 fon in the family 5 {landing as he did 
 with both, it cannot be fuppofed he 
 
 wanted* 
 
135 The HISTORY of 
 
 wanted intereft to introduce any one lie 
 thought proper to her acquaintance. 
 
 He would not, however, proceed too 
 abruptly in the affair, as it might have 
 fpoii'd all, if either party had fufpefted 
 him of defign ; but watch'd an oppor- 
 tunity, when they were talking one day 
 of mufic, to afk Jemmy, in a carelefs 
 manner, as it were by chance, if he had 
 ever heard mifs Chit fmg and play ? 
 
 * No,. reply*d he, but I have heard flie 
 «■ does both to very gi-eat perfedion.' 
 
 * I wonder, fiiid the other, that you 
 ' Ihould not have the curiofity to be 
 ' judge of her fkill that way yourfelf, as 
 *■ you are fo great a lover of mufic !' 
 
 ' I have not the honour to be at all 
 ' known to her, return'd Jemmy, nor 
 ' have even ever feen her, any more thaa 
 ' en pafiant, once or twice I think at 
 ' court, and two or three times in the 
 » mall with lady Fifk.' 
 
 * I am pretty free there, cried Bell- 
 
 * pine, and if you have an inclination to 
 
 * hear this female Orpheus of the town, 
 
 * will take you with me, and alfo engage 
 » Ihe fhall give you a touch of her har- 
 
 * mony both vocal and inftrumental •, 
 
 I for, 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 137 
 ' for, to do her juftice, fhe has not the 
 
 * lead referv€ in this point ; her harp- 
 ' fichord is never out of tune, nor her 
 
 * voice difconcerted with a cold/ 
 
 Jemmy exprefs'd a great deal of fa- 
 
 itisfadli n at this offer, but gave much 
 
 *more than what he felt himfelf to his 
 
 pretended friend, who look'd on the 
 
 ready compliance he found in him as a 
 
 I happy beginning of the enterprize he had 
 
 lproje(fled ; fo both being of the fame 
 
 1 mind, they agreed to meet at White's 
 
 the next day, and then proceed on their 
 
 vifit to the lady. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 h full of remarkable ajid interejling 
 particulars. 
 
 "OELLPINE had no occafion to 
 -■^ make any previous apology to mifs 
 Chit for bringing a friend with him to 
 vifit her, having already taken that li- 
 berty, without her being difpleafed with 
 it, in favour of feveral of his compa- 
 nions, who had teftified to him a defirc 
 of becoming acquainted with her. 
 
 But 
 
3i8 The HISTORY oj 
 
 But it was not in this manner he chofe 
 to introduce Jemmy •, — the plot he had 
 laid required they fhould appear as agree- 
 able as poiTible to each other •, — it was 
 therefore highly neceffary to prepofTefs her 
 with fuch an idea of the perfon fhe was to 
 fee, as fhould make her neglect nothing 
 that might fet off all the charms fhe was 
 miftreis of to the beft advantage. 
 
 Having well confidered within him- 
 felf under what character a man was like- 
 ly to appear in the eyes of a young, — 
 gay, — vain woman, he went to her pretty 
 early in the morning, and began with tel- 
 ling her he was come in behalf of a gentle- 
 man, w^ho had entreated him to be his 
 intercelTor for permifTion to wait on her 
 with him that afternoon. 
 
 This formal fpeech, from a man whofc 
 iifual deportment might rather be accufed 
 of too little than too much ceremony, 
 made her laugh very heartily : — * Blefs 
 « nie, — faid fhe, — what romances 
 ' have you been reading 1 — we are not 
 
 * fure running back to the days of O- 
 
 * roondates and Statyra •, if you have any 
 
 * friend to bring here, what need all this 
 
 * prelude ? you know very well that 
 
 * every one you introduce is welcome.* 
 
 Bellpine 
 
Jemmy /zW Jenny Jessamy. lya^ 
 
 Bellpine on this threw off the ferious 
 air he had afFefted, and refumed that free 
 and undaunted one which was moil na- 
 tural to him, * Faith, madam, anfwer'd 
 
 * he, I can eafily join with you in laugh- 
 
 * ing at myfeJf ; I know I mull make an. 
 
 * odd figure in the grave ftrain, by the 
 
 * pains I took in putting it on; but I- 
 
 * thought as I was one of cupid's har- 
 ' bingers, my meflage ought to be de- 
 
 * liver'd in fomewhat above the common 
 ' phrafe.' 
 
 *■ A harbinger from cupid, cried fhe ; 
 
 * I find then you would perfuade me you 
 
 * have this commilTion to mc from a 
 ' lover. Moil certainly, anfwer^'d he, 
 
 "• from one who is three parts fo at lead ;' 
 
 * he is already charmed with your face, 
 ' your air, your fhape, and there is only 
 
 * wanting your fine voice to complete 
 
 * the conqueft. 
 
 * Of whom ? demanded ihe -, 'tis fit I 
 ' Ihould know the name of this new 
 
 * vaflfal.* * Have a little patience, faid he, 
 ' and I will tell you every thing ; in the 
 
 * firil place he is a young heir, lately 
 
 * come to the pciTeflion of an eilate fuffi- 
 ' cient to fupport a coach and fix •, in the^ 
 ' next .he is handfome, well made, has as 
 
 gentee^ 
 
140 T;?'^ HISTORY ^ 
 
 * genteel an addrefs as any man about 
 
 * town ; laftly, he is allow'd to have 
 ' wit, honour, and good nature, and his 
 
 * name is JeiTamy.' 
 
 ' I have feen that gentleman, return*d 
 
 * fhe, fomevy'hat ferioufly •, and believe 
 
 * you have done him no more than juftice 
 
 * in the reprefentation you have made of 
 
 * him ; but I have been told he is deep- 
 
 * ly engaged, and on the point of being 
 ' married to a young lady of his own 
 « name ; I think they call her mifs Jenny 
 ' Jefiamy.' 
 
 * Nothing in It, upon my honour, 
 ' cried Bellpine -, I can aver to you from 
 
 * my own knowledge, that there are no 
 
 * two people in the world of different 
 ' fexes that have a more perfe<5t indiffe- 
 ' rence for each other-, there was, indeed, 
 ' fuch a thing intended for them by their 
 
 * fathers ; but the old men are both 
 ' dead, and you know, madam, we young 
 ' folks are apt to pay but little regard to 
 ' the injun6lions laid upon us by thofe 
 
 * who are no longer in a coridition to 
 ' refent our difebe4i€nce. 
 
 < It is true, continued this artful de- 
 « ceiver, they fee each other very fre-- 
 ' quently, hold a good correfpondence, 
 
 coa- 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 141 
 ' converfe as friends -, but without one grain 
 « of inclination on either fide. I am very 
 
 • well affured, by what I have heard both 
 < of them declare, that Ihould either of 
 
 * them infill on the performance of the 
 ' covenant made between their parents, an 
 ' eternal breach muft infallibly enfue.* 
 
 Jemmy and Jenny JefTamy kept too 
 much company not to be well known in 
 the polite world -, their charadlers, their 
 fortunes, and their mutual engagements, 
 were no fecret ; they were the fubje(51:s 
 of converfation among many who had 
 not the leaft perfonal acquaintance with 
 either of them -, and it was a matter of 
 furprife to every one that a marriage, 
 which had fo long ago been projeiSled, 
 was not as yet confummated. 
 
 As no body had pretended to difcover 
 any reafon for this unaccountable delay, 
 mifs Chit might eafily give credit to 
 that which Bellpine now afTigned for it, 
 Bellpine watch'd her every look, and per- 
 ceiving that his infinuations had wrought 
 thus f^r on her belief, proceeded to what 
 now feem'd to him a tafk not difficult 
 to be accomplilh'd ; that of perfuading 
 her Jemmy in reality felt fome begin- 
 nings of a pafiion for her. 
 
 « You 
 
542 ^'he HISTORY (f 
 
 ' You cannot imagine, faid he, with 
 ' what raptures he expreffcs himfelf con- 
 ' cerning you j the firft time he faw you 
 ' was at court ; I was with him the fame 
 ' evening, and he could talk on nothing 
 ' but you the whole time we were toge • 
 ' th r. — What eyes (he has, — how blight, 
 ' how fparkiing, — what a mouth, — how 
 ' finely turn'd, — how delicate is her 
 
 * fhape, — how enchanting is her air !' 
 
 ' Hold, mr. Bellpine,' interrupted fhe, 
 putting h'^r hand hetore his mouth, ' for 
 ' the lake of curiofity no more •, if you 
 ' go on at this rate I fhall know all be- 
 ' fore-hand, and he will have nothing 
 ' new to fay to me when he comes.* 
 
 » Nay, rejoin'd Bellpine, I do not 
 
 * fuppofe he will fay much to you at 
 
 * this nrft vifit, nor perhaps at the fe- 
 ? cgnd, or even at the third. I have 
 f been told, by thofe who have experi- 
 
 * enced the paffion, that a true lover 
 
 * never gets courage to declare what he 
 
 * feels to his miftrefs till half the town 
 
 * are appriz'd of it by his behaviour ; 
 
 * but, pLU-fued he, you will have pene- 
 < tration enough to read in his looks wliat 
 » his lips w:'.nts boldnefs to reveal.' 
 
 » Pifh, 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamv. 143 
 
 * Pifh, faid flie, do you think I Ihall 
 
 * give myll'lt the trouble to examine his 
 
 * loolcs ? it wdl be time enough lor me 
 
 * to attend to them when his tongue fhall 
 
 * have explain'd the didat. s of his 
 ' heart.' 
 
 They had feme farther difcourfe on 
 this head, and in fpite of the carelefs air 
 mifs Chit affected to put on, the cunning 
 Bellpine fliw the imprefllon his words 
 had made upon her •, and, after adding 
 all that lie thought neceffary for ilrength- 
 ening it in her, took his leave, highly 
 applauding himfelf in his mind for what 
 lie had done. 
 
 He met Jemmy at the appointed hour 
 at the chocolate houfe, and about tea 
 time went with him on their purpofed 
 vifit •, on his fending up his name they 
 were immediately fhew'd to the room 
 where mifs Chit was fitting •, when he 
 found, by the great care fhe had taken 
 in her drefs, and the exaftnefs of every 
 I thing about her, that he had not flattered 
 himiclf with a vain conjedure, but that 
 fhe was indeed as defirous as he could 
 wifh of appearing lovely in the eyes of 
 this new gueft. 
 
 Jemmy, 
 
144 ^^^ HISTORY of 
 
 Jemmy, being prefented her by Bell- 
 pine, iaiuted her with the utmoft gallan- 
 try ', fhe received him with a becoming 
 modefly, which, notwithftanding, had 
 fomething of inviting in it ; the conver- 
 fation at firft turn'd only on general to- 
 pics j but Bellpine would not fufFer it 
 to continue fo, and told her, in his 
 ufual free manner, that he fliould not 
 think himfelf forgiven for the liberty he 
 had taken, till fhe had obliged both him 
 and his friend with a fong and a touch 
 of her harpfichord. 
 
 To this Ihe replied, with a fprlghtly 
 tx)ne of voice and geflure, that what- 
 ever he might think of her, fhe had 
 too much complaifance for a ftranger, 
 who feem'd fo well to deferve it, not to 
 do every thing in her power to render 
 the vifit he had favour'd her with agree- 
 able to him. 
 
 In fpeaking thefe words Ihe fat down 
 to her inftrument, and, without waiting 
 for any moFe intreaties, began to fing 
 one of the moft favourite airs in mr, 
 Handel's lafl oratorio. 
 
 As fhe had in reality a very fine voice, 
 great (kill in mufic, and played admira- 
 bly 
 
Jemmy a?id Jenny Jessamy. 145 
 
 jjy well, there was no occafion that 
 femmy lliould flretch truth to a pitch to 3 
 ligh in expreffing the pleafure he took in 
 hearing her. 
 
 But it was not in mere words alone he 
 teftified the mighty influence that the well 
 concerted notes had over him 5 — he lan- 
 guifhed, — he died, — his foul feem'd all 
 ablbrb'd, — diffolv'd in extacy -, — and 
 he not only fpoke, but look'd in fuch a 
 manner as without being prepofTefs'd, 
 as Ilie was, with an opinion of his ha- 
 ving a pafTion for her, m.ight well make 
 her believe fhe had other charms for 
 ihim befides thofe of her voice and (kill 
 in mufic. 
 
 As often as flie gave over, Bellpine 
 prefs'd her to renew the harmony ; and 
 fometimes Jemmy afTumed the boldnefs 
 to fecond a petition, which he was very 
 ,fenfible v/as made entirely on his ac- 
 count. The lady was not refractory to 
 their united intreaties, and continued 
 playing till her father came into her 
 room. 
 
 The ufual compliments being pafl, 
 Ithey all fat down and enter'd into con- 
 verfation ; but v/hatever fubjecfl was 
 ftarted by the old gentleman, either the 
 ^ Vol. I. H one 
 
146 The HISTORY of 
 One or the other of mils Chit's vifitors 
 had the adcirefs to turn it on the praife 
 of mufic, and the perfedlion which fhe 
 h.ad attained to in that fcience. 
 
 Jemmy faid many things which might 
 feem extravagant on this occalion ; but 
 thinking he had ftay'd long enough for 
 a firil vifit, roie up and was preparing to 
 take his leave, when mr. Chit, who had 
 been tutor'd before-hand by his daughter 
 how he fhould behave, would not fufFer 
 him to fpeak ol going, feiz'd upon his 
 hat and gloves, and faid that if his 
 daughter had afforded them any enter- 
 tainment, it was owing to him for ha- 
 ving provided the beft mafbers for her ; 
 and he therefore expe6led they would 
 recompence him for it, by giving him 
 their company the remainder of the 
 evening •, adding, that fupper was juft 
 ready to be ferved up. 
 
 Jemmy would fain have excufed him- 
 felf, as he had an appointment wliich he 
 was very unwilling to break ; but there 
 was no refilling the prefent kind com- 
 pulfion, efpeciaily as mifs Chit conde- 
 fcended to join her intreaties with her 
 father's •, he therefore comply'd and con- 
 tented himfelf with fending an apology 
 tp thofe who expedled his coming. 
 
 The, 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jescamy. ny 
 
 The collation prepared for them was 
 b elegant, the old gentleman's conver- 
 lation fo facetious, and his daughter's 
 nufic fo delightful, that the night was 
 dmoll loft in morning-dawn when Jemmy 
 iind his falfe friend came away •, but ' 
 vhat ufe the latter made of this long 
 nfit the reader will very foon difcover. 
 
 ' CHAP. XIV. 
 
 'Seems big 'with the promife of fo?ne 
 mighty matters hereafter to be brought 
 to light. 
 
 T was fo very late when the litde 
 company broke up, that Bell pine had 
 lo opportunity of putting any queftions 
 o Jemmy concerning his fentiments of 
 he lady he had introduced him to ; 
 md as they lived different ways, took 
 eave of each other at mr. Chit's door, 
 yithout any farther fpeech that night. 
 
 Full of impatience, however, for the 
 
 iiccefs of his pernicious plot, he v>rent 
 
 ■)retty early the next morning to his 
 
 icufe J and, according to his wifn, found 
 
 H 2 him 
 
 f^ 
 
 I 
 
14$ The HISTORY of 
 
 him quite alone, and fiot yet ready to 
 go abroad. 
 
 He was fearce fat down, when he had 
 the fatistaclion of hearing Jemmy him- 
 felf prepare the way for the converfation 
 he intended to entertain him with, by 
 thanking him for the pleafure he had en- 
 joy'd the night before through his means. 
 
 « I wifli from my foul, reply'd this 
 v/icked incendiary, that it were in my 
 power to procure you a much more 
 ample and fubftantial one ; mufic in- 
 dulges no more than a fingle fenfe, 
 mifs Chit has charms that might en- 
 grofs the whole five. — Ah, Jemmy, — 
 continued he, embracing him, what a 
 heaven it would be, after an hour or 
 two of dalliance, to be lull'd to fleep 
 by- that angelic voice, preffing at the 
 fame time the ruby lips whence the 
 tranfporting founds proceeded ! and 
 then, ye gods, awake to a new raptures 
 and repeated blifs.' 
 
 Jemmy laugh'd heartily at the extafy 
 which the other affe6ted to feel through 
 the force of imagination. ' You wiih 
 f me a happinefs, cried he, yet fpeak, 
 ^ methinks, as if you could not avoid 
 J beincr one of thofe who would envy me 
 ■ "" 'the 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 14^ 
 
 * the pofleflion of it •, but my dear friend, 
 ' added he, you have no need to be 
 
 * under any apprehenfions on that fcore -, 
 
 * tor to deal fincerely, I hke mifs Chit 
 
 * as a mufician, but lliali never think of 
 
 * her as a woman.' 
 
 Thefe words gave a mod terrible Oiock 
 to the high-raifed expedations of B 11- 
 pine ; but, as he was mafter ot an un- 
 common lliare of artifice, and an eqa.:l 
 prefence of mind, it was eaiy for him 
 to conceal one emotion under the lliev/ 
 of another; and,^fcarting b .ck Vv'itl; u 
 well counterfeited furprife, * Impoliible, 
 
 * cried he, you cannot Hire be fo infcn- 
 
 * fibie, fo altogether untcuch'd with 
 ' charms that half the town are running 
 
 * mad after I* 
 
 * You know, anfwer'd Jemmy, v/ith a 
 « very ferious air, I am under engage- 
 
 * ments elfev/here, which will not permit 
 
 * me to make my addreifes to her or 
 ' any other woman upon honourable 
 
 * terms ; and I cannot fuppofe they would 
 
 * be accepted by mifs Chit if oifer'd v/ith 
 ' ' a view of a different nature.' 
 
 ' I cannot flatter you fo far as that, 
 < indeed,' reply'd he, flill difconcerted, 
 and more fo, when Jemmy haftily re- 
 H 3. join'd. 
 
!5o Vje HISTORY c/ 
 
 K>in'd, * I wonder, Bellpine, that having 
 
 * ib jull a fenfe of the lady's merit, you 
 
 * never made your court to her your- 
 
 * lelt r' 
 
 On an interrogatory fo unthought on,' 
 all his audacity iorfook him ; he was filent 
 tor fome moments, but st length re-^ 
 covering himfelf, his ready wit furnifii'd 
 him with an excufe which feem'd plau- 
 lible enough, and was certainly the only 
 one that could have had tlie leail ap- 
 pearance of fincerity. 
 
 ' I /hall difguile nothing of the truth 
 ' from you, laid he ; to be plain then, 
 
 * it is my vexatious circumftances which 
 
 * alone deter nie •, fince my uncle lias 
 
 * taken' a ilep tiiat may poiiibly deprive 
 ' me oT the iiiherirance I was born, to 
 
 * expecl, I have no dowry to offer with 
 ' my fervices \ a woman that has money 
 ' demands a jointure adequate to the fum 
 ' S!iy-t brings -, and for me to marry one 
 » whofeonly portion is her beauty and good 
 
 * qualities, v/ould render both her and 
 ' myfelf for ever miferabk ; fo that 
 
 * whether mifs Chit is, qr is not a for- 
 ' tune, {lie is quite out of the queftion 
 ' with me as a wife.' 
 
 He 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 151 
 
 He fpoke all this wirh fo nir.ch fecm- 
 ing candour and opmncfs cl' he;-rt, that 
 Jemmy thought himlldf more than ever 
 coniirm'd in the opinion he hid alv/ays 
 entertain'd of the good fcnfe aiid honour 
 of his friend ; and readily agreed with 
 him, that where a marriage was confuni- 
 mated betv/een two perfons, neither ol" 
 whom had a fuiricicnt competency, ic 
 could not fail of making both parties 
 equally unhappy, and aifo of entailing 
 iafting wretchednefs on their poilerity. 
 
 Bellpine foon grev/ weary of this dif- 
 courfe, as it had no connexion with his 
 prefent views •, and therefore made his 
 •vifit much fhorter than he at firft had 
 intended it, and retir'd to a place where 
 he might give a loofe to his difcontent, 
 and contrive fome other means of bring- 
 ing his defigns to perfection, fmce thofe 
 he had already efiay'd had proved fo 
 inefFedtual. 
 
 As it was not in his power to make 
 Jemmy become guilty in fa^, his next 
 refource was to make him appear fo : 
 to blacken him by any ill report dire6lly 
 to Jenny herfelf, Jie knew would be in 
 vain, and treated with contempt by a 
 woman of her penetration j he therefore 
 H 4. took 
 
152 lie HISTORY of . 
 
 took a more artful and more fure, the' 
 flow method of infufmg the poifon of] 
 jcaloufy and indignation into her foul ; 
 he gave it out in whifpers, inuendoes, 
 and dark hints, among thofe whom he' 
 iound fond of fcandal and of explaining' 
 myfteries of that kind, that Jemmy had 
 ,an utter averfion to Jenny in his heart ; 
 that he was feeking fome excufeto break' 
 ent?irely with her -, and that it was mifs 
 Chit who had caufed this change in him : 
 he had no great caufe to doubt but that 
 this rumour would fpread from one to 
 another through the town, and become 
 fo much the univerfal fecrct, that it could 
 not fail of reaching Jenny's ears ; and 
 theip he concluded that it v.ould, by de- 
 grees, fteal itfelf into her belief. 
 
 As Jem.my was a man of pleafure, and 
 did not live without many tranfient 
 amours, it may feem a little flrange to 
 fome people that Bellpine, who by his 
 intun-cy with him, could not be a 
 nranger to the errors of his conduftj 
 did not chufe to get communicated to 
 Jenny fuch things as a very fmall en- 
 quiry would convince her were true, ra- 
 ther than endeavour to alarm her with 
 reports which had no fouadation in fact. 
 
 • .B.ut 
 
JemMy tf>?^ Jennt Jessamy. 153 
 
 But this was not Bellpine's way of 
 reafoning ; he rightly judged, that a wo- 
 man of Jenny's underftanding might 
 eafily be brought to forgive the frailties 
 of youth and nature in a man of Jemmy's 
 gay and volatile difpofition -, but would 
 be irreconcileable, implacable, if once 
 made to believe he addrefs^d any other 
 upon honourable terms. 
 
 It is eafy f®r perfons capable of invent- 
 ing falfhoods to propagate them in fuch a 
 manner as to make them pals current for 
 a time, and yet avoid any detection of 
 their being the authors of it ; it is not 
 by faying direilly a thing is fo, that a 
 ftory fo much gains credit, as by half 
 words, — winks, — nods, and other fuch 
 like geftures ; — thefe are the traps which 
 catch the unwary, and give an air of 
 reality to that which has no exiilence. 
 Bellpine at leaft was well verfed in this 
 art, and pradifed it with fuch fuccefs as 
 to the matter in queftion, and was fo far 
 from being fufpeded of having raifed 
 this report, that he has often been aflc'd 
 by thofe who heard from other hands 
 what his opinion was concerning the truth 
 of it. 
 
 H 5 Jenny, 
 
154 ^'^^ HISTORY oj 
 
 Jenny, on account of her many ac-' 
 compiilhments and good nature, was fo 
 generally beloved bythofewho knew her, 
 and her character in fuch eftimation 
 with thofe who were not perfonally ac- 
 quainted with her, that none could hear, 
 without the moft extreme furprife, that 
 flic was about to be lorfaken by a man 
 who from his very infancy had been 
 taught to look upon her as his future 
 wite, and for whom flie m'ade no fecret 
 of having the moft tender affedtion. 
 
 But whenever this fubje6l v/as men- 
 tion'd to Bellpine, as it frequently fo 
 happen'd, he affedled to hang down his 
 head and be entirely filent • or, if defir'd 
 by fome one or other of the company to 
 fpeak his thoughts, ' I am no judge of 
 *• the aftair, would he fay, mr. Jeffamy 
 
 * is my iriend, and I fhould be loth to 
 
 * think him capable of a bad aftion ; 
 
 * mifs Jenny is certainly a fine girl, and 
 
 * ib is mifs Chit \ if he has changed his 
 ' fentiments he doubtlefs has his reafons, 
 » but 1 know nothing of it.' 
 
 His intimacy with Jemmy was fo well 
 known, that thefe undeterminate anfwers 
 from him gave more credit to the ftory 
 
 than 
 
Je m my and Je n'n r Jess amt. i ^-^ 
 than the moft pofitive afTurances given 
 by any other perlbn could have done. 
 
 Nor was this all ; to give the greater 
 appearances of the truth of vv^hat he 
 thought it was fo much his intereil to 
 have believed, he contrived it fo that 
 Jemmy and mifs Chit fhould frequently 
 .be feen together in public places, though, 
 for the moft part^ they met without the 
 ileaft defign on the fide of either of them. 
 
 Jemmy, indeed, could not avoid be- 
 i ing fomewhat acceffary in corroboratiog, 
 I the afperfion caft upon himfelf, as he had 
 1 been introduced to that young lady, and 
 i received by her in the manner above- 
 mentioned, the complaifance due to her 
 fex and rank, join'd to the pieafure he 
 took in hearing her fmg and play, ob- 
 lig'd him fometimes to vifit her ; Bell- 
 pine was generally with them -, and when 
 he was fo, always found ibrae pertcxt or 
 other to draw them out where he knew 
 there would be people who. would noc 
 fail to take notice of their being together. 
 
 It requires more pains to be a villain 
 than fome people may imagine •, befides 
 impofing upon Jemmy,, and making him> 
 afc in. a manner which fliew'd his fenti- 
 ments to the v^'orld far different from 
 , H 6 whafe 
 
J 56 'H;^ HISTORY of 
 
 what they were in reality, Bellpine had 
 alfo another card to play, which coil 
 him little lefs contrivance. 
 
 As he had poflefs'd mifs Chit at firft 
 with a belief that Jemmy was ferioufly 
 infpired with a pafTion for her, and knew 
 very well that gentleman's behaviour had 
 not at. all been conformable to the aflu- 
 rances he had given her on his account, 
 it behoved him to reconcile this contra- 
 di(5lion fo as not to leave her any room 
 to rufpedt the deception he had put upon 
 her. 
 
 He therefore continued, day after day, 
 to carry her fome frefh intelligence of the 
 fine things Jemmy faid of her -, and in- 
 finuated that there was a defign on foot, 
 which, when once executed, would afford 
 him a plaufible pretence for breaking off 
 entirely with Jenny •, and that then he 
 would avow his pallion and declare him- 
 felf devoted only to her. 
 
 Whether this young lady was abfolute- 
 ly convinced of the truth of what he faid, 
 I will not take upon me to determine ; 
 becaufe, indeed, it is highly probable fhe 
 never gave herfelt the trouble to examine 
 tl\e coufiftency of the ftory. 
 
 Dan' 
 
Jemmy ^w^ Jennv Jessamv. 1^7 
 
 Dangerous, however, might fuch an 
 impofition have been to feme ladies, to 
 have been flatter'd with the hopes of an 
 alliance with a man fuch as Jemmy, per- 
 fedly agreeable in his perfon, accomplifh- 
 ed in his manners, and opulent in his 
 fortune; and then to find at once all 
 thofe golden expeflations vaniQi into air, 
 might certainly have been fatal in its 
 confeqnences, to a heart young, tender, 
 and unexperienced in deceit. 
 
 Happy was it for mifsChit, in this point 
 at leaft, that the variety of company, 
 the many fine things faid to her by per- 
 fons of condition, and particularly the 
 devoirs, whether feign'd or real, of a 
 certain foreign minifler, hinder'd her from 
 being too attentive to the idea which 
 the artifices of Beilpine might otherwife 
 have engrofs'd her with. 
 
 
 CHAP, 
 
158 The HISTORY of 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 Cof2fm?is an example that for a ivoman 
 to he too good is n ot one of thofe things 
 which are impoffble to be found in 
 human life. 
 
 THOUGH the foregoing report, be- 
 gan and induftrioufly propagated by 
 Bellpine, had fpread itfelf tlirough all the 
 acquaintance both of Jemmy and Jenny, 
 yet did it not prefently reach the ears of. 
 either of them ; and they went on, as 
 they had been accuilom'd to do, com- 
 municating to eiach other every little ad- 
 venture which fell into the way of each, 
 provided they were fuch as might be, in 
 any meafure, conducive to the important 
 end propofcd, that of redlifying or im- 
 proving their minds. 
 
 Among the many they recited to each 
 other, fome of which were too trifling to 
 be inferted here, Jemmy happen'd. upoa 
 one of a mofb extraordmary nature, and 
 therefore muil not be omitted ; it was 
 this ; 
 
 He 
 
Jemmy^;?^ Jenny Jessamy. 159 
 
 He had been for fome time pretty 
 converfant with a gentleman named Kel- 
 fey •, he was a man of family, fortune, 
 good fenfe, and a very agreeable compa- 
 nion •, but one thing was faid of him, 
 that, in the opinion of all the difcreet 
 part of his acquaintance, tarnifh'd the 
 luftre of all his other qualities, — that of 
 his being a very bad husband to a molt 
 deferving wife. 
 
 This lady, to whom he had been mar- 
 ried fcarce a year, was very young, beau- 
 tiful, and had every thing in her perfon 
 requifite to make her beloved ; and was 
 in high eftimation for the ftridtnefs of her 
 virtue, her piety, and the affability of her 
 behaviour ; how could it then but feem 
 ftrange to Jemmy, that two perfons of 
 the charafters thefe bore in the world 
 fhould not live happily together ? he ne- 
 ver heard any mention of the difagree- 
 ment between them, without feeling a kind 
 of painful curiolity for the caufe, but he 
 could find none who were able to give 
 him any information in that point, tho' 
 every one fpoke loudly of the effeds. 
 
 Chance at laft prefented him with the 
 wilh'd for difcovery : a gentleman of 
 diilinclion, a diftant relation of Jemmy's, 
 
 was 
 
,60 lie HISTORY of 
 
 was to have a private concert at his own 
 houfe i Jemmy was one of the invited 
 perfons, with leave to bring any friend 
 with him whom he fhould think proper ; 
 on which he made choice of Kelfey, and 
 accordingly made him a vifit on the 
 morning of the day appointed, to defire 
 he would accompany him to this enter- 
 tainmenti if not previoufly engaged to 
 any other place. 
 
 Mr. Kelfey thank'd him for the oblig- 
 ing offer he had made him, reply*d, that 
 he had no engagement at all upon his 
 hands ; * but if I had, faid he, I fhould 
 ' be tempted to break through it, fince I 
 ' am certain none could afford me fo 
 ' much real pleafure as that of waiting 
 ' on mr. JelTamy any where ; but more 
 ' efpecially, continued he, on an occa- 
 * fion fo perfedly agreeable to my tafte.' 
 
 Jemmy, after having made a fuitable 
 return to this compliment, was preparing 
 to take leave, and delir'd that they might 
 meet at White's chocolate-houfe about 
 fix ; but the other would not fuffer him 
 to depart in this manner, he infilled on 
 his Haying to dine with him, and pafs 
 the time where he was till the hour ar- 
 rived in which they Ihould adjourn to a 
 place more agreeable. 
 
 Jemmy 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. i6i" 
 
 Jemmy would have excufed himfelf 
 from dining, as he had not the honour, 
 he faid, to be known to his lady : — to 
 which mr. Kelfey anfwer'd, that his wife 
 was not ignorant of the refpeft due from 
 her to any of her hulband's friends. 
 
 The curiofity that Jemmy had for 
 being an eye-witnefs of a lady's deport- 
 ment whom he had heard fo much of, 
 and as yet had never feen, ihe feldom 
 appearing in any public place, prevail'd 
 with him at length to comply v/ith her 
 husband's requeil ; they amufed the mfe Ives 
 with looking over fome fine pieces of 
 mufic, which mr. Kelfey had that morn- 
 ing brought home in fcore, till three 
 o'clock, at which hour he had order'd 
 dinner to be ready. 
 
 The clock having ftruck, that gentle- 
 .man conduced his gueft into the next 
 ■room, where they found the fideboard 
 fet out, the cloth laid, the corks of the 
 bottles drawn, and every thing prepared 
 for dinner being ferved up ; but no fer- 
 vant was in waiting all was hufli'd and 
 filent as tho' they had juft rofe from 
 table, inftead of not being as yet fet down. 
 
 Mr. 
 
i62 The HISTORY of 
 
 Mr. Kelfey waited forne minutes, but' 
 at laft rung the hell, on whicli the but- : 
 ler came up ; on being afk'd it dinner 
 was not ready, he rcpiy'd, with fome he- 
 fitation, that he would enquire of the 
 cook, and then went haflily away ; foon 
 after mr. Kelfey rung again, and another 
 fervan^ appear'd, to whom his mafter 
 making the fame demand as to the for- 
 mer, anfvver'd bluntly, that his lady was 
 not yet come out of her ciofct : ' Go then 
 * and call her, faid mr. Kelfey :' — the 
 fellow went, but returned immediately, 
 and faid the door was lock'd, and tho' 
 he had both knock'd and cali'd could 
 get no anfwer ; on which mr. Kelfey 
 grew extremely red, and begging pardon 
 of Jemmy for leaving him alone a mo-' 
 ment flew up ftairs himfelf. 
 
 Jemmy was very much flirpris'd at all 
 this, but had not time to make any re- 
 flexions on it -, mr. Kelfey came prefently 
 down follow'd by his lady, a very lovely 
 woman, indeed; but feem'd greatly dif- 
 concerted : Jemmy advanced to pay her 
 the civilities of a ftranger, which, in fpite 
 of the confufion fhe was in, fhe receiv'd 
 with the utmofl: fweetnefs and good breed- 
 ingp and they all fat down to table. 
 
 The 
 
Jemmv and Jenny Jessamy. 163 
 
 The firft courfe was ferved up in an 
 inftant ; the garnifhing of the dillies v;as 
 elegant enough and inviting to the appe- 
 tite, as doubtlefs what they contain'd 
 v.'ould alfo have been, if not fo much 
 prolong'd beyond the necelTary time : 
 mr. Kelfey ftuck his fork firft into one 
 thing and then into another, then threw 
 it down, bit his Hps, and feem'd in very 
 gfeat emotions. 
 
 Jemmy could be at no lofs to guefs 
 the occafion \ and, to palliate the difcon- 
 tent he fav/ him in, hclp'd himfelf pretty 
 plentifully out of that difh which was near- 
 eft to him i but never was any thing fo 
 fpoil'd, the truffles, morelles, artichokes, 
 and other fuch thingrs as fhould embellifh 
 the fauce were in a manner difTolv'd in 
 it, and the meat itfelf wanted little of be- ■ 
 ing fo too, fo that nothing but the bones 
 difcovcred what it was. 
 
 Yet Jemmy fell to eating heartily, 
 crying it was very fine, that it was drefs'd 
 exactly to his tafte -, but this politenefs 
 in him did not reftore the good humour 
 of his friend ; the lady too was in fome 
 pain on feeing the ill effeds which her 
 ftaying too long in the clofet had pro-, 
 duced i and, addrelTi ng herfelf to Jemmy, 
 
 ' I am 
 
i64 "the HISTORY of 
 
 * I am afraid, fir, faid fhe, that your 
 « complaifance at this time gets the better 
 
 * of your fmcerity ; what is here is very 
 ' much oyer done ; but I hope we fhall 
 ' not find every thing fo.' 
 
 As Hie ended thefe words a fervant fet 
 a fine hare upon the table, and mr. Kei- 
 fey perhaps flattering himfelf that his wife 
 might be a true prophetefs on this occa- 
 fion, took up his knife and fork once 
 more, in order to carve ; but the fkin 
 was fo dried by being kept at a diilance 
 from the fire, that he found feme diffi- 
 culty to penetrate it, and when with much 
 labour he had done fo, the flefh beneath 
 fell fpontaneoufly from the bones, and 
 indeed was almoft fit for pulverizing. 
 
 Mr. Kelfey, who was naturally fiery, 
 and apt to kindle on every little provo- 
 cation, now lofl all patience •, he flung 
 the difh from him with fuch a vehemence, 
 that but for the footman's agility in 
 catching it between his hands it muft 
 have fallen on the floor. 
 
 The lady, who was all confufion, faid 
 fhe was forry and afhamed that it had 
 happened fo : ' S'death, madam, cry'd 
 « he, ftarting from the table, does it ever 
 
 * happen otherwife ? if you had even 
 
 ' common 
 
Jemmy and Jennv Jessamy. 165 
 
 * common decency, you would not treat 
 
 * me in this manner : can you find no 
 ' time to pray but juft when dinner is 
 
 * coming upon table ? muft my appetite 
 « continually be ftarved, my peace de- 
 
 * ftroy'd, my reputation fcandalized) my 
 f« friends affronted, and all through your 
 '* unfeafonable devotion V 
 
 ' It is mighty well, my dear, reply'd 
 
 * fhe rifing, it is mighty well ; but 1 fhall 
 f* fay no more •, it is from heaven alone 
 " that I muft feek fupport, under the ill 
 '* humour and intemperance of a hulband :* 
 tthen turning to Jemmy, afk'd his pardon 
 Ifor what had paft, and went haftily out 
 1 of the room with eyes all bathed in tears. 
 
 * Would to heaven I had never feen 
 your face,' cry'd mr. Kelfey furioufly, 
 I and ftamping with his foot as flie was 
 going out j but fhe took no notice either 
 of his words or a£lions, and pafs'd on as 
 faft as fhe could : he continued walking 
 s about the room with geftures which evi- 
 dently denoted the inward rage he was 
 Ipoffefs'd of, while Jemmy labour'd, tho' 
 ffor fome time in vain, to convince him 
 ! that he was in the wrong to put himfelf 
 into fuch agitations on account of an 
 . accident. 
 
 • Call 
 
i66 The HISTORY of 
 
 ' Call it not accident, mr. JefTamy, 
 ' reply'd he, what you have now been 
 ' witnefs of has been almoft every day 
 ' repeated ever fince our marriage. Oh, 
 
 * continued he, almoft raving, — how I 
 ' could curie the hour, — the day, — the 
 ' inftitution, — facred as it is call d, that 
 ' join'd together two fuch oppofitcs ?* 
 
 At laft, however, the confideration he 
 had for his friend got the better ol the 
 refentment he had againft his wife, and 
 fetting down again and making Jemmy 
 do fo alfo : ' I know not, faid he, whe- 
 ' ther I ihall ever be forgiven for the 
 
 * rudenefs I have been guilty of -, you 
 ' have, indeed, fuffer'd too much through 
 
 * the folly of my wife, and I ought not 
 ' to have prolong'd yourpcnnance by my 
 
 * ill humour, notwithftanding the juftifi- 
 ' abicnefs of it had, I been alone.' 
 
 He then, without v/aiting for Jemmy's 
 reply, call'd to the butler and alk'd him 
 if there were any cold meats in the houfe 
 that might fupply the difficiency they had 
 iuftain'd: the man on this ran down 
 ftairs, and prefcntly return'd follow'd by 
 another fervanc with a large ham, of 
 which a very little had been cut. ' Come 
 
, Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 167 
 my dear friend, faid mr. Kelfey, a cold 
 repail is better than none at all •, this 
 we had yefterday and could not be 
 fpoil'd, tho' the chickens about it fell 
 to pieces of themfelves, like the hare 
 you juil now faw,* 
 
 ' Fie faid no more, but fell heartily on 
 he ham before them j Jemmy, who for 
 11 his complailance had made, but a half 
 
 inner, follow'd his example; and a defert, 
 onfifting of tarts, pitty-patties. Jellies^ 
 
 uits, and fuch like things, being after- 
 
 ■ards placed upon the table, neither of 
 hefe gentlemen had any reafon to com- 
 
 lain of their bad living that day. 
 
 When the cloth and fervants were with- 
 
 rawn, and the bottle and the glaffes 
 
 i-^ere the fole witneffes of their converfa- 
 
 on, Jemmy finding the other was now 
 
 1 a difpofition to bear it, began to rally 
 
 im a little on the fubjed: of his late dif- 
 
 uiets : ' Faith, reply'd mr. Kelfey, I have 
 
 a true Engliili ftomach of my own, and 
 
 cannot bear the leaft difappointment 
 
 in vidluals •, and this fervour ot devotion 
 
 takes my wife at fuch odd periods, that 
 
 whether I have company, cr am ob- 
 
 lig'd to go out on builnefs at an ap- 
 
 1 pointed hour, never can be certain that 
 
 ' dinner 
 
i68 The HIST OKY of 
 
 ' dinner will be ferved according tp the 
 ' time. 
 
 < This unhappy humour in her, con- 
 ' tinued he, it is that drives me fo much 
 
 * abroad, I am compell'd by it to en- 
 ' tertain my friends at a tavern, to tranf- 
 « act all my affairs there •, and fomctimes 
 ' indeed, to refrelh my own fenfes with 
 
 * peace, and a bit of meat drefs'd as it 
 
 * ought to be. How is it poflible I Ihould 
 
 * love home, when the very perfon in 
 
 * whofe power it chiefly is to render it 
 ' agreeable, exercifes that power rather 
 
 * to create difgufl than liking ? I once 
 ' loved her, and none but jfhe herfelf 
 
 * could have wean'd my heart from the 
 ' tender palTion I had for her ; but bc- 
 ' fides., whenever I complain of v/hat you 
 
 * have feen, and fome other irregularities 
 ' in domeftic life, fiie burlis into tears 
 
 * and reproaches ; accufes me of unkind- 
 
 * nefs, of intemperance, of prophanefs to 
 » heaven, of regarding too much the 
 
 * things of this world, and fuch like fluff, 
 
 * which if I fly to avoid, I am at leaft 
 
 * juftified in the poet's words. 
 
 Clamo'irs our privacies uneafy make. 
 Birds leave theix nefts dift:urb'd, and 
 beafts their haunts forfake. 
 
 Jemmy 
 
Jemmy tf«^ Jenny Jessamy. 169 
 
 Jemmy, who could find little to fay in 
 the defence of mrs. Kelfey, and had too 
 much complaifance and good nature to 
 fay any thing againft her, artfully waved 
 the converfation and ftarted more agree- 
 able fubje(5ts, between which and the 
 bottle they pafs'd the time till the hour 
 arrived which call'd them to the concert. 
 
 This being an entertainment adapted to 
 the tafte of both thefe gentlemen, 'tis 
 not to be doubted but the pleafure they 
 received in it attoned for all the mortifi- 
 cations of t^e preceding day •, but, as it 
 prefented nothing material enough to ac- 
 quaint the reader with, we fliall make no 
 further mention of it. 
 
 Vw-> I. I CHAP. 
 
lyo The HISTORY of 
 
 CHAP. xvr. 
 
 brents only o?i fucb matters as it is 
 highlj probable Jo me readers wiii be 
 upt to fay might have bee?2 recited 
 in a more laconic fnan?ier^ if not to- 
 tally omitted i but as there are others^ 
 the author i^nagines much the greater 
 nu?nber^ who may be of a different 
 Opinion^ it is judged proper that the 
 majority fiould be obliged. 
 
 JE M M Y, to v/hom the riddle of mr. 
 Keliey'.s difagreement with his wife 
 was Kovv fully explain'd, no fooner found 
 himfelf at home and alone, than he began 
 to make the ierious refleflions both on 
 the accident he had been witnefs of, and 
 the real foiirce from whence fuch unfor- 
 tunate eftefts were originally derived. 
 
 * It is not, faid he within himfelf, it 
 
 * is not youth, beauty, wealth, nor even 
 
 * a itiutual affeftion in the parties before 
 ' marriage, that is fufficient to conftitute^ 
 « their happinefs, when once enter'd into 
 
 * that ftate ; neither mr. Kelfey nor his wife 
 « are wanting in any of thofe endowments 
 « or accompiifbments which one fhould 
 
 * think 
 
Jemmy ajtd Jenny Jessamt. i 7 1 
 
 * think neceflary to endear them to each 
 ' other •, yet how miferabie are they ! it 
 ' mull therefore be, that a conformity of 
 ' principles, a parity of fentiments and 
 
 * humours, and a certain fympathy ©f foul, . 
 « ought to be the firft links in the hy- 
 
 ' meneal chain *, and without them, all the 
 ' others fall to the ground and have no 
 
 * power to bind. 
 
 ' I think, continued he, that my friend 
 ' has every requifite for making a good 
 ' husband, were it his lot to have been uni- 
 ' ted to a woman of his own gay temper > 
 ' and the lady, who now creates fuch un- 
 ' eafmefs both to herfelf and him, would 
 ' certainly have made no lefs excellent a 
 ' wife had fhe been married to an enthu- 
 ' fiaft.* 
 
 On reafoning farther, under various 
 difcontents that fo frequently difturb'd 
 the felicity of conjugal life, he concluded, 
 that good nature and fimilitude of difpo- 
 fitions, tho' the laft things confider'd, 
 and feldom if ever enquired into by the 
 perfons about to be united, were indeed 
 the chief ingredients to make their future 
 happinefs. 
 
 Thefe confideratlons led him into an 
 
 examination of Jenny's behaviour, even 
 
 I 2 from 
 
172 The HISTORY of 
 
 from her infancy, with much greater at- 
 tention than ever he had done before-, 
 and the more he did fo now, the leis' he 
 could find to wiOi were chang'd ; nothino- 
 had ever appear'd in her which feemVi to 
 hirn to {land in need of the leafi: rediti- 
 cation ; flue had never betray'd a too 
 fbrong attachment to any one thino- ., no 
 caprice, no vv-himfical flights, no affedla- 
 tion, no pride of exciting the envy of 
 her ov/n fex, or of giving pain to thofe 
 of the other ; in all her words and aftions 
 flie prefcrved die happy medium of nei- 
 ther being too gay and giddy, nor too 
 fullen and rcferv'd ; nor was all this mere 
 outward fhew •, he could not fufpeft her 
 of difguife, as he had known her before 
 {he could arrive at the power, even if flie 
 had the will, of pretending to be other 
 than fhe really was. 
 
 Though he was in no hafte to be mar- 
 ried ; yet, as he intended nothing more 
 than being fo, one time or other, great 
 caufe had he to thank heaven for being 
 fo peculiarly propitious in the lot ordain*d 
 for him ; nor was he infenfible or ungrate- 
 ful for the bounty, and had fo true an 
 cfteem and affeftion for his dear Jenny, 
 that we may almoft give it to the reader 
 for a certainty, that no temptation what- 
 ever could have made him entertain the 
 
 leaft 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 173 
 
 lead thought of any other woman for a 
 wife. 
 
 He went pretty early the next morn- 
 ipjg to her apartment, which he feldom 
 faii'd to do, whea he had no farther bufi- 
 nefs than to give her the bon jour •, but 
 never w^hen he had any thing to com- 
 municate in relation to the agreement 
 made betv/een them : he knew indeed, 
 that fhe had very little occafion for any 
 leiTons of improvement from the faults 
 of others ; but he took an infinite pleafure 
 in hearing the judicious obfervations fhe 
 always made on every occurrence that ■ 
 prefented itfclf to her. 
 
 He met her at the door, her chair 
 waited, and flie was juft ready to ftep into 
 it, ' You are going out, I perceive, faid he, 
 
 * and I will not detain you :' ' Indeed but 
 ' you fhall, reply'd flie jl was only go- 
 
 * ing to chapel, which I can do as well 
 ' in the afternoon. 
 
 ' But how, rejoin'dhe, fliAlII annver to 
 myfelf for being an impediment, to any 
 ad of religion r' Religion, cried flie, does 
 not enjoin us to be rude or unkind to 
 our friends ; and I knovv^ not if a jufl 
 obfervance of the duties of focial life 
 be not a more acceptable facrifice to the 
 1 3 * Deity 
 
174 '^^ HISTORY of 
 
 * Deity than all the oraifons our lips can ' 
 
 * utter.' 
 
 She faid no more -, but having difmifsM.^ 
 the chairmen made Jemmy go up flairs,) 
 where Ihe inftantly follow'd him ; as fbon , 
 as they were fat down, ' I dined yefter- 
 
 * day, faid he fmiling, with a lady who; 
 ' would have thought herfelf guilty off 
 ' the extrem.eft impiety and prophanefs 
 
 ' to have fhewn half that complaifance to 
 
 * her husband, which I have jufl nov/.re- 
 ' ceived frxm you. 
 
 * She rnufb then have very little affec- 
 tion tor him indeed, replied Jenny, and 
 aifu be equally ignorant of the lav^s of\ 
 the inftitution by v/hich, as I take it,lhc 
 is bound to oblige and to obey him ' 
 in all reafonable things ^ buti fee, con- 
 tinued (lie, by your countenance that 
 you are big with fome new intelligence ; 
 lb pray don't delay letting me have it.' 
 
 Jemmy then made her an exa6l recital 
 of the entertainment he had met with at 
 mr. Kelfey's ; the brulee between the 
 husband and the wife-, the impatience of 
 the one, and die provocation given for it 
 by the other : Jenny laugh'd heartily at 
 the beginning of this ftory, but grew more 
 grave towards the latter end of it, and 
 
 perceiving 
 
Jf MM Y ^?.V Jenny jEsrAr/iY. 175 
 pcixeiving he bad concluded, gave her 
 i.kntiments on what he had been telling. 
 |!.her in thi'fe terms : 
 
 « Can any one take this for piety, faid 
 , * fhePI would" not be fo unchaiitabie as ta 
 
 * think mrs. Kelfey an hypocrite, but 
 
 * certainly fuch a behaviour has nothing 
 
 * in it 01 the air of true cievotion.' To 
 whi h he reply'd, that he muft do her 
 the juftice to believe, Irorai what he coulct 
 gather from the difcourfe he had after- 
 wards with her husband, who v/as not in 
 a diliofition to be more favourable than 
 the occafion requir'd, that all the miiiakcs' 
 fhe is guilty of proceed intircly from too 
 warm a zeal in what fhe thinks the duties 
 of religion* 
 
 ' There are hours enough, faid fhe, ta 
 
 * be fpent in prayer, without breaking in 
 < upon tdiofe which the CEConomy of the 
 ' family requires ; 1 am far from deprc- 
 
 * elating religious worfhip, but there are 
 
 * times for all things, and mrs. Kelfey 
 « makes choice of fuch as are fo utterly 
 ' improper, as if it really arifes from piety, 
 ' renders it, in my opinion, fuch a kind of 
 ' piety as has little merit in it. 
 
 « I am rather afraid, continued fhe after 
 
 * a paufe, that through floth, and a cer- 
 
 I 4 * tsin 
 
J76 rhe HISTORY of 
 
 * tain indolence of nature, fhe neglects 
 
 * paying that tribute to heaven which is 
 
 * due from every reafonable creature at 
 
 * fit times -, and at length, remembering 
 
 * her omifiion, runs to wipe off one fault 
 
 * by committing a ftill greater •, for I would 
 
 * fain know, whether driving a husband 
 
 * to the extremes you fiy mr. Kelfey is 
 
 * guilty of, be not a much worfe error 
 ' than even not praying at all ? 
 
 * For m.y part, added flie with a more 
 
 * gay air, I fhouid have no notion of fa- 
 
 * ving my own foul by doing what J faw 
 ' would infallibly ruin another's •, efpecially 
 
 * tiiat of aperfon in whofe happinefs, both 
 ' here and hereafter, I ouffht to take fo 
 ' great . an intereft.' 
 
 Jemmy had a very high regard both 
 for the myfteries and duties of reveal'd 
 religiop ; though, like moft othergay gen- 
 tlemen of his age, he was little pradtis'd 
 in the rules : but had he been a more 
 ftrift obferver of church difcipline, he 
 could not well have difapproved of the 
 fentmients Jenny had declared^ he told her 
 fhe had argued like a cafuift, and that he 
 was fure there was never a Clergyman in 
 England but muft agree with her on this 
 point. 
 
' Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 177 
 * I do not know that, anfwer'd fhe; but 
 • I can tell you I durft not fpeak in the 
 ^. manner I have done, without thinking 
 t I had fufficient authority for it, from a 
 ' little account given to my father, by a 
 ' very learned and worthy divine, of one. 
 ;^ of his parifhoners ; I was very young 
 '■* when I heard it, but as it has made a 
 * ' lading imprefiion upon my mind, if 
 ' ' you will afford me your attention I 
 ' * will repeat it.' 
 
 ,» 
 Jemmy having afliired her fhe would 
 confer a very great obligation on him by , 
 fo doing, fhe went on with her difcourfe 
 in this manner : 
 
 ' The reverend gentleman I have men- 
 
 * tion'd, faid Hie, v/as not only an txctl- 
 *■ lent preacher but alfo an excellent man j 
 
 ' ' all his actions were fo many precepts, 
 
 ' and his example a kind ot living law ^ 
 
 ' for there was no virtue which he la- 
 
 ' boured to infpire in others that he did 
 
 *- not in the higheft degree put in practice 
 
 ' himfelf. 
 
 * He frequently favour'd my father 
 ' with his company, continued Ihe, they 
 ' were extremely intimate, and when the 
 
 * two good old gentlemen got together 
 
 * there never was any gap in converfa- 
 
 I 5 ' tioa: 
 
178 The HISTORY of 
 
 tion : one evening, in particular, he 
 came to our houfe and my father, who- 
 was at church that day, and found a* 
 very thin congregation, was beginning, 
 to lament to him the decay of religion ; • 
 to which the doftor reply'd in thefev 
 terms -, I think I remember his very 
 words.' 
 
 \ 
 
 ' Aye, mr, Jeflamy, faid he, I am 
 
 * afraid indeed that religion is at a very 
 
 * low ebb at this time -, but we muft not 
 ' ahvays impute the want of it to thofc 
 
 * who we do not fee conftantly at public 
 
 * worlhip, even though we fnould know 
 
 * they were not detain'd from it by any 
 
 * infirmity either of mind or of body j 
 
 * there are a thoufand accidents which 
 
 * may intervene, and withhold them from 
 
 * the difcharge of this duty •, nay, in fome 
 
 * cafes it may fo happen that it is even 
 ' laudable to be abfent : you look fur- 
 
 * prifed, mr. Jeffamy, continued he, per- 
 
 * ceiving my father did fo ; but I can 
 
 * eafily convince you of the truth of what 
 
 * I fay : I came now from vifiting a lady, 
 
 * who till within this month, or there- 
 
 * abouts, has not been at church for near 
 
 * feven years -, though before that ti,me 
 ' no body more conftantly attended ; and 
 
 * yet I firmly believe that there is not a 
 
 * better or a more pious woman in the 
 ' world,' 
 
 Thefe 
 
;' Jemmy jW Jenny Jessamy. ifg^ 
 
 Thefe laft words were far from leiTen- 
 ing the aftonifliment my father "had been 
 in from the beginning of this difcoiirle •, 
 but he would not interrupt the dodor,. 
 iwho went on thus : 
 
 ' To eafe you of that fufpence which I 
 
 * find I have raifed in you, faid he, know,. 
 ' mr. JefTamy, that this excellent lady 
 ' flew not from divine fervice to purfue 
 ' the pleafures of the town, nor to gra- 
 ' tify any fenfual inclination of her own,; 
 ' but to fliut herfelf up in a dole room 
 « v/ith an aged parent, who, prefs'd be- 
 ' neath the weight of years and infirmi- 
 ' ties, unable to go out herfelf, and 
 ' equally unwilling to receive any. vifits- 
 
 * from thofe who knew her in a more 
 ' fanguine flate, had no confolation but 
 ' in the dutiful cares of this beloved 
 
 * daughter, who was continually employ'd 
 
 * about her adminiflering every thing iu: 
 *^ her power for her relief/ 
 
 ' It is.impofTible for me, faid Jenny,. 
 ' purfuing the thread of her difcourfe, to 
 ' remember half the encomiums he made 
 *- on this aft of filial piety ; but this I 
 
 * know, that I have ever fince been fully 
 *- convinced, that while we are here upon 
 
 * earth ail the prayers we can make to. 
 
 * heaven v/iii be infufHcient to attone for 
 
 1 6 * neglecting ; 
 
?8o The HISTORY of 
 
 negleding to difcharge, as well as is in 
 ' our power, the duties of our feveral 
 
 * ftations.' 
 
 Jemmy .was now about to tell her how, 
 much his opinion, in this point, coincided 
 with what Ihe had delivered -, but The hap- 
 pen'd to be in a very talkative humour,, 
 and this being a fubject Vv'hich in her fe- 
 rious moments had frequently occurr'd to 
 her, fhe would not quit it for the fake of 
 hearing any praifes given to herfelf. 
 
 ' Thereare fome people, refumed flie, 
 
 * who are hypocrites without knowing 
 ' themfelves that they are fo ; they faft, 
 
 * they pray inceffantly, they are abun- 
 
 * dantin giving to charitable ufes, and do 
 ' many other great and laudable actions j 
 
 * but then they do them not fo much for 
 
 * the fake of the religion that enjoins us 
 ' to do all the good we can, as for the 
 
 * fake of gratifying their own vanity in 
 ' being able to perform more tha^^^iieir 
 
 * neighbours.' 
 
 'O' 
 
 * This is oftentation, cried Jemmy, in- 
 terrupting her, and I am afraid that too 
 many of thofe great actions, fo hyper- 
 bolically extoil'd in panegyrick, if 
 fearchM into the bottom, would be 
 found to proceed from no other fource.' 
 ^ ' Oftentation, 
 
Jemmy ^;2i Jenny Jess AMY. 18 1 
 
 ' Oftentation, anfwer*d flie, is different 
 ' from the propenfity I mean •, oilenta- 
 ' tion, as I take it, is rather an ambi- 
 ' tion of appearing better in the eyes of 
 ' others than we either are or will take 
 ' any pains to be in faft \ but what I am 
 ' {peaking of is an innate triumph of the 
 ' heart -, a mental exultation within our- 
 ' felves in the imagination that we in re- 
 
 * ality excel other people ; and this I 
 
 * think may be call'd a fpiritual pride. 
 
 ' I have heard fuch ftrange (lories, 
 ' continued Jenny, fuch unaccountable 
 ' inftances in relation to this fame fpiri- 
 ' tuai pride among the nuns abroad, as I 
 ' ftiould have look'd upon to have been 
 •^ mere inventions to depreciate and ridi- 
 ' cule that way of worlhip, if they had 
 « not been folemnly averr'd to me by a 
 ' lady who is herfelf a roman catholic, 
 ' was two years a penfioner in a monaf- 
 ^ tery at Paris, and an eye witnefs of the 
 ' truth of what fhe faid.' 
 
 Here Ihc was preparing to repeat fome 
 
 of thofe particulars which the lady had 
 made her acquainted with •, but was pre- 
 vented by a fervant who came into the 
 room to call her down to dinner, on 
 which Jemmy, as fhe was a boarder, took 
 " •■; bis 
 
 f/. 
 
i82 ^Ihe H ISTO RY of 
 
 his leave probably with lefs relmflance if 
 the rubje(5l they had been engaged in had 
 happened to be one of a more entertain- 
 ing nature. 
 
 Nor will the reader find any realbn to 
 be greatly dilTatisfied at the breaking off 
 a converfation which could be little im- 
 proving, as an excefs ot devotion is not 
 among the reigning errors of the prefent 
 times. 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 Will in all likelihood appear^ to the 
 great eft part of our readers^ a good 
 deal niore inter efiing than the former. 
 
 AFTER .that converfation which had 
 engrofs'd the whole of the prece- 
 ding chapter, a multiplicity of engage- 
 ments, of one fort or other, fo took up 
 Jemmy's time, that he could not find 
 one hour to vifit his beloved and moft 
 deferving miftrefs for three days fuccef- 
 fively ; but on the evening of the latter 
 he found, on his coming home, a little 
 billet from her which had been left for 
 him in the afternoon, the contents where- 
 of were as follows : 
 
 To 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 183 
 To James Jessamy, Efq; 
 
 Dear Jemmy, 
 
 " A Propofal has been made to me^ 
 <' -^^ which before I accept of am de- 
 " firous to acquaint you with j if this is 
 " fo fortunate as to find you at home 
 " lliail be glad of feeing you this even- 
 •' ing ; if not, expe6l you will not fail 
 *' of calling on me in the morning as 
 " early as you can ; becaufe I have pro- 
 " mifed to give my final anfwer fome 
 " time to-morrow. I am. 
 
 With all fmcerity. 
 
 Dear Jemmy, 
 
 Yours, &c. &c. 
 
 j, Jessamy. 
 
 On the firfl mention of this billet, after 
 an abfence of fo unufual a length between 
 thefe two lovers, when in the fame town 
 together, I dare believe that many of my 
 female readers expeded to find it filFd 
 either with reproaches or complaints ; or, 
 perhaps with a mixture of both ; but 
 Jenny was of a different complexion from 
 the generality of her fex, llie could love 
 without anxiety, and glad as Ihe was 
 whenever llie faw the objed of her paffion, 
 
 was 
 
1B4 "The HISTORY of 
 
 was never angry or unhappy when fhe 
 
 faw him not. 
 
 If all women could bring themfelves to 
 behave in the manner Jenny did, I cannot 
 but think they would find their account 
 in it, not only in the tranquility of their 
 own minds, but alio in rendering more 
 permanent the afi'e(5lion of the man they 
 loved v doubts, fufpicions, and jealoufies, 
 though arifing from a tender caufe, fre- 
 quently hurry the perfon poflefs'd of them 
 into fuch furious marks or refentment, as, 
 if the lover has the leaft inclination to 
 break off, gives him a fair pretence of do- 
 ing fo. 
 
 The guilty heart, which perhaps might 
 be in time reclaim*d by its own confci- 
 oufnefs of being in the wrong, is often, 
 hardened by unbraidings •, there is a cer- 
 tain pride and obftinacy in fome natures 
 which will -not bear reproof, and makes 
 them perfift in the errors which themfelves 
 condemn, only becaufe they are condem- 
 ned by others. 
 
 But if the man, who knows he juflly 
 merits all the reproaches he can be load- 
 ed with, can fo ill endure rebuke, how 
 fhail the innocent, the faithful lover fup- 
 port it 5 to be accufed of a crime his 
 
 very 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 185 
 very apprehenfion fhudders at, to be treat- 
 ed by the woman he adores with fullen 
 coldnefs, and with caufelefs teftimonies of 
 fufpicion, mud give him the moft poig- 
 nant inquietude j and though he may 
 fubmit to it at firft, -and be even pleafed, 
 as imagining fuch a behaviour an indica- 
 tion of the moft tender paflion in his 
 miftrefs •, yet," when he finds "all his en- 
 deavours to calni the tempeft in her foul 
 are fruitlefs, he will at lail, elpecially if 
 he is a man of fenfe and fpirit, be wearied 
 out, as the poet truly fays. 
 
 Small jealoufies, indeed, inflame defirc ; 
 Too great, not fan, but quite put out 
 the fire. 
 
 Or as another, in my opinion, more 
 emphatically expreffcs his fenfe of the 
 matter ; 
 
 'Tis juft, when doubts without- foun- 
 dation grow, 
 
 Thofe who believe us falfe lliould find 
 us fo. 
 
 But I have feen too much how far the 
 power of jealoufy, a paflion truly cali'd 
 the poifon of love, operates on a female 
 mind, not to be fenfible that all the advice 
 I can give on this occafion will be entirely 
 
 thrown 
 
i86 ne HISTORY of 
 
 thrown away ; and that I have more rca> 
 fon to afk pardon of my fair readers for 
 this digrefiion, than to flatter myfelf they 
 will be any way profited by it. 
 
 To return therefore to the bufinefs of 
 myhiftoryi it was too iate when Jemmy 
 received the abovemention'd fummons 
 from his miftrefs to attend her that night ; 
 but he compiy'd ^Aith it very eatly the 
 next morning, according to her requeft ; 
 and ijideed much fooner than fhe could 
 reafonabJy have expefted he v/cuid be 
 Itirring. 
 
 He found her incompafTed with trunks 
 and ban-boxes, and very hufy in pack- r 
 ing up her apparel : ' You have found me \ 
 
 * preparing for a journey, cry'd fhe, which 
 
 * notwithftanding I would neither refolve | 
 
 * upon, nor promife to take without | 
 
 * receiving your approbation of it.' 
 
 * Yqu furprife me, faid he, — a jour- 
 
 * ney ; and wait for my approbation of 
 ' it.' — ' Yes, — replyed Ihe, it was to that 
 
 * end I fent for you in fuch a hurry •, but 
 
 ' fit down and I will tell you all.' — Jem- , 
 my then took a chair, and fhe placing 
 herfelf in another oppofite to him, began 
 as follows : 
 
 'You 
 
Jemmy ^/?^ Jenny Jessamv. 187 
 
 * You muft know, faid fhe, that I 
 
 * din'd yefterday, by invitation, at lady 
 
 * Speck's ', — her filler, mifs Wingman, 
 
 * was with her ; they are both going to 
 ' Bath to-morrow, and were very urgent 
 
 * with me to accompany them : — As I 
 
 * never faw that place, and have heard 
 
 * fo much of it, I muft ccnfefs I fhould 
 
 * be well enough pleafed to go thither •, 
 
 * efpecially when 1 have the opportunity 
 
 * ot being efcorted by three or four ftout 
 ' fellov/s yyith fire-arms, by way of de- 
 
 ,,* fence from the gentlemen colle<5lors of 
 ' * the road.' 
 
 ' I know, replied Jemmy, that lady 
 
 * Speck will abate nothing that fiie thinks 
 
 * becoming her quality, and always tra- 
 ' vels in a genteel manner. — And fo you 
 
 * fet out to-morrow ? 
 
 ' I do not tell you I fnall fet out at all, 
 
 * anfwer'd fhe, for I am not yet deter- 
 
 * mined.' — Jemmy then aflc'd her on 
 what motive fhe hefitated.' — * Can you 
 
 * not guefs,— cry'd Ihe, — looking kindly 
 ' on him ?' ' No upon my honour, faid he, 
 ' Then you are not fo juft to me as you 
 ' ought to be, — returned fhe gravely \ — 
 ' you might have thought I would agree- 
 ' to nothing of this nature, without ha- 
 ' ving firft confulted you.' 
 
 Mc, 
 
i88 The HISTORY oj 
 
 ' Me, cry'd Jemmy, did you not tell 
 ' me you fhould like to go ?' — ' Yes, 
 ' replied fhe, but as I fu ppofe, according , 
 ' to the footing on which we now ftand, 
 ' that it will be my duty hereafter to fub- 
 ' mit my inclinations to the regulation of 
 ' your will, I thought it proper to give ; 
 ' you a previous fample how eafy it will 
 
 * be lor me to do To. In fine, my dear 
 
 ' Jemmy, I Vv'ill not go without your ) 
 
 * conient •, nor even without your appro- ' 
 
 * bation.' 
 
 ' This Is indeed. a proof of tendernefs, 
 
 * cry'd he, which I could not expedl, nor 
 ' can any way deferve, unlefs it be by 
 'joining my entreaties v/ith the ladies, 
 ' that you will not refufe their requeft.' 
 In fpeaking thefe words he rofe from his 
 feat and fnatch'd her to his arm with an 
 infinity of tranfport and affeftion. 
 
 ' Thea you are willing, faid flie, rc- 
 ' turning him his embrace, to part with 
 ' me for the long fpace of fix or feven 
 ' weeks at lead ? for they do not purpofe 
 ' to return fooner.' 
 
 ' I v/ill not pretend to be fo much the 
 « mafler of myfelf, faid he, ftili holding 
 « her by the hand, as to be perfedly con- 
 « tent during fuch a feparation as you 
 
 ' have 
 
 il 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 189 
 ' have mention' d ; but I can fee no rea- 
 ' fon to put my patience to fo fevere a 
 ' trial •, I might follow you direftly, but 
 ' it happens unluckily that my fteward 
 ' whom I have fent for comes to town to- 
 1' morrow, and the affairs I have to fettle 
 i' with him will detain me for fome days ; 
 
 • but I believe I may flatter myfeli with 
 
 • feeing my dear Jenny at Bath within a 
 "' fortnight at the very fartheft.' 
 
 • May I then expe6l you', cryed fhe ? 
 'with a voice which exprefs'd the utmoft 
 fatisfaftion.' ' You may not only expe6t 
 but depend upon my coming •,' anfvver- 
 ed he, ' you have the greateft fecurity for 
 it that is in nature, which is that of 
 my own inclination.' — * Believe me, my 
 dear Jenny, that I never v/as eafy when 
 abfent from you for any length of time ; 
 — the thoughts of you ftill mingled with 
 all the little fports and recreations of my 
 childhood ; and now when riper years 
 have made me more truly fenfible, of 
 the perfedlions you are miftrefs of, I 
 feel it would be an utter impoflibility 
 to live without feeing you.* 
 
 She anfvver'd thefe fond expreffions 
 dth others no lefs endearing ; after which, 
 ihe told him, that fince he agreed to her 
 j;oing, and had promifed to follow, fhe 
 i would 
 
 1/ 
 
I90 r/^f- HISTORY e/ 
 
 would fend immediately, and let lady 
 Speck know fhe fhould be ready to attend 
 her ladyfhip next morning. 
 
 Jemmy then left her to do as fhe had 
 faid, and went home to dreis ; but re- 
 turn'd in the evening, and ftaid fupper 
 -with her, when nothing paffed ofconfe-- 
 quence enough to trouble the reader with, 
 except his renewing the affurances he be- 
 fore had given her of feeing her at Bath 
 as foon as his bufinefs was difpatch'd. 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. [ 
 
 Contains a brief account of fennfs 
 journey to Bath ; and aJfo fome paf 
 fages which happened on her arrival 
 there. 
 
 lENNY, though fne had all the rea- 
 J fon imaginable to be pleafed with this 
 excurfion, not only in the gratification 
 of her curiofity in the fight of a place fhe 
 had heard fo much of, but aifo in the fo- 
 ciety of the company fhe v;cnt with •, of 
 whofe charafters it is highly proper to 
 give the reader fome account. 
 
 Lady 
 
Jemmy ^;z^ Jenny Jessamy. 191 
 
 : Lady Speck had been the wife of a 
 Iperfon of great diftindion, whom Ihe loft 
 iin thefirft year of their marriage ; but as 
 ilove had not been in the leaft confulted by 
 either party in the formation of that uni- 
 on, fo grief had for his death lirtle eltedt, 
 either on the delicacy of her complexion, 
 or the fprightlinefs of her humour-, jQie 
 had alfo fome confolations which many 
 widows want ; for befides a very large 
 jointure fettled on her by her marriage 
 articles, llie was now in poffefTion ot an 
 eftate of near two thoufand pounds a year, 
 by the demife of an uncle. 
 
 The age of this lady did not exceed 
 twenty-five; mifs Wingman,- who was 
 her fifter by her mother's fide, was fix or 
 « feven years younger, and a great heirefs ; 
 -both of them had a great deal of wit and 
 vivacity, but though they faw all the gay 
 company in town, and convers'd freely, 
 neither of them had been guilty of any 
 thing that could call their condudl in 
 •queilion, or caft a blemifh on their repu- 
 tations. 
 
 Thefe ladies, to whofe charafters I 
 , fliould alfo have added that of being very 
 ; agreeable in their perfons, could not fail 
 
 ' of attrafting a great number of admirers ; 
 
 . and as their going to Bath was jao fecret, 
 ;( thofe 
 
192 The HISTORY of 
 
 thofe who were moil eager to prove the 
 fincerity of their attachment, thought they 
 could not do it a better way than by fol- 
 lowing them. 
 
 But there were two who diftinguifh'd 
 themfelves from all the reft of their com- 
 petitors, by a particular a6t of knight 
 errantry, thefe were mr. Lovegrove and 
 lord Huntly; the one had for fome time 
 made his addrefles to lady Speck, and the 
 other eitli^er was, or pretended to be paf- 
 fionatcly devoted to her fifter. 
 
 Thefe gentlemen, who were intimate 
 friends, and the mutual confidants of each 
 other's paflion, contrived a little plot of 
 love and gallantry between them, the 
 idea of which gave them as much plea- 
 fure as they doubted not but their mif- 
 trefles v/ould receive in the execution of it. 
 
 Flaving taken care to inform them- 
 felves as exactly as poffible of the time in 
 which the ladies. were to fet out, they left 
 London fome hours fooner, and arrived 
 at Maidenhead early enough to accom- 
 plifh what they had projeded. 
 
 They put up at the nrft great inn in 
 the town, and having given orders for a 
 very elegant dinner to be prepared, poll- 
 ed 
 
Jemmy ^;7^/ Jenny Jessamy. 19^ 
 
 cd rhemfelves in a room that looked to- 
 'wards the road, that they might be re^dy 
 I to intercept the ladies, in cafe they lliouid 
 1 not intend to bait at this place. 
 
 This precaution was neceHary, for lady 
 Speck's Jehu was driving furioully on, as 
 they generally do when paffing througli 
 any town or village where they have not 
 orders to ftop. — The gentlemiCn faw them 
 atadiftance, and immediately fallied out. 
 Lord Huntiey's two fervants laid hold of 
 the bridles of the fore horf^s, and one of 
 Mr. Lovegrove's, with an authoritative 
 voice, cali'd to the coachman to draw back 
 the reins, their principals at the fame 
 time advanced at the coach door, and 
 accofted thofe within it, in rhefe terms : 
 
 ' We arreft you, ladies, in the name of 
 < love, faid lord Huntley ^ that God, fo 
 ' univerfally obeyed, has commiffion'd us, 
 « his faithtul votaries, to ftop your far- 
 
 * ther progrefs without his fpecial leave; 
 
 * — Ceres and Bacchus are too of the p?r- 
 
 * ty, added mr. Lovegrove, and it would 
 ' be in vain for you to think of refifting 
 
 * theii" united influence.* 
 
 That momentary furprife which the 
 ladies were in at the firft ftoppage of their 
 coach vanifh'd on the fight of the per- 
 
 VoL. I. K Ions 
 
194 "^^'^ HISTORY of 
 fons who had occafion'd it -, and Jady 
 Speck, who happen'd to fit on that fide 
 where they were, anfwer'd with a great 
 deal of fpirit, ' We have nothing to do 
 « with the mifchievious httle deity ; — but 
 
 * as to Ceres and Bacchus, they are be- 
 ' ncficent powers, and I think we ought 
 « to fiiew them fome complaifance j — 
 ' What fay you ladies ?' continued flie, 
 turning to her filler and mifs Jeflamy ; 
 the latter of whom, being wholly una- 
 quainted with the gentlemen, made no re- 
 ply, nor indeed had fhe time -, for mifs 
 Wingman prefently took up the Word, 
 and laid, ' Nay fifter, I think we have no 
 
 * choice to make ; we are taken prifoners 
 
 * and muft fubmit to the laws of the con- 
 ' querors.' 
 
 The coach door was then open'd, the 
 ladies were handed out and conduded in- 
 to a room, where they found the table- 
 cloth laid, and fide-board fet forth with 
 as much elegance and propriety as if they 
 had been in their own houfes •, but as 
 they came fomewhat fooner than the gen- 
 tlemen expefted, mr. Lovegrove left lord 
 Huntly to entertain them for a moment, 
 while he went down to give orders for ha- 
 ftening dinner. 
 
 As 
 
Jemmy /2;z^ Jenny Jessamy. 195 
 As he was returning from this little ex- 
 pedition a poft-chaife, attended by one 
 fervant, came galloping into the yard of 
 the inn •, the perfon who alighted from it 
 )was fir Robert Manley, a very great ac- 
 iquaintaince of mr. Lovegrove's ; they im- 
 i mediately faw each other, and mutually 
 advanced with open arms. 
 
 On putting the queftion to each other 
 (Concerning the rout they were purfuing, 
 ; Lovegrove related in a few words the me- 
 thod that lord Huntly and himfelf had 
 1 taken, to ingratiate themfelves into the 
 favour of their miftreffes. 
 
 « You are happy fellows, faid fir Ro- 
 
 « bert, fmiling, 1 am for Bath too; but 
 
 . ' you fee how forlorn and folitary my 
 
 journey will be in comparifon of yours, 
 
 who carry along with you thofe pleafures 
 
 ^' * I am obliged to go in fearch of.* 
 
 Mr. Lovegrove then told him, there 
 . was a third lady in company, * who 
 j' « young and handfome as flie is, faid he, 
 ■ ' is like to have but a dull time of it, as 
 ;' ' my lord and I have our particular at- 
 ' « tachments ; therefore, if I could prevail 
 ' * on you to join us, we fiiould be all 
 i' * right, and more at liberty to indulge 
 ' * our feveral inclinations.* 
 ''" K2 a 
 
 r^' ■ 
 
jq6 The HISTORY of 
 
 ' I underiland you, replied the baro- 
 
 * net, 2nd was never backward in my 
 
 * life to come to the relief of a diftrelTed 
 
 * fair one-, I fhall Bnd fomething or other 
 '■ to fay to her, while you are entertaininp- 
 *■ your miflrelTes.' 
 
 On this the other purpofed that he 
 fliould profecute his journey with them, 
 in lord Huntley's landau; to which he. 
 alio agreeing, diicharg'd in the fame in- f ' 
 ftant I he poft-chaife that had brought him 
 thither, and they went up (lairs together 
 to join the company. 
 
 * I have fbaid a long time, faid mr. 
 
 * Lovegrove, prefenting fir Robert, but| 
 
 * have brought my excu'e in my hand,' — 
 This gentleman was particularly known to 
 lord Huntley, and no ftranger to lady \ 
 Speck and her fifter, and was received by 
 them with all imaginable demonftrations 
 of fatisfaftion ; but Jenny, not having the 
 leaft pcrfonal acquaintance with him, faid 
 no more than what bare civility demand- 
 ed from her to a man of his rank and 
 charafler. 
 
 The converfation, during the time of 
 dinner, becoming extremely gay and fpi- 
 rityous, our young heroine however bore 
 it part in it, with fo much wit and viva^ 
 
 city. 
 
Jemmv and Jenny Jessamv. 197 
 
 city, which, added to her other charms, 
 could not tail of capt vating almoft any 
 heart, not already ftrongly prepoffefs'd in 
 favour of another objjcl; — his lordfhip 
 and mr. Lovegruve were defended, n.t 
 only by the ideas, but alfo by the prc- 
 
 Ifence of their miftreffes ; but what the 
 heart of fir Robert Manley felt on the 
 
 Tudden rufli of iuch united perfection, 
 
 Iwill very ihortly be difcover'd. 
 
 i' 'It would be quite needlefs to tell th- 
 I reader that the table Avas elegantly ferv'd, 
 i for no one can fuppofe that gentLMi. n . 
 iwho had taken io much pains to acquue 
 lan opportunity of entertaining their mi- 
 iftrefTes, would omit any thing for that 
 ipurpofe which the place they were in 
 "was capable of furnifhing. 
 
 The fame fpirit of gallantry continued 
 ' during the whole journey; — wherever they 
 ^ baited, which was as often as any agree- 
 able profped: invited ; the ladies had no- 
 ' thing to pay, either for themfelves, their 
 fervants, or their horfes ^ — as they traveli'd 
 very leifurely they found, on their ar- 
 ' rival at Bath, their women attendants, 
 who had come down with their lugs^a^e 
 in the llage coach, had been there fome 
 hours before them, and prepar'd every 
 thing neceiTa y for their reception at the 
 K 3 lodgings 
 
198 The HISTORY of 
 
 Jodgings which lady Speck had previ- 
 oufly taken cr.re to fecure. 
 
 It being towards evening when they 
 came into the town, the gentlemen, after 
 feeing their fair companions fafe into their 
 apartments, v^ithdrew, on pretence of leav- 
 ing them to take that repofe which the de- 
 licacy of their conftitutions might require ; 
 but, in reality, to go about the execution 
 of a project they had all three been con- 
 certing on the road, and which they 
 im.agined v/ould give the ladies a fecond 
 furprife, no lefs agreeable than the for- 
 mer. - \ 
 
 They had been told there were a com- 
 pany of players, and a tolerable good] 
 band of mufick, at that tim.e in town \ and| 
 as thefe people v.'ere to be employed for] 
 what they had defign'd, they went di-^ 
 redly to the theatre, and hired fuch or' 
 them as they found moll fit for their pur- 
 pofe ; v/hich was no other than to compli- 
 ment the ladies on their arrival, in a' 
 manner altogether new and unexpedled. 
 
 Lord Huntley, who was a native of 
 the kingdom of Ireland, had brought 
 over with him a little mufical interlude, 
 which had been exhibited at a marriage 
 feaft where his lordfiiip had been a gueft. 
 
 As 
 
I>" 
 
 Jemmy a?2d Jenny Jessamv. 199 
 
 As they were upon the fubjedl of gal- 
 lantry, he propofed to mr. Lovegrove to 
 entertain the ladies with this piece, by 
 way of giving them their welcome to Bath, 
 in cafe they fhould be able to procure 
 [people to perform the parts. 
 
 I The perfonages v^hich compofed the 
 
 idrama, v/ere Lo\^e, Honour and Pl2a- 
 
 isuPvE. — Mr. Lovegrove was charm'd with 
 
 (the thought •, and fir Robert Manley iliid,: 
 
 that nothing could be more fuitably 
 
 adapted to the defign thc-y were at prefent: 
 
 upon. 
 
 The play-houfe, as I have already faid, 
 fupply'd them with performers better than 
 they could even have hoped for in that 
 place J — a flaxen hair'd boy, with fpark- 
 ling eyes, — cheeks which imitated the 
 new blown rofe, and an admirable voice, 
 was chofe to reprefent the God of soft 
 DESIRES. — A man of a mofb graceful af- 
 ped, and who had great fkill in mufick, 
 was to appear in the charader of Ho- 
 nour. — A very beautiful young woman, 
 and who alfo fung well, was to afllime the , 
 name of Pleasure -, and leemed, by her 
 looks and manner, to be capable of gi- 
 ving a very jufb idea of the charader flie 
 bore. 
 
 K 4 Thefe- 
 
200 The HISTORY of 
 
 Thcfe people, properly habited and 
 cqiiipp'd for the feveral parts they were to . 
 aft, and attended by muficians with va- 
 rious kinds of inftruments, were all pla- ■ 
 ced in a clofe arbour, at the farther end of j; 
 the garden belonging to the houfe where | 
 the ladies lodged ; the miftrefs of which * 
 lord Fluntlcy had acquainted with the de- , 
 fign of furprifmg the ladies 'with a morn- 
 ing's ent!rtainment, and conduced them f. 
 in through a back door with fecrecy, ac- ? 
 cording to the diredlions given her by his 
 lordfhip. 
 
 Every thing being thus prepared, a 
 .fervant was difpatch'd to the ladies, with 
 the compliments of lord Huntley, mr. 
 Lovcgrove, and Ar Robert Manley; and 
 entreating permifTion to wait on them, 
 which being granted, they all immediate- 
 ^Jy went •, — the latter of thefe gentlemen 
 having, perhaps, as ftrong an attachment 
 to be of the party as either of the former. ' 
 
 Scarce were the firft ildutations over, 
 when the concert began, with an over- 
 ture of wind and firing inftruments, ac- 
 companied with an harpficord ; — the 
 ladies flarted ; — ' Blefs me! cry'd one; 
 t — What's this? — mufick, — cry'd 
 * another, — and fo near us, — where 
 < can it come from ?' ' The 
 
Jemmy ^W Jennv Jessamy. 20 r 
 
 * The founds, faid mr. Lovegrove, 
 * feem to me to proceed from behind the 
 ' houfc. — Certainly 'tis fo, rejoin'd lord 
 ' Huntley, — I fancy, ladies, you will hear 
 ' it more dlftindly in the next room.' In 
 fpeaking thefe words, without {laying for 
 p::rmifiion to do fo, he threw open the 
 folding doors and they all ran in. 
 
 But how prodigioufly were the fair 
 ; audience furprifed, when, on drawing up 
 I the windov/s, they fav/ the garden planted 
 on each fide with muficians, v/ho all, at 
 fight of them bow'd with the moil pro- 
 found reverence aimoil to the earth, in 
 token that it was to them their prefent la- 
 bours were devoted. 
 
 « What can this mean? faid lady 
 Speck. — Here are thofe comings re- 
 
 * ply'dmr. Lovegrove, who I beheve will 
 
 * explain the myftery.' There was time for 
 no more on either fide : Honour rufh'd 
 forth from his leafy covert, conducing 
 little Cupid by the hand, and both ad- 
 vanced together to the middle of the 
 alley •, where, after making their obeifance 
 to the windows, they began a duet ex- 
 prefiing the advantages each of them re- 
 ceived, by the fellowfhip of the other. 
 Love confefsM that his Darts carried 
 
 K 5 gall 
 
202 The HISTORY of 
 
 gall inftead of honey into the heart they 
 reach'd, when not under the direftion of 
 Honour ; — and Honour acknowledged, 
 he never appear'd fo truly amiable as 
 when accompanied by Love. 
 
 They hadnofooner ceafed than Plea- 
 sure came tripping out, and told them, in 
 a cantato, whenever they two were united, 
 Ihe muft neceffarily follow with all the 
 fweets oi nature. — They made her fuitable , 
 anfwers in rccitativo. — After which the* 
 whole was concluded with a grand cho- 
 rus. 
 
 This entertainment had all the effedl 
 that could be wifii'd for by the contrivers 
 of it ; — Jenny was charmed with the 
 elegance of the defign, — mifs Wingman 
 with the words, and lady Speck with the 
 mufick. — In fine, they all feem'd to 
 vye with each other in giving the greateft 
 praifes to it. 
 
 While they were thus exprefling their j; 
 fatisfaftion, the gentlemen put their T 
 heads out of the window, and lord Hunt- 
 ley, in the name of the refV, faid to the 
 aftors : — * We fhall fee you this evening 
 « at the theatre, and make our acknow- 
 < ledge ments for the trouble we have . 
 « given you , in the mean time you may J 
 
 « carry J 
 
Jemmy atid Jenny Jessamy. 203, 
 ' carry with you the glory of knowing, 
 .' your performance has been approv'd o-t* 
 •'by tiie fineft ladies in the world.' 
 
 On this the players, after making a low 
 I bow to the company, retired, and were 
 I conduced out of the garden by the gen- 
 tlewoman of the houfe, through the fame 
 gate by which they had enter'd. 
 
 A piece of gallantry, fo flattering to- 
 the vanity of the young and^'gay, could 
 not but receive from lady Speck and her 
 lifter, all the retributions it demanded 
 from them •, — and Jenny, though far 
 from thinking herfelf a party interefted in 
 it, faid a thoufand, fine things in its. 
 praife. 
 
 Charm'd as the lovers were with the 
 gracious acceptance their miftreffes vouch- 
 fafed to what they had done, their polite- 
 nefs reminded them, that they had alrea- 
 dy tranfgrefs'd the ufual boundaries of a. 
 morning's vifit ; therefore they took leave- 
 till a more convenient hour of the day- 
 fliould permit them to return. 
 
 K6 CHAP. 
 
204 "^^^^ HISTORY of 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 Treats of many ihingSy ivhich though ,_ 
 they may feem at prejent lefs affeSiing |i 
 than fome others^ yet are very necef- 
 fary for the reader to be acquainted 
 avithy before we proceed farther into 
 the hi ft or y, 
 
 YOUTH, beauty, and wit, havede- 
 fervingly a very powerful influence 
 over the human heart j and every day, 
 experience obliges us to own, that wealth, \ 
 without the aid of any of thefe, is of itfeif | 
 lufficient to captivate •, — it fupplies all 
 other defeds •, - — it fmooths the wrinkles of 
 fourfcore •, — it fhapes deformity into 
 comelinefs, and gives graces toidiotifm 
 itfeif i as it is fiid by the inimitable 
 Shakefpear r 
 
 Gold ! yellow, glittering, precious gold ! 
 Gold I that will make black, white ; foul, 
 fair ; wrong, right ; 
 
 Bafe, noble -, old, young \ cowards, va- 
 liant ! 
 
 But when the gifts of nature are join'd 
 whh tliofe of fortune, how llrong is the 
 
 tra(5tion 
 
Jemmy ^;zi/ Jenny Jess amy. 205 
 
 attraftion ! — how irx^'efiftible is the force 
 of fuch united charms ! according to the 
 words of the humorous poet : 
 
 Hence 'tis, no lover has the power 
 T' enforce a defperate amour, 
 As he that has tv/o firings to's bow. 
 And burns for love and money too. 
 
 We ought not therefore, methinks, to 
 judge with too much feverity on the vani- 
 ty of a fine lady ; who feeing herfelf per- 
 petually furrounded with a crowd of 
 lovers, each endeavouring to excel all his 
 rivals in the moft extravagant demonflra- 
 tions of affection, can hardly believe fhe 
 deferves not fome part, at leafl, of the ad. 
 miration fhe receives. 
 
 But what pretence foever we may make 
 to excufe the weaknefs of exulting; in a 
 multiplicity of lovers, it is ftill a weaknefs 
 which all imaginable care ought to be 
 taken to fubdue ; as it may draw on the 
 moft fatal confequen€es both on the ad- 
 mirers and admired : — What duels have 
 been fought ! — What torrents of blood 
 ' " have been fhed in the mad-brain'd fury of 
 jealous rivalfhip ! — And how often have 
 we feen the idol fair herfelf, who lately 
 triumph'd in the pains Ihe ^ave, negle<5t- 
 
 cd 
 
2o6 The HISTORY of 
 
 ed in her turn, — deferted and abaa- 
 dpn'd to the laft defpair! 
 
 But this is only for fuch whom it may 
 concern ; the ladies I am at prefent fpeak- 
 ing of were of a different flamp -, lady 
 Speck had fomething of a pretty particu- 
 lar nature, both in her humour and cha- 
 racter, as the reader will hereafter be in- 
 formed -, in the mean time muft content 
 himfelf with a fmall Iketch of both. 
 
 She liked a freedom of converfation 
 with the men, but then Ihe liked that 
 converfation fhould be general ; fhe tcrok 
 neither pride nor pleafure in the particular 
 devoirs of thofe who profefs'd themfelves 
 her lovers -, and the encouragement fhe gave 
 to the addreffes of mr. Lovegrove and o- 
 thers, was not the effed of any coquetry in 
 her difpofition, but was occafion'd "merely 
 by her policy, as fhe thought fuch a be- 
 haviour would be the beft means to con- 
 ceal a fecret inclination fhe had entertain'd I 
 in favour of one •, which inchnation ma- f 
 ny reafons forbid her to make known, or I 
 even to be guefs'd at. | 
 
 O' 
 
 Mifs Wingman was of a humour {o 
 very volatile, that it was quite out of her [ 
 power to think ferioufly for a minute to- 
 gether on any one thing whatever, and ; 
 
 10V( 
 
 % 
 
Jemmv^w^ Jenny Jessamv. 207 
 love the leafl of all took up her attention ; 
 — always pleafed, — always happy, Ihe 
 neither plumed herfelf on the new con- 
 quefts fhe acquiredi nor regretted the lofs 
 of thofe flaves, who, weary of their bon- 
 dange, fhook off her chains. 
 
 As for the heroine of this hiftory, her 
 early engagement with Jemmy was fo 
 well known, that it had hitherto defend- 
 ed her from all attacks, either to put her 
 conflancy to the trial, or Ihew the world 
 in what manner Ihe would behave amidft 
 a plurality of lovers. 
 
 But now the time was come in which 
 this young lady was to give moft fubftan- 
 tial proofs, not only of her afFe6lion and 
 fidelity to the man whom fhe looked up- 
 on ordained to be her future husband, but 
 alfo of her genercfity and gratitude to 
 thofe to whofe paflion llie had it not either 
 in her power or inclination to make an 
 adequate return. 
 
 As all the arts of love and wit were put 
 in pra6l:ice by lord Huntley and mr. Love- 
 grove, in the court they made to their 
 refpeftive miftrefles, fir Robert Manley 
 thought it would ill become a man of his 
 years and character to let a fine lady fit 
 negleifled by, efpecially one who appear' d 
 
 fo 
 
2oS Tl^e HISTORY of 
 
 o deferving as Jenny did, of all that 
 could be faid in her praife. 
 
 But though the compliments he en- 
 tertain'd her with had at firft no other 
 foundation than mere gallantry, yet the 
 manner in which fhe receiv^ed them, and 
 the anfwers flie gave, Vv^ere fuch as would 
 have rendered it impoffible for him to 
 have withftood the charms of her tongue, 
 even had he been unfufceptibk to thofe of 
 her eyes. 
 
 In fine, none of the perfeftions fhe was 
 endowed with were loft upon him ; he 
 foon found the full effe6bs of a pafTion he 
 had been only fporting with, and might 
 fay with Cowley, 
 
 Unhurt, untouched, did I complain. 
 And terrify 'd all others with my pain ; 
 But now I feel the mighty evil. 
 Ah there's no fooling with the devil- : 
 In things where fancy much does reiga 
 'Tis dangerous too cunningly to feign j 
 The play at laft a truth docs grow, 
 And cuftom into nature go. 
 
 Love, tho' it may be counterfeited fo. 
 as not to be, without great penetration,, 
 difcover'd to be falfc, cannot, wherever ic 
 is fincere, be wholly conceal'd j fir Ro- 
 bert's 
 
Jemmv ^«t7 Jenny Jessamy. 209 
 
 fbert's two friends perceived the change 
 in him before he was quite affur'd of it 
 in himfelf : — they were a httle pleafant 
 with him on the occafion ; but at the fame 
 time acknowledged, that the beauty and 
 merit of mifs Jenny Jeffamy demanded 
 all the refpe6t that could be paid to her. 
 
 Sir Robert on this readily confefs'd, 
 that he had never feen a young lady whofe 
 perfon and accomplifhments gave a more 
 fair profpect of making compleatly happy 
 the man who fhould poffefs her j * Bur, 
 ' faid he, I have been told fomewhat of 
 
 * an engagement fhe is under, and I 
 
 * fhould be forry to appear cither unjuft 
 ' in attempting to invade the property 
 ' of another, or fo weak as to give up 
 ' my heart entirely v/ithout a pofTibility 
 
 * of having it well receiv'd.' 
 
 liOrd Huntley and mr. Lovegrove were 
 neither of them ignorant of what he meant; 
 but the former having heard, in cafual 
 converfation, fome of thofe whifpers which 
 the artifices of Bellpine had circulated 
 through almofl all companies, cried ha- 
 flily out, * If a match betwec^n mifs Jenny 
 ' and a young heir of her own name, be 
 ' the fole impediment to your making 
 ' your addrelTes to her, I beUeve I may 
 
 * venture to afTure you, from very good 
 
 ' hands, 
 
2IO "The HISTORY of 
 
 * hands, that it is quite broke off-, and 
 
 * that for fome time they have neither re- 
 
 * garded nor treated each other with any 
 ' thing more than a bare civility.* 
 
 * Your lordfhip*s intelligence, faid mr. 
 ' Lovegrove, feems to me agreeable to 
 
 * reafon on the nature of the thing •, the 
 ' marriage was agreed upon by their pa- 
 ' rents before the young people were ca- 
 ' pable of judging for themfelves, and as 
 
 * now they are arrived at years of matu- 
 ' rity, I fee no caufe, except a difinclina- 
 ' tion on the one fide or the other ior 
 
 * delaying the confummation of v/hat was 
 ' fo long ago proje(5i:ed.' 
 
 People eafily believe what they wifli, 
 and indeed there was fo much appearance 
 of reafon in the inference mr. Lovegrove 
 had drawn, that it is not to be wonder'd 
 at that the young baronet readily gave 
 into it. 
 
 But he was flill better fatisfied, when, 
 after having declared how happy he Ihould 
 think himfelf in an affurance of Jen- 
 ny's heart being difengaged, mr. Love- 
 grove told him, that fince he found he 
 was fo ferious in the affair, he would 
 fpeak to lady Speck, and endeavour ta 
 come at the certainty. 
 
 'And 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 2 1 1 
 
 * And I, cried lord Huntley, will 
 ' found mifs Wingman on the occafion i 
 ' I believe fhe will make no fcruple to in- 
 ' form what £he knows of it ; and as fhe 
 
 * is nearer to her own years than her fil- 
 ' ter may be fuppofed to be, yet- deeper 
 
 * in her fecrets and confidants.' 
 
 It would be fuperfluous to repeat the 
 many retributions fir Robert made to the 
 gentlemen on the friendly part they took 
 in his intereft \ fo I Ihall only fay, they 
 were fuch as became the mouth of a man 
 very much in love, and who fcorn'd to 
 make ufe of any difhonourable or unge- 
 nerous means for the attainment of his 
 wifhes. 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 Is taken up with a converfation of vefj 
 great importance, 
 
 NEITHER lady Speck nor her fifter 
 were ignorant of thofe reports which 
 had been fo malicioufly fpread, concerning 
 a change in the fentiments of Jemmy, — 
 they had heard it averr'd by feveral of 
 their acquaintances, as a thing paft all 
 
 difpute, 
 
212 The HISTORY of 
 
 difpute •, but as their fair friend had never 
 made them the confidants of her imagi- 
 nary misfortune, they thought it too tender 
 and delicate a point to be touch'd upon in 
 her prefence, and had always carefully 
 avoided giving lier the lealt hint that 
 they had been told of fuch a thing. 
 
 It was owing hov/ever merely to tlie 
 efl^em and friendfhip they had towards | 
 her, that had induced them to perfuadc | 
 her to accompany them to Bath, believing 
 that the pleaiures of that place might keep 
 her from refenting too deeply an indigni- 
 ty which few women arc able to fupport 
 with patience. 
 
 Regarding her in the affectionate man- 
 ner they did, it could not but afford them 
 a good deal of fatisfaftion to be inform'd 
 by lord Huntley and mr. Lovegrove of 
 the new conqueft Ihe had made ; judging, 
 as they reafonably might, that the offer 
 of a heart, fuch as that of fir Robert 
 Manley, would fully compenfate for the 
 iofs they fuppofed Ihe had fuftain'd by the 
 infidelity of Jemmy. 
 
 Both thefe ladies alTured not only their 
 lovers, but ffr Robert himfclf;, or the part 
 they took in his intereft, anJ that they 
 would lay hold of the firft opportunity to 
 
 fpeak 
 
.. . Jemmy and Jent^y Jessamy. 213 
 
 ' -fpeak to Jenny on the affair, in fuch terms 
 as Ihould ieem to them moft effedual to 
 convince her that llie oiio;ht not to flight 
 a pro^voiaj which could not but prove for 
 her honour and advantage to accept. 
 
 They were punctual to their promife ; 
 the next morning, as they were fitting all 
 together at hreakfafb, lady Speck intro- 
 duced what flie intended to infmuate, by 
 making fome obfervations on the temper 
 and behaviour of mankind in general i till 
 by degrees fhe fell infenfibly, as it were, 
 and without feeming to have any defign, 
 into very great corRmendations of fir Ro- 
 bert Manley j faying, that fhe thought 
 that he had more virtue and fewer faults, 
 than mcft men of her acquaintance j and 
 then aik'd Jenny what was her opi- 
 nion of him. 
 
 * Really, madam, replyed fhe, I pre- 
 
 * tend to very little judgment of mankind, 
 
 * efpecially in thofe I have known fo 
 ' fhort a time •, but by what I have feen 
 
 * of fir Robert, he appears to me to have 
 
 * honour and good fenfe, and alfo to be 
 
 * well natur'd/ 
 
 * You have named, faid lady Speck, 
 
 * the three grand requifites for making a 
 
 * good hufband ; and I hope that the ob- 
 
 ' je<ft 
 
214 "J^he HISTORY of 
 
 « je6l of his aflfedlions will foon be con- 
 
 * vinced that he is pofiefs'd of them, as 
 
 < well as with an infinity of love. 
 
 ' Is fir Robert then about marrying, 
 ' demanded Jenny. — ' I cannot fay abfo- 
 
 * lutely about it, return'd lady Speck ; 
 ' for I am pretty certain he has not yet 
 
 * affumed courage enough to make any 
 ' declaration of his paflion ; all I know 
 ' is, that he is moft violently in love.* 
 
 ' He is undoubtedly a very fine Gen- 
 « tleman, faid Jenny, and if his pafTion 
 ' be fincere and honourable he fhall have 
 ' my good wifhes for his fuccefs. As to 
 ' his fuccefs, refum'd her ladylliip, it 
 ' it depends entirely on yourfelf ; — for j 
 
 < I afllire you, it is with you he is in ; 
 « love.' 
 
 . « With me ! madam,' cry'd Jenny, 
 very much aftonifh'd, and fetting down 
 her difh of tea -, — ' What does yourlady- 
 ' fhip mean ? — 'I mean as 1 have faid, 
 « replied the other ; — but if you have a 
 
 * mind the intelligence fhould be repeat- 
 
 * ed, I will oblige you fo far as to afllire 
 ' you, that it is with your individual felf 
 « fir Robert Manley is in love,' 
 
 *I, 
 
Jemmy ^;7<^ Jenny Jessamy. 215 
 
 ' I perceive, faid Jenny, your lady- 
 ^ fhip is pleafed to divert yourfelf this 
 ' morning at my expence, — No, I pro- 
 ' tefl, return'd lady Speck, I was ne- 
 ' ver more in earned in my whole life. 
 ' — Indeed, rejoin'd mifs Wingman, I 
 ' can vouch for my fifterVs fincerity in 
 *■ this point ; — fir Robert has made mr. 
 ' Lovegrove and lord Huntley the con- 
 ' fidants of bis paffion ; and I believe you 
 
 * will very foon hear it from his own 
 
 * mouth.' 
 
 * I hope not, anfwer'd Jenny, in a 
 ' very referved tone ; — for if fir Robert 
 ' has in reality any fuch inclinations to- 
 ' wards me as you mention, he fiiould 
 ' at leaft, methinks, have the prudence to 
 ' keep them to him.felf, as he cannot but 
 ' know my hand has long fince been 
 ' defined to another.' 
 
 ' Say rather, cry'd lady Speck, in- 
 ' tended to be giveti ; for it is not in the 
 ' power of parents to make their chil- 
 ' drens fate ; — they often decree for us 
 * what we do not think fit to comply 
 ' with even while they live, to awe us 
 « into obedience by their frowns ; but 
 ' when they are dead, and we are left to 
 ' the management of ourfelves, we chil- 
 
 ' dren 
 
2i6 ry&^ HISTORY ^ 
 
 ' dren pay not much regard to the injuncli- 
 
 * ons of thole who are no ionge r in a con- 
 ' dition to thwart our inchnations.* 
 
 ' That may be the cafe fometimes ma- 
 
 * dam, faid Jenny ; but I ihould be 
 ' lorry to be among the number of thofe 
 
 * who verify it ; our parents have not on- 
 
 * ]y an undoubted right to difpofe of us, 
 ' but alfo arc much better judges of what 
 ' will make our happinefs than ourfelves 
 
 * can pretend to be.' 
 
 * All this is very true, cry'd mifs Wing- 
 man very brill^ly, but how miuch foever 
 ' thofe who would pafsforthe difcreet part 
 
 * of our fex may picque thcmfelves upon | 
 
 * their implicit obedience in this point, i 
 ' I believe the men will not be found al- 
 ' together fo fanguine in the performance | 
 
 * of their duty.' - 
 
 * No, no, reply'd lady Speck, incli-j 
 ' nation does all on their part ; — it is notl 
 
 * virtue, — it is not wit, — it is not beau- 
 ' ty, — it is not all the perfedions that 
 ' Heaven and nature can beftow, — but 
 ' Fancy, — partial Fancy, by which the 
 
 * heart of man is influenced ; and that 
 ' woman who perfevercs in her afFe6lion 
 ' for a lover, who either never did, or 
 ' having once done fo, ceafes to regard 
 
 ' her 
 
Jemmy ^«^ Jenny JEssAMY. 217 
 * her as he ought, difcovers a meannefs 
 '• of fpirit which muft render her con- 
 ■' temptible, both in his eyes and thole 
 '* of ail her acquaintance.' 
 
 I Jenny, whofe penetration few things 
 fcfcaped, prefently comprehended that 
 I this difcourfe was aim'd to raife fome 
 ifufpicions in her mind concerning the 
 I conftancy of Jemmy ; and looking on 
 'I liich an attempt as highly injurious both 
 |i to herfelf and him, anfvver'd with fome- 
 ! what of what the French call a fierty 
 ■: in her voice and countenance, in theie 
 ' terms : 
 
 * The more ridiculous it appears, faid 
 
 * fhe, the more reafon has mr. Jeffamy 
 ' and myfelf to thank Heaven for di- 
 ' re6ling the care of our indulging fa- 
 
 * thers to call our lot where there is no 
 ' danger of fuch a misfortune happening 
 ' to neither of us-' 
 
 Lady Speck and mifs Wingman look- 
 ed on each other with fomx amazement 
 while Jenny was fpeaking, as not well 
 knowing what to think •, but after a paufe 
 of fome minutes, ' Some people, laid 
 
 * lady Speck, a little Icorniully, take a 
 ' pride in being blind to what half the 
 ' town has long fince feen and iaugh'd 
 
 I Vol. I. L * ati 
 
2iS The HISTORY 0/ 
 
 « at.' Here Ihe doped, and mifs Wing- 
 man, who was the more Ipiritous of the 
 two, and a good deal nettled at the tart 
 manner in which Jenny had fpoke, cry'd 
 out, ' Dear fiiier, I beg you will fhew 
 ' mifs JefTamythe letter yourladyfhip re- 
 
 * ceived fmce our coming down to Bath ; 
 
 * it is the duty of her triends to force 
 
 * open her eyes, as fhe feems obftinate to 
 
 * fhut daylight out.' 
 
 'It is a thing I have been very loth 
 « to mention, refum'd lady Speck, and 
 
 * now do it with an extreme reluctance ; 
 « but fmce there is no other way to con- 
 ' vince you that the world is not i^o ig- 
 ' norant as you imagine, of the incon- 
 
 * flancy and perfidioufnefs of mr. Jef- 
 
 * famy, read that, — and ceafe for the 
 < future to offer any thing in the vin- 
 « dication of fo unworthy a man.' 
 
 In fpeaking thefe words ihe took a let- 
 ter out of her pocket and put it into 
 Jenny's hand, which that young lady 
 opening, with an agitation of fpirits very 
 unufuai with her, found it contain'd as 
 follows, 
 
 To 
 
Jemmy tf«^ Jenny Jessamy. 219 
 
 To the Honourable Lady Speck, 
 at Bath. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 S I know very well that minds 
 truly benignant and humane, like 
 " your ladylhip's, take a pleafure in 
 *' every opportunity of doing good, I 
 *' fhall rnake no apology for the trouble 
 " of this anonymous epiftle -, efpecially as 
 '* it is wrote with a view of ierving a 
 '* young lady, who fo well deferves 
 " and poffefles fo much of your lady- 
 '" fhip's kind wilhes as mifs Jeffamy." 
 
 ** But not to keep your ladyfliip in 
 ** fufpence, permit me to acquaint you, 
 *' that mr. Jeffamy, who for fome time 
 '* has made his private addreffes to mifs 
 *' Chit, has now taken the opportunity 
 " of your fair friend's abfence to avow 
 " publickly his pafTion for that young 
 " perfon. Some people will have it, 
 " that every thing is already fo far eon- 
 *' eluded upon between them that a 
 " marriage will very Ihortly be con- 
 <' fummated ; but this I will not pretend 
 *' to affirm : it is certain, however, that 
 " he loves her \ and that a little flcill in 
 " mufic, out-ballances, in his giddy 
 *' fancy, all the real merits of the beau- 
 ** tiful and accomplilhed mifs Jeffamy." 
 La « I 
 
220 "The HISTORY ^ 
 
 ■ "I know not whether fhe is as yet ap- 
 '' priz'd of his infidelity, or has even any 
 " fulpicions of it •, but the lefs fhe is fo the 
 *' more will it fliock her tender nature 
 " to find, at her return, that he is mar- 
 *• ried, or about being married to ano- 
 *' ther. — How could her gentle heart 
 ** fupport the fuddcn difappointment ? 
 *' — How bear the double pangs of the 
 *' indignity offer'd to her love and beau- 
 " ' ty ? — Fatal, alas, might be the confe- 
 *' quences of fuch a flroke, if not 
 *' pr.evijufly prepar'd and arm'd againfl 
 " It !'* 
 
 " It depends greatly on your ladyfhip 
 *' to fliield that injured innocence from 
 *' being too dseply affedied with her 
 " misfortune, and as her cafe muft touch 
 " every one who has a foul capable of 
 *' focialcommiferafion, I take the liberty, 
 *' with all fubmifTion, to entreat you, 
 " madam, to give her fuch warnings of 
 '' her fate as may render the certainty, 
 " whenever it fhall arrive, lefs heavy to 
 " be borne •, — if once thoroughly per- 
 *' fuaded there is a probability of his 
 " being falfe, it will at lead take off the 
 " alarming furprife of finding he is fo •, 
 *' and the more early fhe is brought to 
 «" fufped his bafenefs, the more oppor- 
 
 " tunity 
 
Jemmy ^w^ Jenny Jessamy. 221 
 ^ tunity fhe will have to exert the good 
 " fenfe (lie is miftrefs of, in defpifing in- 
 " ftead of lamenting it." 
 
 !^ <* The manner in which this is moft 
 •' proper to be done will beft be de- 
 I*' termined by your ladyfliip's fuperior 
 *« judgment: I only beg that the above 
 ;*' hints may be received, in an affurance 
 H' that they proceed from a heart truly 
 '•' devoted to honour and virtue, and en- 
 '**- tirely free from all views but fuch as 
 '*' may be conducive to promote tlse 
 '*{« caufeof thofe noble principles." 
 
 I am, 
 
 "With a profound refpe(fl:, 
 
 Madam, 
 
 Your ladylhip's 
 
 Moft humble, 
 
 Moll faithful 
 
 And obedient fervant. 
 
 P. S. '* Your ladylhip will pardon 
 ** the concealment of my name for the 
 •* prefent, as an advice of this nature 
 " might probably fubjeft the perfon who 
 ** gives it to many great inconvenien- 
 " cies, if known before the affair to 
 L 3 ** which 
 
222 1'he HISTORY of 
 " which it relates is abfolutely conclu- 
 " ded and pafl beyond all poffibility of 
 *' denial." 
 
 Scarce had Jenny patience to go 
 through with this invidious fcroll ; — 
 « Good God,' cry'd fhe, to lady Speck ; 
 ' — who is it can have the bafenefs to 
 
 * alTert fuch monftroiis untruths, or the 
 
 * prefumption to attempt making your 
 ' ladyiliip's good nature the dupe of a 
 
 * defign fo villanous, and withal fo mean?* 
 
 Then immediately recolledling what 
 had juft now been told her concerning 
 the palTion fir Robert Manley had enter- ; 
 tain'd for her, fhe hefitated not a mo- 
 ment to accufe him of having taken this 
 method to alienate her affedlions from 
 Jemmy •, and looking on the contrivance 
 with that contempt and indignation it 
 really deferved, began to reproach in 
 terms the moft bitter that could ilTuc 
 from a mouth fo little accuflom'd to in- 
 veftives. 
 
 The two ladies feem*d quite aftonifh'd 
 at her behaviour, and both join*d to en- 
 deavour to convince her of the injuftice 
 to fir Robert, who they believed had too 
 much honour to attempt the gaining of 
 his point by a way fo abjed: and fo un- 
 worthy 
 
Jemmy /z;zi Jenny Jessamy. 223 
 
 [worthy of his chara6ler-, and to clear his 
 innocence, aflured her that they had 
 heard an account of Jemmy's infidehty 
 from many hands before they had left 
 ILondonj or that fir Robert had ever 
 jfeen her face. 
 
 All they could fay, however, was infu5- 
 ficient to make Jenny recede from her 
 opinion -, the difpute grew pretty warm, 
 and would probably have run to greater 
 lengths, if it had not been feafonably in- 
 terrupted by fome company coming to 
 vifit them. 
 
 CHAP. XXI. 
 
 Gives an account of fome p([[f^ges^ 
 which^ added to the Jormer^ affords 
 cur heroine much matter of dif con- 
 tent, 
 
 JENNY had been fo m.uch difcom- 
 pofed and ruffled at the difcourfe of 
 the ladies, and the letter Ihewn to her 
 by them, that neither her natural 
 fprightiinefs and gayety, nor all the ef- 
 forts her reafon made, were fufficient to 
 L 4 re-fettic 
 
224 '^^^'^ HISTORY of 
 re-fcttle in her mind that happy fcrenity 
 fhe enjoy'd before. 
 
 She had not the lead tin6lurc of jea- 
 loufy in her compofition ; fhe had al- 
 ways depended on the fincerity of Jem- 
 iny, and as yet was far from believing 
 that he could be falfe ; but it vexed her 
 to be told that others thought him fo ; 
 that he pafs'd in the eyes of the world for 
 an inconllant and ungrateful man •, and 
 what was flill more infupportable, that 
 herfelf was looked upon as a flighted 
 and forfaken miftrefs.. 
 
 Pity is fo near a-kin to contempt, that 
 few women of fpirit can bear it ; even 
 thofe who have the leaft fliare of vanity, 
 I believe, would rather chufe to be envy'd 
 and hated for having too much the power 
 of pleafmg, than commiferated for their 
 want of it. 
 
 The affe6lion flie had for Jemmy was 
 not of that fond and foolifh nature as 
 to make her wilh to be for ever in hii 
 fight i fhe had been abfent from him 
 more weeks than fhe had now been days, 
 without the leaft repining or inquietude ; 
 but on the hearing of this flory fhe 
 could not keep herfelf from being excef- 
 
 fively 
 
Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 225 
 
 liively impatient for his coming down to 
 Bath i — not that fl"»e defir'd his pre- 
 fence to clear any doubts of her own, 
 but that his behaviour might convince 
 the company fhe was with of their mi- 
 iftake as to his fideUty. 
 
 The promife he had made of follow- 
 ing her when fhe left London, and which 
 had fince been confirmed by two fe- 
 veral letters fhe had received from him, 
 made her expcd: his arrival would be ve- 
 ry foon,. and fiie was pleafing herfelf with 
 the thoughts hov/ that event would: make 
 lady Speck and mifs Wingman afhamed 
 of having too rafhly given credit to a 
 calumny, which Ihe doubted not but 
 they would then fee had not the leaft. 
 foundation.- 
 
 But this was a fatisfadion which va^ 
 nilh'd in a very fhort fpace of time ; 
 a few hours made her know that fhe 
 muft wait much longer than fhe had 
 imagined for the completion of what 
 at prefent her pride made her fo ardent-' 
 ly defire.. 
 
 The evening of that very fame day, 
 
 whofe morning had occafion'd in her 
 
 breaft thefe various pertvirbations, pre- 
 
 fented her with fomething which was rar 
 
 L 5 irom 
 
226 The HISTORY of 
 from lulling them to refb. — Juft as fhc 
 was going to the aflembly-room with the 
 ladies and fome other company, the pod 
 brought her a letter, the contents where- 
 of were thefe : 
 
 To Mifs J E s s A M Y, at Bath. 
 
 Dear Jenny, 
 
 " T Am in fo ill a humour, that I be- 
 *' •*• lieve it would be utterly out of my 
 
 *' power to write to any one perfon in 
 
 ** the v/orld except yourfelf ; and yet it 
 
 *' is almoft entirely on your account 
 
 " that I am thus difconcerted. This 
 
 ** you may think a paradox, but I fhall 
 
 ** foon explain the riddle." 
 
 " For three whole days fuccefiively I 
 *' have been every hour expefting the ar- 
 *' rival of my fteward •, but laft night, 
 ** inftead of himfelf I received a letter 
 *' from him, acquainting me that ha- 
 " ving been obliged to make afeifurc on 
 •* one of my tenant's efFefts, that af- 
 *' fair would of necelTity detain him at 
 ** leaft feven or eight days longer.'* 
 
 " Judge how feverely this accident has 
 *' mortify'd me, as it deprives me fo 
 '* iiiuch longer than I hop'dof the plea- 
 
 ** fures 
 
Jemmy a^d Jenny Jessamy. 227 
 *' fures of the Bath, and what is infinite- 
 " ly more vahiable to me, the fight of 
 *' my dear Jenny-, — confole me as^of- 
 " ten you can with your letters •, — it is 
 " in them alone I can take any true fa- 
 *' tisfadion during this enforced abfence. 
 " — Farewel ; — I flatter myfelf there 
 *' is no need of frefli afiurances to con- 
 " vince you that I am. 
 
 With the warmefl affedion. 
 
 My dear Jenny's 
 
 Moft devoted and 
 
 Obedient fervant, 
 
 J . J E S S A M y, 
 
 p. S. " My friend BeDpine, who is 
 *» now with me, defires you will accept 
 " his compliments and beft wifhes ; — 
 *' we are juft going together to hear a 
 " fine piece of mufic, if my chagrin. 
 " does not turn the notes into difcord. 
 " — Once more for this time, — my dear 
 " Jenny, — adieu.'* 
 
 Jenny withdrew to a window to take 
 
 juft a curfory view of this epiftle ; for 
 
 being waited for by the company The 
 
 could not, wi hout a breach ofciv.iity, 
 
 give herfelf time to examine it with that 
 
 L 6 ftri^nefs 
 
228 The HISTORY of 
 
 flridnefs the prefent fituation of her mind 
 inclined her to do. She was, however^ 
 lufficiently millrefs of the fenfe of it to 
 perceive fhe muft not exped; to fee him 
 at Bath fo foon as Hie wifh'd ^ and this 
 delay, as my fair readers will eafily be- 
 lieve, gave no fmall mortification both 
 to her pride and love. 
 
 The allembly was more than ordinarily 
 brilliant that night -, but not all the di- 
 rer fions and gallantries of the place could 
 diflipate the gloom that hung heavy on 
 her fpirits, and as fhe was an ill dif- 
 fembler, was but two vifible in her coua- 
 tcnance.. 
 
 It was not that in the flight perufal 
 fhe had been able to give Jemmy's let- 
 ter flie had found any thing to confirm 
 the informations of lady Speck and mifs 
 Wingman, but the delay of Ws com- 
 ino-, at a time when fhe thought his pre- 
 fence fo necefTary to clear both his own 
 and her reputation, that alone gave her 
 thefe inquietudes -, and the difappoint- 
 ment was more grievous, as it was the 
 firft Ihe as yet had ever met with. 
 
 Not all her efforts could enable her to 
 behave with her accuftomed vivacity that 
 eight i — file bore very little part in tlie 
 
 converfation ; 
 
Jemmy ^77^/ Jenny Jejsamy. 229 
 converfation •, — was wholly unattentive 
 to the mulic, as well as the fine things 
 faid to her j and whenever fiie fpoke, it 
 was in fuch a manner as made it eafy to 
 perceive fhe would rather have chofe to 
 have remain'd filent. 
 
 Confcious of this defe<fl:, and finding 
 herfelf altogether unfit for company, fhe 
 pretended a violent head-ach, and retir'd 
 fome hours before the ufuai time. 
 
 On her coming home Ihe fhut herfelf 
 up in her own apartment, and gave 
 ftrid: orders to her maid that no one 
 Ihould difturb her ; then fell to examin- 
 ing, with the utmoft exaftnefs, every fen- 
 tence of the letter which had created in 
 her fo much uneafinefs •, — fhe compared 
 it with the others fhe had received from 
 him fince her arrival at Bath, and found 
 it nothing differe-nt either in the ftile or 
 manner j — till coming to the poftfcript, 
 the mention he made of going to heai< a 
 fine piece of mufic, fhe fuddenly cry'd 
 out, — ' That mufick perhaps may be 
 ' perform'd by mifs Chit; a flory, fuch. 
 
 * as I have been told, could not certainly 
 
 * be raifed without fome little truth for 
 
 * its foundation,' 
 
 Biit 
 
230 The H IS TORY of 
 
 But this fit of jealoufy lafted fcarce a 
 moment, ' How uujuft and foolifh am I ! 
 faid ilie : I know he loves mufic, but 
 what then ? if being miftrefs of that 
 accompUfhment had given mifs Chit, 
 or any other woman, the preference to 
 me in his efleem, he would have been 
 entirely filent on the pleafure he was 
 going to take ; the guilty always care- 
 fully avoid fpeaking on the theme 
 which calls their crime in queftion.* 
 
 In this favourable difpofition fhe might 
 perhaps have continued, if a thoufand in- 
 Itances of the deceit and perfidy of men 
 in the affairs of love, which flie had 
 either heard or read of, had not imme- 
 diately prefented themfelves to her re- 
 memibrance, and reminded her that fhe 
 ought not to be too fecure •, that the 
 paffion of love, like the wind, blew 
 where it lifted, and that, as the poet fays : 
 
 Man is but man, inconftant ftill and 
 various. 
 
 There's no to-morrow in him like to- 
 day j 
 
 Perhaps the atoms rolling in his brain 
 
 Make him think honeftly this prefent 
 hour : 
 
 The 
 
Jemmy ^k^ Jenny Jessamy. 231 
 The next a fwarm of bafe ungrateful 
 
 thoughts 
 May mount aloft. 
 Who would trull chance, fince all men 
 
 have the feeds 
 Of good or ill, which would work 
 
 upwards firft. 
 
 Yet for all this could Ihe not bring 
 herfelf to believe him abfolutely falfe ; if 
 one moment accufed him in her thoughts, 
 the next acquitted him ; but what gave 
 her the greateft perplexity of all was, the 
 difficulty fhe found in gucffing by whom 
 or to what end this afperfion had firft 
 been railed, and how it came to be fo 
 fpread. 
 
 She thought that neither Jemmy nor 
 herfelf had done ony thing to incur the 
 mahce of the world, fo far as that even 
 any one perfon fhould be defirous of 
 rendering them unhappy -, * It cannot 
 ' therefore be, cried fhe, but that fome 
 ' vile felf-interefted view m^ufl: be the 
 ' fource of all this ; no body fure would 
 
 * be at the wicked pains to feparate two 
 
 * perfons whofe hearts from their infancy 
 ' have been united by the ftnftell bonds 
 ' of love and friendfhip, merely for the 
 
 * fake of mifchicf 5 no, it is utterly im- 
 
 ' poffible 
 
232 The HISTORY of 
 
 « pofTible that human nature can be fo 
 ' depraved.' 
 
 This refledlon leading her ftilJ farther 
 on, fhe began to argue within her mind 
 for what end a contrivance to part her 
 and Jemmy could be form'd, and found 
 none fo conformable to probability, as- 
 that the author of it aimed to be in the 
 place either of the one or the other. 
 
 As for her own part, the engagements 
 between her and Jemmy were fo well- 
 known that no man had ever made his 
 ferious addreffes to her, and if fir Robert 
 Manley had now any fuch intentions, 
 the charafler of that gentleman would 
 not permit her to believe he could be- 
 capable of makirg ufe of bafe means 
 for the forwarding his wilhes ; bcfides, 
 lady Speck and mifs Wingman had 
 affured her, in the moll folemn manner, 
 that they had heard the report before 
 their coming down to Bath, or that he 
 had ever k^n her. 
 
 It refled therefore, that it muft be on 
 the account of Jemmy that all this had 
 happen'd •, fhe knew very well that he 
 convers'd freely with the ladies, he had 
 never made a fecret to her of his doing 
 fo, and it fcem'd not in the ieaft impro- 
 bable,. 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 233 
 bable, that fome one among them might 
 like him but too well, ' Perhaps, faid 
 
 * fhe, mifs Chit herfelf miftaking for 
 ' love what he meant only as gallantry, 
 
 * might have the vanity to boafl of ha- 
 ' ving infpired him with a real paffion.* 
 
 * The fmalleft hint, continued Ihe, 
 
 * that fuch a thing is, — or .poflibly 
 ' may be, pafles with many people for 
 ' an undoubted faft. — And who knows 
 
 * but the whifper of Jemmy's imaginary 
 
 * infidelity may have been carried from 
 
 * one to another till it reach'd the ears 
 
 * of fome perfo.n, who more compalTio- 
 
 * nate than wife, wrote to lady Speck in 
 
 * the manner I have feen.* 
 
 Thus did ibe endeavour to dive into 
 the bottom of this myfterious affair, af- 
 figning for it every caufe that reafon or 
 her fertile imagination could fuggeft ; — 
 yet wavering ftill, and uncertain on 
 which of them fhe fhould fix, her mind 
 at length grew quite fatigued with the 
 unavailing fearch; and fhe refolved to 
 wait till time fhould brins; to lio;ht what 
 all her penetration could not at prefent 
 enable her to difcover. 
 
 In this manner was the fweetefl and 
 moft ferene temper in the world difcon- 
 
 certed^ 
 
234 72;^ HISTORY e/* 
 
 certed and thrown off its byafs, by the 
 dark villany of a man whom fhe had not 
 the leaft rulpicion of. — She went to bed 
 however, and for ought I ever heard to 
 the contrary, (lept as well as if nothing 
 had happen'd to perplex her waking 
 thoughts. 
 
 CHAP. XXII. 
 
 Affords fome very ufeful and exemplar j 
 hints to young perfons of both fexes ; 
 which if they are not the better and 
 ivifer for, it is wholly owing to 
 themfehes^ and not the fault of the 
 author, 
 
 THAT only true compofing draught, 
 an unforced natural (lumber, fo 
 effedually luli'd the mind of Jenny that 
 v/hen fhe arofe the next morning the 
 anxieties of the preceding day were fcarce 
 remember'd by her j or if they were, it 
 was but to wonder at herfelf for having 
 yielded to their force. 
 
 ' As I think, faid fhe, that I may be 
 
 • pretty confident the llory I was told 
 
 * yefterday has nothing of reality in it, 
 
 * but 
 
Jemmv ^;?^ Jenny Jessamy. 235 
 ' but is a moft vile and notorious falf- 
 ' hood •, how filly was I to give myfelf 
 
 * any pain concerning either, by whom 
 
 * or on what motive it was invented ?' 
 
 ' There are fome people, faid ihe, 
 ' who feem to be born with a propeniity 
 ' to mifchief. I remember that when I 
 ' was at the boarding-fchool a thoufand 
 ' little quarrels happened between the 
 ' girls, which were occafionM merely by 
 
 * the lying infmuations of fome among 
 ' us, who took a wicked pleafure in 
 ' giving pain to others.' 
 
 ' Too many in the world, continued 
 
 * fhe, when arrived at years of matu- 
 " rity, inftead of endeavouring to cor- 
 
 * re(5t, take pains to improve and cul- 
 ' tivate this cruel difpofition in them- 
 
 * felves, till even it becomes a fcience ; 
 ' and the more vexation they create to 
 ' thofe who are fo unhappy to be of their 
 
 * acquaintance, the more proofs they 
 ' imagine they give of their own inge- 
 ' nuity and fertility of invention.' 
 
 < How ftupid then is it, went fhe flill 
 ' on, to give ear to every idle tale ? It is 
 
 * joining with the adverfaries of our 
 ' peace ; — aiding thofe malicious efforts, 
 ' and giving them a triumph over us, 
 
 which 
 
236 The HISTORY oj 
 
 ' which otherwife all they could do 
 ' would never be able to obtain : -we 
 ' certainly ought not to believe ill of 
 ' any one without the teftimony of our 
 ' own fenfes to confirm the truth of that 
 
 * report •, but more efpecially it behoves 
 
 * us to reje6l with the utmoft contempt 
 ' whatever has a tendency to create a dil- 
 
 * agreement between us and thofe we 
 
 * love.' 
 
 Thus did her good underftanding and 
 flrength of reafon enable her to get the 
 better of all thefe doubts and jealous ap- 
 prehenfions, into which young perfons of 
 her fex are for the moft part too liable to 
 fall. She pafi: a good deal of time in this 
 fort of converfation with herfelf-, and 
 would not, perhaps, have broke it off 
 fo foon, if fhe had net been interrupted 
 by lady Speck's woman, who came into 
 the chamber to enquire after her health, 
 and to let her know that the ladies waited 
 breakfaft for her. 
 
 She obey'd thefummons immediately, 
 and appear'd fo very fprightly, that lady 
 Speck and her fifter had not the leaft 
 room to imagine that the diforder fhe 
 had complain'd of the night before had 
 been occafiori'd by any thing they had 
 fiiid to her in relation to Jemmy. 
 
 A 
 
Jemmy mid Jenny Jessamy. 237 
 
 A fucceflion of vifitants, one after ano- 
 ther, came in all that whole day, fome of 
 ■whom ftay'd to accompany them to the 
 long room ; but Jenny, who had never 
 fail'd to aniwer every letter fhe had re- 
 ceived from Jemmy by the very firft poft, 
 would not now be more remifs ; and ex- 
 cufing herfelf for a few minutes retired 
 to her chamber and wrote to him in the 
 following manner : 
 
 To James Jessamy, Efq ; 
 
 My dear J e m m y, 
 
 " ¥ Am very fenfible that I am quite 
 " * wrong to add to the vexation you 
 
 *' exprcft, by giving you any know- 
 " ledge of mine ; — yet it is not in my 
 ^'' power to forbear telling you, that this 
 " delay of your journey hither has in- 
 ■** volved me in difquiets altogether new 
 " to me-, — I know not how it is, that 
 *' I never fo much wifh'd to fee you as I 
 *' now do." 
 
 ** I fhould be forry if you neglected 
 " any affairs of confequence on my ac- 
 ** count -, but be affured however, till 
 •* you come, all the amufemcnts, all 
 *"* the pleafures with which this place 
 
 " abounds. 
 
238 "The HISTORY of 
 <' abounds, and I am continually fur- 
 " rounded with, will lofe their relilh 
 " and be infipid to me." 
 
 " Such a confeflion would f(^em ex- 
 tremely aukward from the pen of a 
 woman, were we not upon the terms 
 we are, or had we been brought up in 
 a different manner \ but from my in- 
 fancy I have been made to think it 
 was my duty to conceal from you no 
 part of my fentiments ; and you have 
 often told me, that the fame principles 
 v/ere inftiiled in you : — As I have the 
 moft perfedt confidence that you are 
 no lefs punctual in your obedience to 
 this injundlion than myfelf, I am not 
 afraid or afliamed of giving you all 
 the teftimonies of my aftedion that 
 honour and virtue will permit ; and 
 more, I am certain, you will never 
 defire.'* 
 
 " I fhall fay nothing to urge you to 
 *' as fpeedy a difpatch as pofTible of the 
 *' bufmefs that detains you from me ; 
 »' I am too well acquainted with your 
 '* fincerity to doubt if your heart is not 
 *' already here, and fhall therefore en- 
 "deavour to confole myfelf till your 
 " arrival v.'ith your letters, as you telj 
 
 " me 
 
J EMMY and Jenny Jessamy. 239 
 »' me you Ihall do with thofe you receive 
 " from me. I am. 
 
 With an attachment 
 
 Which only yourfelf can break. 
 
 My dear Jemmy, 
 
 Your mofl affedionatc 
 
 And ever faithful 
 
 J. Jessamy. 
 
 P. S. ** If I have exprefs'd too much 
 '* impatience in the above, excufe it .on 
 " the account that hitherto, unaccuftom'd 
 " to difappointments, I am the lefs able 
 " to fuftain them with that fortitude and 
 " refignation I ought to do/' 
 
 Having finifti'd this little epiftle, and 
 given orders that it fhould be carried to 
 the poft-office, fhe return'd to the com- 
 pany, who by this time were ready to 
 adjourn to the affembly-,- — Ihe went 
 with them, and few women there ap- 
 peared to more advantage than herfelf. 
 
 Sir Robert Manley, to whom neither 
 lady Speck nor mifs WIngman had re- 
 lated any part of the rebuff they had re- 
 ceived from Jenny on his fcore, v/as 
 
 very 
 
240 The HISTORY of 
 
 very impatient to make a declaration of 
 his paflion to her ; but though he had 
 feen her three times that day at home, — . 
 in the walks, — and at the affembly, yet 
 no opportunity proper for his purpofe had 
 prefented itfelf. 
 
 He complain*d of his ill luck to lord 
 Huntley and mr. Lovegrove, who, af- 
 ter confulting with the ladies what could 
 be done for the advancement of the iri- 
 tereft of their friend in this point, it was 
 fo contrived am.ongft them, that fhe 
 fhould be left alone v/ith him as if by 
 accident. 
 
 But this could not be done with f© 
 much art as to elude the difcernment of 
 Jenny ; fhe eafily perceived with what 
 intent firfi: one and then another dipt 
 out of the room, till none but herfelf 
 and fir Robert were left in it. She could 
 not help fmiling within herfelf to think 
 that all this mighty pains was taken only 
 to (hew fir Robert that he had nothing to 
 hope for from her; and was not at all 
 difpieafed with having it in her power 
 to convince that gentleman, that the af- 
 fection between herfelf and Jemmy was 
 too ftrongly cemented to be fhaken by 
 the amorous attacks of any pretender 
 whatfoever. 
 
 I am 
 
'Jemmy mid Jenhy Jessamv. 24 i 
 
 I am afraid that, on computation, the 
 number of thofe ladies would be found 
 but fmall, who, in this giddy and un- 
 thinking age, are not fond of making new 
 conqueils •, though render'd, by even the 
 moft folemn engagements, utterly inca- 
 pable of accepting the trophies pre fen ted 
 them : — Jenny, however, had nothing 
 of this vanity in her compofition, — Ihe 
 had heard and read much of the effe6ts of 
 love, and the fatal confequences which had 
 fometimes attended a difappointed flame ; 
 and therefore had always confider'd that 
 pafTion as a thing of too ferious a nature 
 to be fported with ; and that it was an 
 action highly ungenerous and cruel to 
 encourage the growth of it in any heart, 
 without having the power or inclination 
 of making an adequate return. 
 
 Sir Robert Manley was a perfon whofe 
 addreffes might have gratify'd the pride 
 ol any woman, who placed her glory in 
 feeing herfelf admired : Jenny was fen- 
 fible of his merit, but the more Ihe was 
 fo, the more fhe thought herfelf obliged 
 to prevent him at once from indulging 
 any fruitlefs expe6tations. 
 
 He had no fooner made lier an ofTcr of 
 
 bis heart, and was juft beginning to af. 
 
 Vol. L M" ilire 
 
542 'the HISTORY of 
 ilire her how much, and how eternajjy 
 he was devoted to her, than ihe fbopp'd 
 the progrefs of his declaration, by arming 
 him, with a very referved air, — It he were 
 really in earneft ? — To which he anfv/ering 
 in the affirmative, and annexing the mofb 
 folemn proteftation of the truth, — ' Then 
 ' fii*, faid fne, I am equally lorry and 
 ' aftonifli'd, that a gentleman of lb much 
 
 * good lenie and honour in other things, 
 
 * Ihould forget himfelf fo far as to cn- 
 
 * tertain any thoughts of this kind for a I 
 
 * v/om.an, who, he cannot but have 
 
 * heard, has from her very birth been 
 
 * allotted for another.' 
 
 The manner in which thefe words were 
 .<3eliver'd giving,a double energy to the 
 meaning of them, had a prodigious cf- 
 feft on the perfon to whom they were di- 
 rected ^ — though a man of great pre- 
 lence of mind, — bred in high life, and 
 perfectly acquainted with the world, he 
 could not keep himfelf from being a little 
 abafh'd at receiving fo grave and fo 
 fevere a reprimand from a lady of Jen- 
 ny's years and inexperience. 
 
 But fcon recovering himfelf, — * Ma- 
 
 * dam, faid he, — I beg you will do me 
 
 * the juflice to believe, that however 
 
 * ardent my pafilon is, I v/ould fcorn to 
 
 attempt 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jes:amy. 241 
 
 * attempt the gratification of it by any 
 ' ways which my honour or my rcafcn 
 ' iliould condemn : — ^ that I love you, is 
 ' moft true •, yet would I chufc rather 
 
 * to confume through the force of an in- 
 ' extinguifhable flame, than to make the 
 ' lead encroachment either on your virtue 
 ' or your peace.' 
 
 ' I do not indeed deny, continued he, 
 
 * but that I have been told fomewhac 
 ' concerning an agreement made for you 
 ' in your extreme youth •, but as no con" 
 ' fequence has fince happen'd of that 
 ' agreement, I flatter'd myfelr that your 
 
 * heart approv'd not of the ciioice made 
 
 * for you, —was at full liberty to eleft 
 ' for itfelf, and that no impediment lay 
 ' in the way of my ambition, but my 
 ' own unworthinefs or obtaining fo in- 
 ' eftimable a jewel.* 
 
 He concluded thefe words with a deep 
 figh, and a bow full of the greateft ten- 
 dernefs and refpedl j the grateful foul of 
 Jenny was a little touch' d at his be- 
 haviour, and Ihe immediately replied 
 with an extreme fweetnefs-, — ' AVere 
 ' there no other bar than what you laft 
 
 * mention' d, fir, faid fhe, I believe there 
 
 * are few women, of any penetration at 
 
 * leaft, to whom your heart would be an 
 
 M 2 ' unacceptable 
 
244 "Th^ Ul ST KY of 
 
 * unacceptable prefent •, and I lliall re- 
 ' joice to fee it beftow'd where equal 
 
 * worth and unpre-engaged affections 
 *~ may crown the utmoft of its wirties. 
 
 ' Ah, madam ! cry'd fir Robert, Why 
 
 * is this enchanting goodncfs iavifh'd on 
 
 * a man who cannot thank the bounty ? 
 ' All my defires, alals ! are ccnier'd in 
 
 * yo'jrfelf -, and to wifh me happy with 
 ' any other objedt, is but to wifli me 
 
 * wretched. — But tell me, — tell me, 
 
 * purfued he, — Are you in earneft, ab- 
 ' Ibluteiy determined to give your hand 
 
 * to this too fortunate rival ? Is it a thing 
 
 * mutually refolved between you ? 
 
 Jenny, knowing very well what he had 
 been iniorm'd of concerning the fuppofed 
 infidelity of Jemmy, was charm'd with 
 his politenefs in imputing the delay of 
 their nuptials rather to an indifference on 
 her fide than a diflike on his ; and now 
 more defirous than ever of entirely ftifling 
 all fallacious hopes, which in the end 
 might prove deftru6tive to his peace, 
 compell'd her modefty to confefs to him, 
 that ffie really loved Jemmy, and that 
 her inclinations would have prefer'd him 
 to all the men in the world, even though 
 they had not been deltined for each other 
 by their parents. 
 
 Sir 
 
Jemmv and Jenny Jessamv. 245 
 
 Sir Robert could not hear this decla- 
 ration without pain •, but being fully 
 pcrfuaded in his mind, by what lord 
 Huntley, mr. Lovegrove and others had 
 affured him, that Jemmy but ill repaid 
 the tendernefs of hie fair millrefs, he 
 ailumed courafjie enouerh to offtr a feccnd 
 petition to her confideratio.i^ 
 
 * Well madam, faid he, after a little 
 
 * paufe, I v/iil not prefume to call in 
 
 * queftion the merits of the man v^'hcni 
 
 * you are pleafed to favour, 1 will be- 
 
 * iieve him as deferring as I am fure 
 
 * he is happy ; yet if any accident, yet 
 
 * unforefecn, fnould happen to dilunitc 
 
 * you, if any thing, impoiTible as it may 
 ' leem, {hould render him ungrateful 
 
 * for the blefling he enjoys, might I net 
 
 * hope my love, my truth, my perfe- 
 ' verance, would in time find fome room 
 ' in a corner of that heart which doubt- 
 ' iefs then would have exterminated its 
 ' iirft ideas.* 
 
 This infinuation was far from work- 
 ing the effedt it was intended for ; Jenny 
 was highly offended at it, and turning 
 from him with fomewhat of a difdain- 
 ful air-, ' To demand a promife, faid fhe, 
 
 * on fuppofitions without foundation, is 
 
 M 3 \ fo 
 
246 r/j^- HISTORY of 
 
 * fo chymerical as fcarce dcferves an 
 ' anfwer ; but fir Robert, on this you 
 
 * may depend, that whenever mr. Jef- 
 
 * famy Hiall prove unworthy of my love, 
 
 * I fhall, inftead of giving him a fuc- 
 
 * celTor in my heart, deleft and avoid all 
 
 * mankind ior ever.' 
 
 Sir Robert was now confcious he had 
 gone too far, and defirous of perferving 
 her efteem, if he could not gain heii 
 affe6lion, endeavoured all he could to 
 excufe the railinefs of his late fuggeftion,. 
 which poffibly he fiicceeded in better 
 than he im.agined, as Jenny was fenfible 
 it was wholly owing to the bafe reports 
 that had been raifed ; fhe v/ould not 
 however, fecm to forgive too eafily any 
 reflexion caft upon her dear Jemmy, 
 but continued in the fame ferious deport- 
 ment till the return of the company put 
 an end to all difccurfe between them q\\ 
 this fcore. 
 
 «& k& *ff' 
 
 CHAP, 
 
Jemmy ana Jenny Jessamy. 247 
 
 C H x^ p. XXIII. 
 
 Relates how^ in the compafs of an hour-, 
 yeyiny ??ief with two furprifing ad- 
 t'eTitiires of very different Izin.di •, and 
 the manner in which Jl.^e behaved in 
 the?n, with fonie other no lejs extra- 
 ordinary particulars, which the rea- 
 der will doubtlefs be puzzled to know 
 the meaning of. 
 
 AFTER what had pafs'd betwen 
 Jenny and fir Robert, that gsntie- 
 man thought it would be in vain to pro- 
 fecute his fuit •, his friends aho, to whom 
 he imparted the converfation lie had 
 with her, were of the fame opinion ; and 
 the report of Jemmy's inconftancy be- 
 gan now to lofe much of the credit it 
 had obtain'd am.ong them. 
 
 Sir Robert, whofe efteem for Jenny 
 was not at all diminiih'd by her late be- 
 haviour towards him, tho' it had made 
 him endeavour to overcome his paiTion 
 for her, omitted nothing in his power to 
 reconcile himfelf to her good graces ],. 
 v/hich he at length eftecbually did, by 
 giving her the llronged and reiterated 
 M. 4, afiliranci'S- 
 
248 1'he HISTORY 0/ 
 aflurances that he would never more 
 attempt to interrupt that afFeftion, which 
 he now feem'd to believe mutually exift- 
 ing between her and mr. jefiamy. 
 
 The fame eafy freedom of converfa- 
 tion, which had reign'd among this ami- 
 ;ible company fmce their firft coming 
 liov/n to Bath, was now again reftored j 
 but it lafled not long, accidents on acci- 
 dents, in which every one had a fhare, 
 immediately fell out, and turn'd all into 
 difcord and confufion. 
 
 Among the croud of guefts who were 
 every day at the tea-table of lady Speck, 
 there v/as a gentleman named Celandine j 
 he had but lately return'd from making 
 The tour of Europe, and like Clodio ia 
 the play, pretended to be acquainted 
 with all the intrigues of the fevcral 
 courts he had been in ; he v/as gay, fpi- 
 ritous, had fome wit, and abundance of 
 afTurancc •, which, v/ith the aifetStation of 
 great good humour, made him. pafs for 
 a very agreeable companion, and parti- 
 cularly entitled him to the favour of the 
 ladies •, many of whom thought the lofs 
 of reputation no difgrace when forfeited 
 on his account. 
 
 lie 
 
Jemmy and Jenny J ess amy. 249, 
 
 He was certainly very much indebtea 
 ro nature for a handfome perfon, and to 
 education for all thofe modifh accom- 
 plifhments v/hich with unthinking peo- 
 ple are apt to cail a luftre cvffi to the 
 worft qualities or the mind; his example 
 was at leaft a proof of this melancholy 
 truth ; for it would have puzled even 
 his beft friends and greateft admirers, if 
 afk'd the queftion, to have found any 
 one virtue in him to compenfate for a 
 thoufand vices •, he was vain to an ex- 
 cefs, ungrateful, infincere, incapable 
 cither of love or fricndfhip -, a contem- 
 ner both of morality and religion j in. 
 fine, he was a libertine profefs'd. 
 
 His family was ancient and honour- 
 able, and from thence defcended to him 
 a very large eflate, which, without doing 
 one generous or benevolent aftion, he 
 feem'd to take abundance of pains to get 
 rid of by the moft unheard of, and ridi- 
 culous extravagaocies and vagaries. 
 
 The reader will perhaps imagine, that 
 a charadler fuch as tliis, deferved not fo 
 particular a defcription •, nor fliould 1 
 have troubled him with it had there 
 not been an abfolute aeceffity of my do- 
 M 5 ing 
 
2^G The HISTORY of 
 
 ing fo, for reafons which will prefently 
 appear. 
 
 Jenny was at home alone one day ; 
 lady Speck and mifs Wingman were 
 gone into the walks, but fome letters 
 fhe had received from London, which 
 required immediate anfwers, had hin- 
 der'd her from accompanying them •, ha- 
 ving finifh'd what Ihe had to do before 
 they return'd, fhe went down into the 
 garden, in order to refrefh her fpirits 
 after the fatigue they had undergone, by 
 hei* writing fo much longer than flie 
 was accuftom*d at one time. 
 
 She took a fhort promenade in the 
 great alley; but being in a contempla- 
 tive mood, retired into the arbour at the 
 farther end of it ; where, as the reader 
 may remember, the performers in lord 
 Huntley's interlude had been conceal'd : 
 there could not, indeed, be a more proper 
 Icene for indulging meditation, and fhe 
 was jufb beginning to fall into a very 
 agreeable refvery, when on a fudden 
 Celandine appear' d at the entrance of 
 the leafy bower, and accofted her with 
 thefe lines, tranflated by himfelf, from a 
 French poet:. 
 
 So 
 
Je mmy and Je n n y Je ss a my : 2y c ' 
 
 So look'd Pomona when Vertumnus 
 
 came, 
 And with immortal raptures clafp'd- 
 
 the dame. 
 
 As great a favourite as this young - 
 gallant was with mod of the women of 
 his acquaintance, Jenny had never been 
 able to endure the fight of him, on ac- 
 count of his pert confident behaviour ; 
 but his prefence was now doubly unwel- 
 come to her, as there was nobody but 
 herfelf to entertain him, or to bear a 
 part in the impertinent freedoms of his 
 converfation, and fhe could not forbear 
 giving him a look which might have 
 dafh'd the boldnefs of any other man, 
 and made him quit the place. 
 
 But Celandine, as has been before 
 obferv'd, and Jenny in this vifit expe- 
 rienced to her cofl, was none of thole- 
 who were capable of being, aw'd either 
 by looks or words; 'full of his own merit, 
 and puff'd up with frequent fucceiTes 
 among the fair, he thought the whole- 
 fex at his devotion :,that no woman could. 
 withfi:and his charms, and that the cold* 
 nefs Jenny had ahvays treated him with. 
 was ho more than an afreftation of nio- 
 delly in Dubhc, which on his rt^aking 
 M 6 the 
 
252 Ti^^ H I S T O R Y >/ 
 
 the firft overtures of a paffion for her 
 v/ould vanifh in an inftant, and fhe would 
 drop into his arms as rain does from the 
 firmament. 
 
 * How kind is fortune to me, faid he, 
 ' approaching her, in giving me this 
 « opportunity of fpeaking in private to 
 
 * my angeh' ' If you are indebted to for- 
 « tune for no greater favours, rephed 
 
 * Jenny, you have but fmali caufe to 
 ^ thank her bounty : But pray, continued 
 
 * fhe, how came you to be out of the 
 
 * walks this fine day, when all the world 
 ' are there ? 
 
 * I might afk you the fame quellion, 
 *= anfwered he, and equally wonder why 
 
 * I find the enchanting mifs JefTamy 
 
 * here, mopeing in a folitary fhade, and 
 •• ncgle<5ting to increafe the number of 
 
 * her conquefts, and add new triumphs 
 
 * to her eyes ; — but I'll tell you, pur- 
 *. fued he, catching hold of her hand,— 
 
 * it was fate, — ^propitious fate, ordain'd 
 ' it fo for both our happinefs •,— fome 
 
 * kind good natured Demon put it into 
 
 * your head to ftay at home, and in 
 
 * mine to feek you here.* 
 
 He concluded thefe words with throw- 
 ing one of his arms about her neck, and 
 
 begun 
 
Jemmy and Jenny jEssAMYi 253 
 began to kifs her with vehemence : 
 hard is it to fay, whether furprife or rage, 
 at being treated in this manner, was moft 
 predominant in her foul ; — fhe broke 
 from him, and ftarting fome paces back,, 
 ' What means this rudenefs ? cried Ihe,* 
 « — Give not fo harfh a name, rejoin'd 
 
 * he, to the emotions of the moft tender 
 
 * paflion that ever was.'-^-* A pafiionfor 
 
 * me,faid fhe, in a voice full of difdain.' 
 « Yes, — for you> repJyed he, ftaring 
 « her in the face, — ^Did my eyes never tell 
 
 * youthe fecret of my heart ?' ' No, really, 
 
 * faid fhe, — I never examine into the 
 ' myfterious dialed:, nor defire to have 
 
 * it explain'd,' 
 
 With thefe words fhe was going hafli- 
 ly out of the arbour, but the nimble Ce- 
 landine at one jump got between her and 
 the entrance, and in Ipite of all the re- 
 fiftance fhe could make, forced her back 
 to the bench where he had found her 
 fitting. 
 
 ' No more prudery, cry'd he, — * this 
 
 * pretended coynefs, — we are now alone, 
 
 * and the means of being fo are not eafy 
 
 * to be found in fuch a place as Bath ; — 
 
 * do not then, by this unfeafonable re- 
 « ferve, make me lofe the golden glori- 
 : ous opportunity that Heaven has fent, 
 
254 ^f^^ HISTORT rf 
 
 ' of giving you the mod fubllantial 
 ' proofs how much my foul adores you, 
 
 * . — how much I priz€ you above that 
 
 * Heaven itfelf. 
 
 It is as impoffible to paint the diftrac- 
 tion Jenny was in, as it was for her to 
 exprefs it, or reheve herfelf from the 
 impending danger to which fhe v/as re- 
 duced. They were at too great a dif- 
 tance from the houfe for her cries ta 
 alarm the family -, — he held her faft down 
 on the feat, with his hands on both her 
 flioulders, fhe could only call him monfter,. 
 villain •, — while he, regardlefs of her re- 
 proaches, utter'd things which made her 
 modeft heart fhudder at the found of. 
 
 To what horrid freedoms he might 
 have proceeded is uncertain •, a fudden 
 ruftling among the branches, which twin- 
 ed about the latticed arboiir, m.ade him- 
 relax the hold he had taken of his fair 
 captive, and turn to fee v/nat had occa- 
 fion'd this interruption. Jenny lofb not 
 the inftantofher releafe, but rather flew 
 than ran out of that detefled place, 
 when, jufl at the entrance, fhe was met by 
 a woman, or to fpeak more properly, a 
 fury, arm'd vnth a penknife, whicl'. Hie had 
 doubtlefs plunged into the bofom of the 
 defencelefs fair, if Celandine, who was 
 
 clofe 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. 255- 
 
 clofe behind, had not been very quick iix 
 wrefting it from her hand. 
 
 « What fiend,, thou Gurfed creature, 
 « cry'd Celandine, has prompted thy ma- 
 * hce to attempt this execrable deed?' 
 ' What fiend but thyfelf, — thou worfe 
 ' than devil,' anfwer'd ilie, almoft foam- 
 ing at the mouth with paillon. Jenny 
 ftay'd not to hear what further pafs'd 
 between them, but ran fcreaming down 
 the alley •, lady Speck and mifs Wing- 
 man, accompany'd by mr. Lovegrove, 
 enter'd the houfe at that very moment, 
 and were the firft who came to her af- 
 fiftance. 
 
 Never were three people in greater ccn- 
 fternation than they; Jenny, with arms 
 extended and garments all diforder'd, 
 crying out for help •, — Celandine at ioxnt 
 diitance, with the utmoft confufion in hi3 
 looks and at his feet a woman, who 
 feem'd either dead or in a fwoon ; — in 
 vain they inquired the occafion of all 
 this -j—^ Jenny was incapable of fpeaking, 
 by the fright which yet hung upon her 
 fpirits; — the intended murderefs by the 
 condition Ihe was in, and Celandine by 
 his guilt, 
 
 Mr. 
 
20 TBe HISTORY of 
 
 Mr. Lovegrove, who had more pre- 
 fence of mind than any of the reft on 
 this occafion, finding no anfwers were 
 given to their interrogatories, (lept for- 
 ward to convince himfelf if the perfon. 
 who lay upon the earth were alive or 
 dead y and this adlion of his 'twas that 
 probably recover'd Celandine the ufe of 
 his. tongue ;. but the firft and only token 
 he gave of it, was to fay, it was a mad 
 woman, who had fome hov\^ or other 
 gained admittance ; and to defire the 
 fervants might be order'd to carry her 
 out of the houfe. 
 
 Mr. Lovegrove having found the per- 
 fon he fpoke of in this manner was onlyin 
 a fainting fit, cry*d out,. * Whatever ilie 
 ' is, her figure, as well as the prefent 
 ' condition (he is in, feems to demand 
 * rather compaflion than contempt.* — On 
 this lady Speck and her filler ran to af- 
 fift the charitable endeavour he was 
 making for her recovery : but Jenny Hill, 
 keept at a gooddiftance; and Celandine,, 
 who, for all his impudence, was not 
 provided with fit anfwers to the queftions 
 which were like to be put to him, took, 
 the opportunity of their being thus, en- 
 gaged to fneak ofi^, without giving any 
 notice of his goipg. 
 
Jemmy and Jehny Jessamy, 257 
 
 Ky this time the woman of the houfe, 
 with all the fervants, were got into the 
 garden, and among them the unhappy 
 ilranger was carried into a parlour and 
 laid upon a couch, where proper reme- 
 dies being apply' d, Ihe came a little 
 to herfeif. 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 
 Contains fome part of ihe hifiory of 
 the jurioin Jir anger ^ as told by her^ 
 
 TH E company, to whom Jenny had 
 now related the dangers fhe had ef- 
 caped, were very impatient to know the 
 whole of this adventure ;' and perceiving 
 the perfon chiefly concerned in it was re- 
 cover'd enough to be able to fatisfy their 
 curiofity, began almoft all at once to afk 
 wfcat had induced her to attempt fuch an 
 adl of barbarity ; but that unfortunate 
 creature had not the power, for a confi- 
 derabletime, of making any other anfwer 
 than a torrent of tears, which gufh'd 
 from her eyes with fuch rapidity as drew 
 companion even from Jenny herfeif. 
 
 The 
 
zsS r/je HISTORY of 
 
 The violence of that paOlon however, 
 which fo long had ftopp'd the palTage ot 
 her words, having found this vent, fhe 
 entreated their pardon for the diilurbance 
 fhe had caufed, and thanked the chari-, 
 table relief that had been offer'd her, in 
 terms fo polite as made every one fee flie 
 was not of the iowefl rank in life. 
 
 Then turning to Jenny, — ' But it is 
 ' you, madam, I have miofc offended, 
 ' faid {he -, Oh 1 had I perpetrated the 
 ' horrid deed, Heaven fure rnuft have 
 
 * decreed fome new arxl yet unpra<5lifed 
 ' torture for a crime like mine :' — -Here 
 flie ceafed to give way to fome fighs, 
 which were juft then forcing themfelves 
 from her afflifted bofom, — after which, 
 — ' Yet, that Heaven to whom I now 
 
 * appeal, cry'd llie, is witnefs for me, 
 t'- as well as my own confcious foul, that 
 
 * I was clear ofallmahce, all premedita- 
 ' ted defign againfl: you : — When I drev/ 
 
 * that curfed knife, I meant not to hurt 
 
 * your innocence, but to do juftice to 
 
 * myfelf on the vilhan that v/as with you : 
 
 * — Some demon in that inftant fure, 
 
 * turn'd my erring arm from its in- 
 
 * tended mark to fave his brother fiend/ 
 
 ^ Who 
 
Jemmy^;2^ Jenny Jessamy. 259 
 
 « Who is this fiend, — this villian you 
 < are fpeaking of? cry'd lady Speck 
 « with fome emotion.' — ' Oh! there is no 
 ' name fo foul, — fo black as he deferves, 
 
 * reply 'd the other i — but if you would 
 ' paint a wretch, in whom all vices, all 
 ' corruptions meet as in their center, — 
 ' then call him Celandine.' 
 
 « Oh ! ladies, continued Ihe, in the 
 ' extremeft agonies. Why will you fuf- 
 ' fer fuch a ferpent near you ? — Where- 
 
 * ever he comes he brings deftruftion 
 
 * with him, and bitternefs of heart with 
 
 * everlafting infamy, are the legacies he 
 ' leaves behind !' 
 
 It is probable fhe would have run on 
 with thefe exclamations much longer, if 
 mr. Lovegrove had not reminded her, 
 that as the perfon was not there, Ilie 
 would do better to inform the company 
 of the caufe of her complaint againft 
 him ; ' For, faid he, you neither can be 
 ' juftified-^'^or he condemn'd in our 
 ' opinion, without your letting us into 
 ' the fecret of his crime.' 
 
 ' Alafs! anfwer'd flic, burfting again 
 ' into tears, neither his crime nor my 
 ' fhame are fecrets to the world ; and as. 
 
 * I am 
 
26o The HISTORY of 
 
 ' I am before perfons of fo much ho- 
 « nour and goodnefs, I have reafon to 
 
 * hope that a perfeft knowledge of thofe 
 ' unfortunate circumftancesv/hich brought 
 
 * on my undoing, v/ill entitle me rather 
 
 * to compaflion than at all add to the 
 ' contempt the late behaviour I have 
 
 * been guilty of muil have excited.' 
 
 The ladies then, as well as mr. Love- 
 grove, affured her, that fne could no way 
 fo well attone for the confufion flie had 
 given them, as by making them a faith- 
 ful narrative of the motives which had 
 induced her to it. 
 
 On this ilie endeavour'd to compofe 
 herfelf as much as pofible, and after a 
 paufe of a few minutes, in order to re- 
 colled: the pafiages ihe was about to re- 
 late, began to do as ihe was defired, ia 
 thefe or the like terms : 
 
 ^he hijlory of M?'s. M, 
 
 Will not detain your attention, faid 
 this afflided woman, with any im- 
 pertinent particulars concerning a wretch 
 fo unworthy as myfelf •, but beg you 
 will afford a patient hearing of fuch as 
 are abfolutely neceffary for the better 
 underftanding my unhappy ftory.' 
 
 ' I was 
 
Jemmy and Jennv Jessamy. 261 
 
 • I was the only daughter of a gentle- 
 man, who, being a younger fon, had no 
 other dependance than a poft in one of 
 the public offices •, as he lived up to the 
 height of his income, I was lett at his 
 deceafe, which happen'd when I was 
 about feventeen years of age, with no 
 other portion than a genteel education, 
 fome houfhold furniture, and a few 
 jewels. I had loft my mother in my 
 infancy, fo that I was altogether an 
 orphan •, — my father's brother, though 
 poflefs'd of a large eftate, declin'd ta- 
 king any care of me •, and I know not 
 what would have become of me, if an 
 aunt, by my mother's fide, had not 
 been fo good to admit me into her fa- 
 mily to preferve me, as fhe faid, from 
 falling into thofe temptations to which 
 a maid of my years, and accounted not 
 ugly, was liable to be expofed. 
 
 * I had not lived quite two years with 
 this kind relation, before fome bufinefs 
 brought frequently to her houfe a gen» 
 
 tleman call'd mr. M , who you 
 
 muft doubtlefs have heard of, as he 
 makes a pretty confiderabie figure in 
 the law ; — he took a great fancy to me 
 at firft fight, which afterwards grew 
 up into a paflion ; — in fine, he loved 
 
 * me 
 
262 The HISTORY of 
 
 ' me upon the moft honourable terms 5 
 ' ask'd leave of my aunt to make his ad- 
 « drefles to me ; the match was too advan- 
 ' tageous for a girl in my circumftances 
 
 * to be refus'd •, flie prefs'd me to it, 
 
 * and as neither his perfon nor conver- 
 
 * fation were difagreeable to me, I con- 
 
 * fented, and in a Hiort time became his 
 
 * wife. 
 
 ' Few women, I believe, can boafl of 
 
 * more happinefs than 1 enjoy'd during 
 ' the firil feven or eight months of our 
 ' marriage -, my husband feem'd to have 
 ' no other ftudy than that of obliging 
 ' me ', he was continually forming fome 
 ' nev/ fchemes of delight and entertain- 
 ' ment for me •, he never heard ot any 
 ' ornament of drefs or furniture, in ufe 
 ' with the beau mionde, but he bought 
 ' and brought it home to me ; he could 
 
 * fcarce bear lofing the light of me a 
 ' moment •, and indeed, gave me more 
 ' o^' his company than could well be 
 ' Ipared from his avocation. 
 
 * But the extremes of any thing are 
 
 * feldom lafting ; this exuberance of 
 ' tranfported love, this frenzy of paf- 
 ' fion, if I may call it fo, vanifii'd by 
 
 * very fwift degrees ; as fudden coldnefs 
 « almoft at once fucceeded, he treated 
 
 me 
 
Jemmy and Jenny Jess amy. 263 
 me civilly, 'tis true, retrench'd no part 
 of my expcnces, denied me nothing 
 that I afl<:'d •, but yet I found a mighty 
 difference betv/een this and his former 
 behaviour ? ah, how dangerous it is 
 for men to be£;in v/ith demonftrations 
 of a fondnefs which they cannot per- 
 fevere in ; I v/as young, vain, inconfi- 
 derate •, I expefted the fame affiduity 
 to pieafe, the fame raptures as at firft, 
 and could not brook the difappoint- 
 ment. 
 
 ' I complain'd of this change of my 
 
 • condition to a female friend of more 
 years and experience than myfelf ; at 
 
 ■ firft fhe laugh' d at me, and told me 
 
 ■ that nothing was more common, and 
 
 • that {lie liad often wonder'd mr. M — 
 ' held out the honey-moon fo long. 
 
 ' This putting m.e beyond all pa- 
 ' tience,' " Do not be fo much out of~ 
 '• humour, faid fhe ^ your caufe is but 
 " the fam.e with other women, and I 
 " believe I can direft you to a courfe 
 " that will infallibly retrieve all ; it is 
 " the nature of mankind, continued flie, 
 " to be rampant in the purfuit of their 
 '* v/ifhei!; but languid in the full pof- 
 " feffion of them ; you muft give your 
 =' husband room to apprehend he is not 
 
 '' fo 
 
264 72^ HISTORY of 
 
 " fo Tecure of your heart as he has 
 " imagined -, toy with fome pretty fellow 
 " before his face, fend often for him, 
 " and affe<5]: to be uneafy till you fee 
 " him ; this will roufe your husband 
 " if any thing will do it ; jealoufy new 
 '' points the darts of love, and whets 
 " the edge of fatiated defire, according 
 ** to the poet : 
 
 They dearly prize, what they once 
 fear to lofe. 
 
 * I greedily fwallow'd this falfe doc- 
 
 ' trine, continued mrs. M — with a deep 
 
 * figh, and immediately refolv'd on ma- 
 
 * king the experiment : Celandine, whofe 
 ' perfon I have no occafion to give a 
 ' particular defcription of, as you all 
 
 * know him, fcemed form'd by nature 
 
 * for the purpofe I intended. 
 
 ' He came frequently to our houfe, 
 my husband always treated him with 
 the extremtft refpeft, as indeed he had 
 good reafon to do, being indebted for 
 his firft fetting out in the world, in the 
 handfome manner he did, to the father 
 of Celandine, whom both his parents 
 had ferved, the one in quality of a 
 fteward, the other of houfe-keeper ; 
 
 the favours conferr'd on mr, M , 
 
 * even 
 
Jemmy tf«^ Jenny Jessamv. 26^ 
 
 even from his infancy by that old 
 gentleman, were fiich as made many 
 people fufpefb there was a nearer affi- 
 nity between them than was for 
 my mother-in-law's honour to ac- 
 knowledge ; be that, however, as it 
 may, it is not my bufmefs to infpedt 
 into the faults of others, but bewail 
 my own. 
 
 ' I had hitherto behaved towards my 
 husbapd's young patron, for fo he al- 
 ways call'd him, with the referve be- 
 coming the married woman ; but now, 
 according to the pernicious advice I 
 had received, I put on the moft' light 
 
 ■ airs before him ; and looked and 
 ' talk*d in fuch a manner as might have 
 
 ■ made a man, of muchlefs vanity than 
 ' he is endued with, imagine me to be 
 ' moft paflionately in love with him. 
 
 ' Whether my husband had really too 
 ' much indifference for me to regard any 
 ' thing I did, or whether he thought the 
 » extraordinary civilities I fliew'd to his 
 ' friend were merely to oblige him, I can- 
 
 * not be certain •, all I can fay is, that he 
 
 * took not the leail notice of this change 
 ' in my condud, nor could I perceive ariy 
 
 * alteration in his carriao;e to me UDon 
 
 • '^ J. 
 
 « Lt. 
 
 Vol. I. N ' But 
 
266 The HISTORY of 
 
 * But Celandine, who thought me all 
 
 * devoted to him, was not of a humour 
 
 * to lofe any part of the triumph of his 
 
 * new conqueft ; he afiiduoufly watch'd 
 
 * every opportunity of being alone with 
 
 * me, return*d the pretended advances 
 
 * I had made him with all the ardour 
 
 * of a man tranfported with them ; till 
 
 * at laft my heart became fufceptible 
 *■ of the guilty flame, and what I had 
 
 * fo fatally affected grew into reality •, 
 
 * in fine, I loved him, was too weak to 
 « refift the dilates of my paflion, and 
 
 * became a prey to the worft monfter 
 ' that ever wore the fhape of man.* 
 
 Here mrs. M- ^ became unable to 
 
 proceed, fhe v/as not fo entirely loft to 
 all fenfe of honour and virtue as not to 
 feel an extreme fhock at the remembrance 
 of what file was about to repeat ; Ihame 
 and confuflion overwhelm*d her heart, 
 and threw her into a fecond fainting, 
 from which Ihe was not without feme 
 difficulty recpver'd. 
 
 ?-?-'««^ 
 ^ 
 
 CHAP, 
 
Jemmy <z«^ Jenny Jess AMY. 267 
 
 CHAP. XXV^. 
 
 Contains a continuation of mrs, M-^*s 
 adventures. 
 
 'T^ H E unfortunate mrs. M -, ha- 
 
 -*- ving once more regain*d the power 
 and utterance, made a handfome apology 
 •for. that interruption which grief and 
 ihame had occafion'd in her recital, and 
 then profecuted it in the following 
 Tnaifner : 
 
 :* It may feem ft range, perhaps, faid 
 
 * Ihe, that with my innocence 1 fhoiild 
 ' lofe all difcretion too ; yet fo it was, 
 
 * fond even to madnefsof myundoer, and 
 
 * felf fatisfied with my crime, I thought 
 / of nothing, regarded nothing, ftudied 
 . * nothing, but how to gain frefh opportu- 
 
 5 nities of repeating it : whenever my . 
 
 * husbandwasabroad, asoflatehe had but 
 « too often been fo, I fent over half the 
 
 * town in fearch of Celandine ; if he was 
 
 * not found, the ill humour I was in fufE- 
 
 * ciently teftified to all about me my 
 
 * impatience for the difappointment ; 
 
 * and whenever he was with me, we 
 
 * were conftantly lock'd up together, and 
 
 N 2 .all 
 
2^^8 rbe HISTORY 9^ 
 
 * all wlio came to vifit me were deny'd 
 
 * acc'sfs. 
 
 ' All this, as may eafily be fuppofed, 
 
 * could be no fecret •, fome of my ac- 
 ' quaintance contented themfelves with 
 ' fhunning my converfation ; others ftili 
 '' kept me company, but it was only to 
 
 * have the more opportunity of feeing 
 
 * and expofing my folly : I became the 
 
 * derifion even of my own fervants, as 
 
 * I eafily have perceived by the little obe- 
 ' dience they paid to my commands and 
 
 * the pert anfwers they gave, which were 
 
 * alfo accompanied with fleering coun- 
 
 * tenances and malicious grins, when- 
 
 * ever I went about to exert my autho- 
 ' rity over them as a miflrefs. Oh, how 
 
 * great was my infatuation ! I can now, 
 
 * with afVonifh'd eyes, behold alJ thefe 
 ' things diftinftly ; but at that time was 
 
 * blind to all that conduced not to the 
 ' gratification of my love ; or, as I then 
 ' flatter'd myfelf, rewarding that of the 
 
 * man whom I confider*d as the moft 
 
 * faithful, as well as the moft charming 
 ' of his fex.' 
 
 Here the tears began again to flow, 
 but fhe foon dry'd them up, and pur- 
 fyjcd the thread of her difcourfe. 
 
 ' My 
 
Jemmy ^W Jenny Jessamy. 269 
 
 * My husband, I believe, continued 
 
 * (he, was the laft perfon fenfihle of the 
 
 * difhonour I had brought upon him ; 
 
 * but he could not long cfcap^ the herr- 
 
 * ing of what, had he not been blinded 
 
 * by his too good opinion cither of my • 
 
 * felf or Celandine, he needed not to 
 
 * have been told. lam apt to thirk hov- 
 
 * ever, that he gave not an entire credi: 
 •• to the ftory, for if he had he would 
 
 * not have taken the pains he did to be 
 
 * convinced. 
 
 ' He left Celandine with me one day, 
 
 * pretending that fome very extraordi- 
 ' nary bufmefs call'd him abroad -, but, 
 
 * inflead of going our, went and con- 
 
 * ceal'd himfelf in a clofet within our 
 ' bed-chamber, into which, thinking our- 
 ' felves perfedly fecure, we retir'd f'-on 
 ' after his fuppofed departure : we had 
 ' not been there many minutes before he 
 
 * rulh*d out, and furprifed us in a man- 
 
 * ncr as could admit no doubt of the 
 
 * crime we were guilty of-, Celandine 
 
 * fnatch'd up his fword which lay in 
 
 * the window, and immediatly drev/ it, 
 
 * expefting he fliouid have occafion to 
 ' ufe it ; but my husband in the faUiC 
 ' moment eafed bis apprehenfions on that 
 ' fcore, by faying, with a voice which 
 
 N 2 * h?A 
 
270 "lie HISTORY of 
 
 had more of grief tlian anger in it,* 
 — Put up, fir, I have not torgot the ; 
 obligations I have to your family, and 
 am only forry to find you have taken* 
 this method to acquit me of them ♦, 
 all I defire is, that you will leave my 
 houfe dire<5Hy, and that from hence- 
 forward we may be utter ftrangers." 
 — Celandine was in too much confu- 
 fion to make any anfwer, and went 
 away with all the fpeed he could. 
 
 * As for my wretched felf, — fear, 
 
 * which one would think fhould rather 
 
 * have given wings to my feet, and made 
 
 * me fly the preience of an injured huf- 
 
 * band, riveted me to the bedfide on 
 
 * which I was fitting •, my blood was 
 
 * all congealM, my fpirits ceas'd to epe- 
 
 * rate -, he upbraided my ingratitude and 
 
 * petfidioufnefs in terms which I mud 
 
 * contefs they merited j 1 heard all he 
 ' faid, but had it not in my power to 
 
 * make the leaft reply, or to excufc, or 
 
 * defend my crime, had it been in 
 ' words to do either •, but at that time 
 « I was indeed bereft of fpeech as well 
 
 * as motion Having vented fome part 
 
 * of his indignation in revilings, he flung 
 « out of the room, and left me in ihe 
 ' condition I have defcribed. 
 
 No 
 
Jemmy and Jenn V Jessamy. 27 1 
 
 * No ftupidity fare ever equalled mine ; 
 
 * a death h^e numbnefs had feiz'd all my 
 ' tacciltifs ; whac little fenfe I had was 
 ' bewilierid and confafed ; I could not 
 
 * tviii rfil"ft oi t'le misfortune to which 
 
 * my lolly had reduced me, much lefs 
 
 * contrive anv means to render them 
 ' more fuppoitaule. 
 
 ' How long I rema'.n'd, or how much 
 « longer I fhould have remain'd in this 
 ' lethargy or mind I know not \ but 
 ' it was almoft dark when I was rous'd 
 ' out Oi it by the fudden appearance of 
 
 * an elderly woman, a relation of my 
 
 * husband's, who with a ftern voice and 
 ' countenance told me, that Ihe was fent 
 
 * by him to take care of his family ; 
 ' and that I muft immediately go out 
 
 * of the houfe. 
 
 * This meflage, and the manner in 
 
 * which it was deliver*d, flung me to 
 
 * the very foul ; rage and difdain now 
 
 * quickened every nerve, I was all on 
 
 * fire, and raved againft mr. M in 
 
 * terms which would have made any one 
 
 * who heard me think, that it was myfelf, 
 
 * not he, who was the injured perlbn, 
 
 N 4 *To 
 
272 The HISTORY of 
 
 * To this fhe coolly anfwer'd, that it 
 ' was not her bufinefs to argue with me 
 ^ on thefe points ; that (he had difchar- 
 ' ged her commflion in fignifying my 
 "• husband's pleafure to me ; which, finre 
 ' I did not think fit to comply with, he 
 ' muft come himleif and put an end to 
 "^ the difpijte ; adding, that he was not 
 ' far off, and ihe would lend direil ly 
 ^ for him. 
 
 * All my courage again forfook me, 
 *■ the fight of my husband at this time 
 ' was more dreadful to me than any 
 
 * thing I could fuffer in being banifhM 
 
 * from him -, befides, my reafon now 
 ' convinced me, that after fo full a de- 
 ' tedtion of my crime, I could not hope 
 » to live under the fame roof with hirn \ 
 
 * at lead not till a long feries of peni- 
 
 * tence and fubmifTions fhould give me 
 
 * a title to his forgivenefs ; I therefore 
 
 * called the woman back, perceiving fhe 
 ' was going to do as fhe had faid, and 
 
 * told her, chat fince it was my husband's 
 ' will I fhould depart, I would not pro- 
 ' voke him by my difobedience. 
 
 ' In fpeaking thefc words I ftarted «p, 
 ' went to the drawers, put a night-mob 
 *. in my pocket, hurried on my capu- 
 chin. 
 
Jemmy ^«^ Jenny Jessamy. 273 
 
 ' chin, order*d a coach to be callM, and 
 ' feem'd in as much hafte to be gone as 
 ' my husband was to get rid ot me -, 
 ' while I was doing this his kinfwoman 
 ' defired I would take the keys with me, 
 ' faying, that if I fent them in the morn- 
 
 * ing file had orders to let me have 
 
 * every thing belonging to me. 
 
 " Very well, reply'd I carelefsly, I 
 ** fhall know in the morning what I 
 " have to do." The coach beino; at the 
 ' door I ftept haftily into it, and made 
 
 * the fellow drive me to a milliner's in 
 ' Covcnt-Garden, whofe cuftomer I had 
 ' been for a conliderable time. 
 
 ' I chofe this woman's houfe for an 
 
 * afylum in my prefent diftrefs, not da- 
 ' ring to apply to any one of my rela- 
 
 * tions ; nor did I think it proper as yet 
 
 * to truft her with the whole fecret ot 
 « my guilt and my misfortunes -, I only 
 
 * told her, that I had a quarrel with my 
 
 * husband and had fwore not to deep 
 
 * with him that night ; lb defired Hic 
 
 * would be hofpitable enough to afford 
 
 * me a bed, as I kfiew Ihe had one to 
 
 * fpare. 
 
 * The former part of that night I p;>n; 
 ' in the moft cruel agitations, but to- 
 
 N 5 . wards 
 
274 72;^ HISTORY ^/ 
 
 * wards the latter grew fomewhat more 
 
 * compofedi the vivacity of my temper 
 ' reprefented to me, that 1 was not the 
 
 * firft woman who had liv'd in a ftate of 
 
 * reparation from her husband; that the 
 
 * difcourfe of thefe things was foon over -, 
 
 * that I had a lover who would always 
 
 * fupply me with the neceffaries of life ; 
 
 * and that the lofs of reputation would 
 
 * be attoned for by the endearments of 
 
 * fo worthy a man : thus, alafs ! was my 
 
 * judgment mifguided by my fond paf- 
 
 * Son for that ungrateful wretch. 
 
 • I difpatch'd a mefienger to him next 
 
 * morning, he came immediately, defired 
 
 * I would provide a handfome lodging 
 
 * for myfelt j and affured me, with a thou- 
 
 * fand proteftations, that his purfe and his 
 
 * perfon fhould always be at my devo- 
 
 * tion : notwithftanding this I wrote to 
 
 * my husband, excufing my tranfgreffion 
 
 * as well as I was able ; he fent me all 
 
 * the things I had left behind •, but re- 
 
 * turn*d for anfwer to my letter, that he 
 
 * was determined never to fee my face 
 
 * again ; and that all he would do for 
 
 * me was to pay for my board, on con- 
 
 * dition I would retire to a farm-houfe 
 < an hundred and fifty miles from Loa- 
 
 * dtn, and never more come back. 
 
 « Gladly 
 
Jemmy and Jeuuy Jessamt. 27^ 
 
 * Gladly therefore I accepted of Celan- 
 
 • dine*s offer,— hired an apartment, and 
 
 • thought myfelf as happy as a \vomari 
 
 • in my circumftances could be. — I was, 
 
 • indeed, but too well fatisfied with my 
 
 • condition •, — I wanted for nothing that 
 
 • I defired, and had more than I could 
 
 • have expected of the company of the 
 ' man I priz'd above the world : — but 
 
 • alafs ! thefe golden days were of a fliort 
 « continuance, — too foon I found, by fad 
 
 • experience, that a lover, as well as a 
 
 • husband, could grow cool on a fure 
 
 • poffeffion.' 
 
 * I cannot, however, accufc him ofbe- 
 
 • ing a niggard to me in his allowance 
 
 • for my fupport ; but loving him to 
 
 • that excefs I did, it was an adequate 
 
 • return of love which aione could make 
 
 • me truly bleft.* 
 
 « At lafl he talk'd of going to Bath j 
 
 • I teftif y *d an extreme defire of accom- 
 
 • panying him ; but he endeavour'd to 
 
 • put me off, by pretences which feem'd 
 
 • to me very trifling, till I infifting upon 
 
 • his taking me with him, he plainly 
 
 • told, me thdt I muft not think of it, 
 
 • tor re w: s to go with perfons by w^hom 
 
 • it was wholly imjproper I Ihould be 
 
 • fcea. 
 
276 The HISTORY of 
 
 ' feen. I wept, but he was not foftened 
 
 * by my tears, only laying ten guineas 
 ' on the table bid be confole myfelf with 
 ' that till his return, and then took his 
 
 * leave with the fame carelefs air as he 
 ' could havedone of the^moft flight ac- 
 ' quaintance.* 
 
 * Judge how fevere a ftab this muft 
 ' give both to my love and pride ; — Jl 
 
 * faw, by the manner of his refufmg, that 
 ' there was fomething more at the bottom 
 
 * than he made fhew of, and refolved to 
 ' fathom it whatever Ihould be the event ; 
 ' — accordingly, as he left London one 
 
 * day in a pofl-chaife I followed the next 
 " in the ftage-coach.' 
 
 Here the reflcdion on fhofe wild 
 lengths, to which the folly of her palTion 
 had tranfported her, made her again un- 
 able to proceed, and the company were 
 obliged t© give a truce to their curiofity 
 till flie recover'd herfelf enough to go on 
 Awith her narrative, in the manner which 
 •will be ken. in the fucceeding chapter. 
 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Jemmy ^;z^ Jenny Jessamy. 277 
 
 CHAP. XXVI. 
 
 Will gratify the readen impatience 
 with the conclufion of mrs, M-—'s 
 hijiory j and alfo with what effeSis. 
 the recital of it produced in the 
 minds of thofe who heard it. 
 
 T 
 
 H E unfortunate mrs. M — having 
 dried up her tears, and made the 
 bed apology fhe could to the ladies for 
 this interruption, refumed her difcourfe 
 in thefe words : 
 
 * I took up my lodgings on my ar- 
 
 * rival here, faid Ihe, at the inn where I 
 ' alighted, and fent immediately in 
 
 * fearch of Celandine ^ — he came the next 
 
 * day, but his looks, before he fpoke, 
 
 * made me know how little he was plea- 
 
 * fed with feeing me, *' I thought ma- 
 *' dam, faid he, I faid enough to pre- 
 •' vent you from coming hither; and am 
 '* flirprized you fhould a6l in a manner 
 ** fo contrary to my inclination.*' 
 
 •I told him, that I found it impol^ 
 
 * fible to live fo long a time without him ; 
 
 * and 
 
278 The H IS TORY of 
 
 and a great deal of fuch fond idle ftufF, 
 which he as little regarded as indeed 
 it deferred •, — he infifted on my re- 
 turn to London the next morning; 
 which after fome tears, I at laft pro- 
 mifed to do, on condition that he 
 would dine with me that day. It was 
 with fome di.'Iiculty I prevailM upon 
 him to give me his company, even for 
 the few hours I requefted it i — nor 
 would I have taken fo much pains to 
 obtain fo fmall a favour, if I had not 
 flatter'd myfcif with being able- to win 
 him yet further to my purpofe.' 
 
 ' But my hopes deceived me,— in vain 
 
 * I try'd all the arts that love inlpir'd me 
 
 * with, — ihe was in/jcxible to all my in- 
 ' treaties, — unmoved by my indearments, 
 
 * and treated all I faid to him on the fcorc 
 
 * of my (laying here with fo much con- 
 
 * tempt, that th*" pride and Ipirit which 
 
 * my pafTion for him had but too much 
 
 * quell'd, began to roufe themfelves in 
 
 * me -, — I told him that he had no right 
 ' to prefcribe the place of my refidence ; 
 
 * that Bath was equally as free for me as 
 ' for himfe'f ; and that I would not leave 
 
 * it. On this he flatted up, and with a 
 » countenance full offpite. — " *Tis very 
 '*» well, faid he, you then may flay j but I 
 ** fancy you will find it extremely diffi- 
 
 ** cult 
 
Jemmv /7wi Jenny Jessamv. 279 
 ** cult to fupport yourfelf either here or 
 ** any where elfe without my afliftance, 
 ♦' which you may be afllired I Ihall ne- 
 *' ver afford to one who ads in oppo- 
 ** fition to my will.' 
 
 * The coRfideration of my wretched 
 
 * circumftances made me tremble at this 
 
 * menace, and again reduced me to fub- 
 ' miffion ; I implored his pardon for 
 « the raflinefs ot n^y paflion, and pro- 
 
 * mifed I would hereafter do in every 
 « thing as he would have me j this paci- 
 
 * Bed him j and fitting down again, " I 
 " would have you, faid he, behave like 
 " a reafonable woman, and one who 
 *• knows the world ; our amour has 
 ** been of a long continuance, and you 
 *' cannot expe6t a man like me fhould 
 *' always confine himfelf to one object : 
 «' to deal fincerely with you, I am here 
 •* on the invitation of a woman of con- 
 •* dition, whom I have the good fortune 
 " to be well with ; if you offer to inter- 
 *' fere with my pleafures I have done 
 ** with you for ever-, therefore, it depends 
 " entirely on yourfelf to keep me your 
 ** friend or not. 
 
 • It is amazing, even to myfelf, to 
 
 * think how I had the power to concei! 
 
 * the agonies which rent my heart at 
 
 * this 
 
28o The HISTORY of 
 
 * this impudent declaration ; yet it is 
 « certain that I did fo : I avow'd to do 
 
 * every thing he required of me, and 
 
 * to regulate my conduct henceforward 
 
 * fo as never to offend him ; he feem'd 
 
 * pleas'd with my affurancp, put five 
 
 * guineas into my hand to defray the un- 
 
 * neceffary expence, as he called it, -of 
 
 * my coming hither, gave me a kifs, 
 ' wifh'd me a good journey to London, 
 « and then left me to indulge the tranf- 
 ' ports of a rage the more violent for 
 
 * having been fupprefs'd. 
 
 « I did not, however, wafte much time 
 
 * in giving way to emotions which would 
 
 * neither avail my love or my revenge ; 
 ' to think of doing what I had promifed 
 
 * to him was far from me ; I refolved to 
 « fee the face that had fupplanted me in 
 ' his affeftions -, how afterwards I would 
 
 * behave I did not then confider : this 
 ' was the firft great point on which my 
 
 * foul was fix'd ; and to accomplilh it 
 » went that evening and hired a lodging 
 « in the moft private part of the town : 
 « the people of the houfe, on my fignify- 
 
 * ing to them that I wanted an adroit 
 
 * boy, or young fellow, to run on errands 
 
 * and wait on me while I flay'd at Bath, 
 
 * were fo kind to help me to one exaflly 
 
 * fit for my purpofe i he had been a 
 
 * waiter 
 
Jemmy and Jehhy Jessamy. 281 
 
 ' waiter in a coffee-houfe laft feafon 
 
 * when Celandine was h^re, and knew 
 
 * him perfeftly well. 
 
 * The chief bufmefs I employed him 
 ' in was to {land centry near the houfe 
 ' where Celandine lodg'd, to watch him 
 
 * wherever he went, to find out the 
 
 * names and charafters of the perfons he 
 ' vifited, and to bring me an exa<5t ac- 
 
 * count. 
 
 ' By the diligence of this emiflary I 
 
 * difcover'd that he vifited here every 
 
 * day i that he conftantly attended three 
 
 * ladies from hence to the walks — the 
 
 * long room — the play, and all public 
 
 * places ; that one of thefe ladies he 
 ' feem'd moft particularly attached to ; 
 
 * and that fhe was call'd lady Speck. 
 
 Mr; Lovegrove turn'd his eyes on lady 
 Speck, at thefe words, with fome fur- 
 prife ; fhe was in a good deal of confu- 
 fioH and cried out, ' Your fpy was mif- 
 
 * taken in his intelligence in this point, 
 ' his attachment was equal to us all, 
 
 * and I dare fay was equally regarded.* 
 
 * Pardon me, madam, refumed the un- 
 
 * fortunnte hiftorian ; I knew not then, 
 ' nor am yet. certain to which of you- 
 
 *tha 
 
282 7^^ HISTORY <?/' 
 
 * the name of lady Speck, belongs •, you 
 
 * will not wonder, that in thofe moments 
 
 * of my jealous rage, I wifli'd deftrudion 
 ' on the charms that had undone mc j 
 ' but this unlucky day above all I was 
 
 * lead able to command my paflion -, the 
 
 * boy brought me word that he had fecn 
 
 * Celandine in the walks with two of 
 
 * you, whom prefently he quitted and 
 
 * hurried to this houfe •, on which I 
 
 * concluded the third lady who ftay'd at 
 
 * home, and to whom he was in fo 
 
 * much hafte to retire, was the perfon 
 
 * who I fhould henceforth look on as 
 
 * my rival ; and at that inftant fired 
 
 * with emotions, to which reafon can 
 
 * fet no bounds, I muffled myfelf up 
 
 * as you fee, ran through the ftreets like 
 
 * one broke loofe from Bedlam j on my 
 « coming here I found the door open, a 
 
 * fervant-maid was doing fomething in 
 
 * the hall, and on my enquiring for 
 
 * Celandine fhe told me he had come in 
 
 * a little before, and fhe believed was 
 
 * then in the arbour at the lower end 
 
 * of the garden, for (he had ieen him 
 ' pafs that way •, I flew diredly to the 
 « place Ihe mention'd -, but the fury I 
 
 * was in had fo blinded me that I did 
 ' not readily perceive the entrance ; I 
 
 * heard the voice of my perfidious lover, 
 
 * and thrull my head through cac lattice, 
 
 ' and 
 
Jemmy anti Jenny Jessamy. 283 
 and my whole body had certainly 
 broke through that (lender partition, 
 if thofe who occafion'd my defpair had 
 not that moment rufh'd out of the 
 place : at this fight diftradtion took 
 poffeffion of my brain ; all hell and 
 its worft furies were in my heart; I 
 drew my penknife, refolved to fheath 
 it in the villian's bread •, but I know 
 not how it was, continued fhe, addref- 
 (ing herfelf to Jenny, you, madam, were 
 neareft to me, and the blow I meant 
 for him, in my miftaken rage was 
 aim'd at you i what follow'd I am 
 wholly ignorant of ; for my difappoint- 
 cd rage recoiling upon myfelf, together 
 with the rude blow the villain gave 
 me in wrefting the penknife from my 
 hand, ftopp'd all the fprings of life, 
 till your charitable endeavours put them 
 again in motion, and called me back to 
 fenfc, to fhamc, to mifery, and the 
 racks of thought.* 
 
 o 
 
 Thus did mrs. M conclude her 
 
 tedious narrative j but did not give over 
 fpeaking till (he afrefli intreated par- 
 don of the company for the ciifturbance 
 flie had occafion'd in the family, and of 
 Jenny in particular, who had fufFer'd 
 moil through the extravagance fhe had 
 been guilty of ; to which that young 
 
 lady 
 
2^4 ^^^ triSTORY oj 
 lady, with a great deal of fweetnefs, tho' 
 not without fome bluflies at the remem- 
 brance of Celandine's behaviour, reply 'd 
 ii thefe terms : ' I can eafily forgive the 
 
 * frigbt you put me into, faid (lie, as I 
 ' know not but it was your feafonable 
 
 * interruption which chiefly preferved 
 
 * me from a worfe mifchief than that 
 
 * which I was threaten'd with by your 
 ' miftaken jcaloufy.* 
 
 * I did not know, my dear, faid mifs 
 ' Wingman with a gay air, that the in- 
 ' clinations of Celandine were devoted 
 
 * to you ; or that he left us fo abruptly 
 
 * in the walks on purpofe to have the 
 
 * pleafure of entertaining you alone.* 
 Jenny was about to make fome anfwer, 
 but was prevented by mr. Lovegrove, 
 who haftily taking up 'CvlQ. word, cried 
 
 * out, 'Tis difficult, madam, to know the 
 ' realinclinations of a man fuch a Celan- 
 
 * dine •, for I take him to be one of thofe 
 
 * fo elegantly defcribed by mr. Rowe in 
 
 * his play call'd the Fair Penitent : 
 
 A finging, dancing, worthlefs tribe 
 
 they are. 
 Who talk of beauties that they never 
 
 faw. 
 And boaft of favours that they ne'er 
 
 enjoyed. 
 
 In 
 
Jemmy ^/z^ Jenny Jessamy. 285 
 
 In repeating thefe lines he fix'd his 
 eyes on lady Speck, who feeming more 
 than ordinarily penfive, and making no 
 anfwer, he went on ; ' The poet, refum'd 
 ' he, throughout that whole perfotmance, 
 
 * Ihews himfclf very much a friend to the 
 
 * ladies, efpecially when gives them this 
 ' advice : 
 
 Were you, ye fair, but cautious whom 
 
 you truft. 
 Would you but think how feldom 
 
 fools are juft, 
 So many of your fex would not in 
 
 vain. 
 Of faithlefs men and broken vows 
 
 complain. 
 Of all the various wretches love has 
 
 made. 
 How few have been by men of fenfe 
 
 betray *d ; 
 Convinc'd by reafon, they your 
 
 power confefs, 
 Pleas'd to be happy as you're pleas'd 
 
 to blels. 
 And confcious of your worth can 
 
 never love you lefs. 
 
 Here enfued a filence, which pcrfiaps 
 had continued yet longer if it had not 
 been broke by mifs Wingman, that 
 young lady having her thoughts more 
 at liberty than any of the reft of the 
 
 company, 
 
286 The HISTORY of 
 
 company, and who indeed loved talking 
 fo well, that it was a pain to her to for- 
 bear it for any confiderable time. Turn- 
 ing towards mrs. M , * I am fur- 
 
 * prifed, madam, faid (he, that your un- 
 ' faithful lover having the confidence to 
 ' avow his guilt, by telling you that he 
 
 * came down to Bath on the invitation 
 ' of a woman of fafliion, that you had 
 ' not the curiofity to alk him the name 
 
 * and quality ot the perfon for whofe 
 
 * fake you were undone \ fince he had fo 
 « little difcretion as to let you into one 
 
 * part of the fecret, he would certainly 
 ' have made you acquainted with the 
 
 * whole, if you had defired it.* 
 
 * It muft be confefs'd, rejoined Jenny, 
 
 * that fuch an enquiry would have been 
 
 * highly natural in mrs. M ; and, if 
 
 ' anfwer'd to her fatisfadion, might have 
 
 ' faved her the trouble of employing 
 
 * an - emiflary to watch the motions of 
 « Celandine ; but for my part, I have 
 « little caufe to wilh it had been fo ; 
 
 * fince it was to her miftaken jealoufy 
 
 * I was indebted for the feafonable relief 
 
 * I received from the infolent imperti- 
 
 * nencies of that vain and unworthy cox- 
 
 * comb.' 
 
 • It is alfo poflible, madam, cried mr. 
 
 * Lovegrove, in an extraordinary emotion*, 
 
 * fuch 
 
Jemmy j»^ Jenny Jessamy. 287 
 
 * fuch an eclaircifement might have been 
 
 * attended with worfe confequences than 
 
 * you think on. Who can tell, added he 
 
 * with ftill more vehemence, but that he 
 
 * might have mention*d the name of 
 
 * fome lady who wants not an admirer 
 
 * zealous enough to have vindicated her 
 
 * reputation at the expence of his own 
 
 * life or that of the traducer ?* 
 
 * I know not, replied mrs. M — figh- 
 
 * ing, what confequences may have been 
 ' prevented, or what might have enfued 
 
 * by the difcovery of my rival ; but this I 
 
 * am certain of, that I was fo fhock'd at 
 
 * his ingratitude, fo aftoni{h*d at his 
 ' alTurance, and fo terrified with his me- 
 « naces, that I had then neither prefencc 
 ' of mind nor courage to put the queftion 
 
 * to him.' 
 
 Lady Speck, who had not fpoke one 
 fyllable for a confiderable time, now af- 
 fected a prodigious gaity du coeur, ' The 
 « demand you mean, faid fhe, I believe 
 
 ^ would have been to very little purpofe; 
 ^ I dare anfwer Celandine would have 
 
 ■ « been ftrangely puzzled to have inform- 
 « ed you in any particulars of the fond 
 
 * lady for whofe fake he came to Bath 5 
 
 * men of his romantic difpofition wor- 
 ^ fhip images of their own formation j 
 
 * boaft of vifionary favours, and take as 
 
 ♦ much 
 
zU The HISTORY of 
 
 * much pleafure in the Hiadow as others 
 
 ' do in the fubftance. 
 
 »■ 
 
 ' True, madam, cried mr. Lovegrove 
 « gravely i but if they fhould tjappen to 
 < aflign real names to their ideal miftrefles, 
 ' what but the blood of fuch a villain 
 ' could attone for his prefumption ? 
 
 No reply was made to this ; and mrs. 
 M — thinking it would bed become her 
 to take leave of the company, which fhe 
 did in the moft refped:ful manner, every 
 body allured her they pityM her misfor- 
 tunes, and that they fincerely wifh'd fome- 
 thing might happen to extricate her from 
 the labyrinth in which Ihe was at prefent 
 involv'd. 
 
 After fhe was gone, there foon re- 
 mainM none but mifs Wingman and 
 Jenny to maintain a converfation j mr. 
 Lovegrove, a good deal difconcerted at 
 fome pajGTages he had heard related by 
 
 mrs. M , pretending bufinefs caird 
 
 him, went away •, and lady Speck, who 
 was extremely out of humour, and had 
 been at fome pain to conceal it, took 
 this opportunity of retiring to her clofet, 
 in order to compofe the troubles of her 
 mind. 
 
 End of the First Vo\uwe. 
 
>-nvf 
 
 Iqo