true goodness is rarely found among them; for I am firmly persuaded, that the latter never possessed any human mind in any degree, without being attended by as large a portion of the former.

Thus ended the conversation on this subject; what followed is not worth relating, till the doctor carried off Booth with him to take a walk in the Park.

CHAP. V.

A Conversation between Amelia and Doctor Harrison, with the Result.

AMELIA being left alone, began to consider

seriously of her condition; she saw it would be very difficult to resist the importunities of her husband, backed by the authority of the doctor; especially as she well knew how unreasonable her declarations must appear to every one who was ignorant of her real motives to persevere in it. On the other hand, she was fully determined, whatever might be the consequence, to adhere firmly to her resolution of not accepting the colonel's invitation.

When she had turned the matter every way in her mind, and vexed and tormented herself with much uneasy reflection upon it, a thought at last occurred to her, which immediately brought her some comfort. This was, to make a confident of the doctor, and to impart to him the whole truth. This method, indeed, appeared to her now to be so advisable, that she wondered she had not hit upon it sooner; but it is the nature of despair to blind us to all the means of safety, however easy and apparent they may be.

Having fixed her purpose in her mind, she wrote a short note to the doctor, in which she acquainted

him that she had something of great moment to impart to him, which must be an entire secret from her husband, and begged that she might have an opportunity of communicating it as soon as possible.

Doctor Harrison received the letter that afternoon, and immediately complied with Amelia's request in visiting her. He found her drinking tea with her husband and Mrs. Atkinson, and sat down and joined the company.

6

Soon after the removal of the tea-table, Mrs. Atkinson left the room. The doctor then turning to Booth, said, 'I hope, captain, you have a true sense of the obedience due to the church, though our clergy do not often exact it. However, it is proper to exercise our power sometimes, in order to remind the laity of their duty. I must tell you, 'therefore, that I have some private business with your wife; and I expect your immediate absence.'

6

6

Upon my word, doctor,' answered Booth, no Popish confessor, I firmly believe, ever pronounced his will and pleasure with more gravity and dignity; none therefore was ever more immediately 'obeyed than you shall be.' Booth then quitted the room, and desired the doctor to recall him when his business with the lady was over.

Doctor Harrison promised he would; and then turning to Amelia he said, • Thus far, madam, I have obeyed your commands, and am now ready to receive the important secret which you mention

in your note.'

Amelia now informed her friend of all she knew, all she had seen and heard, and all that she suspected of the colonel. The good man seemed greatly shocked at the relation, and remained in a silent astonishment. Upon which, Amelia said, 'Is villainy so rare a thing, sir, that it should so much surprize you?' No child,' cries he; but I am 'shocked at seeing it so artfully disguised under the appearance of so much virtue; and, to confess

6

the truth, I believe my own vanity is a little hurt ' in having been so grossly imposed upon. Indeed, I had a very high regard for this man; for, besides the great character given him by your husband, and the many facts I have heard so much redounding to his honour, he hath the fairest and most promising appearance I have ever yet beheld -A good face, they say, is a letter of recom'mendation. O Nature, Nature, why art thou so 'dishonest, as ever to send men with these false re'commendations into the world !'

Indeed, my dear sir, I begin to grow entirely 'sick of it,' cries Amelia: for sure all mankind ' almost are villains in their hearts.'

Fie, child,' cries the doctor. 'Do not make a 'conclusion so much to the dishonour of the great 'Creator. The nature of man is far from being in itself evil; it abounds with benevolence, charity, and pity, coveting praise and honour, and shunning shame and disgrace. Bad education, bad habits, and bad customs, debauch our nature, and drive it headlong as it were into vice. The governors of the world, and I am afraid the priesthood are answerable for the badness of it. Instead of discouraging wickedness to the utmost of their power, both are too apt to connive at it. In the great sin of adultery, for instance; hath the government provided any law to punish it? or, doth the priest take any care to correct it? on the contrary, is the most notorious practice of it any detriment to a man's fortune, or to his reputation in the world? doth it exclude him from any pre• ferment in the state, I had almost said in the church? ' is it any blot in his escutcheon? any bar to his honour is he not to be found every day in the as•semblies of women of the highest quality? in the closets of the greatest men, and even at the tables of bishops? What wonder then, if the commu⚫nity in general treat this monstrous crime as mat

ter of jest, and that men give way to the temptations of a violent appetite, when the indulgence of it is protected by law and countenanced by 'custom? I am convinced there are good stamina in the nature of this very man; for he hath done acts of friendship and generosity to your hus• band, before he could have any evil design on your chastity; and in a Christian society, which I no more esteem this nation to be, than I do any part of Turkey, I doubt not but this very 'colonel would have made a worthy and valuable 'member.'

6

Indeed, my dear sir,' cries Amelia, you are the wisest as well as best man in the world-' 'Not a word of my wisdom,' cries the doctor. 'I have not a grain-I am not the least versed in 'the Chrematistic * art, as an old friend of mine calls it. I know not how to get a shilling, nor how to keep it in my pocket, if I had it.'

<

'But you understand human nature to the bottom,' ,' answered Amelia; and your mind is the treasury of all antient and modern learning.'

You are a little flatterer,' cries the doctor; but I dislike you not for it. And to shew you I don't, I will return your flattery; and tell you, you have acted with great prudence in concealing this affair from your husband; but you have 'drawn me into a scrape; for I have promised to • dine with this fellow again to-morrow; and you ⚫ have made it impossible for me to keep my word.' Nay but, dear sir,' cries Amelia, for Heaven's sake take care. If you shew any kind of 'disrespect to the colonel, my husband may be led into some suspicion-especially after our con'ference.'

6

6

Fear nothing, child. I will give him no hint; and that I may be certain of not doing it I will

*The art of getting wealth is so called by Aristotle in his Politics.

stay away. You do not think, I hope, that f 'will join in a cheerful conversation with such a man; that I will so far betray my character as to give any countenance to such flagitious proceedings. Besides my promise was only conditional; and I do not know whether I could otherwise

have kept it; for I expect an old friend every day who comes to town twenty miles on foot to see me; whom I shall not part with on any ac'count; for as he is very poor, he may imagine I treat him with disrespect.'

Well, sir,' cries Amelia, I must admire you, ' and love you for your goodness."

6

'Must you love me?' cries the doctor. I could cure you now in a minute if I pleased.'

Indeed, I defy you, sir,' said Amelia.

If I could but persuade you,' answered he, 'that I thought you not handsome, away would ' vanish all ideas of goodness in an instant. Confess honestly, would they not?'

Perhaps I might blame the goodness of your eyes,' replied Amelia; and that is perhaps an honester confession than you expected. But do, pray, sir, be serious; and give me your advice what to do. Consider the difficult game I have to play; for I am sure, after what I have told you, you would not even suffer me to remain under the roof of this colonel.'

པ

No, indeed, would I not,' said the doctor, 'whilst I have a house of my own to entertain you.'

'But how to dissuade my husband,' continued she, without giving him any suspicion of the real 'cause, the consequences of his guessing at which I tremble to think upon.'

'I will consult my pillow upon it,' said the doctor; and in the morning you shall see me again. In the mean time be comforted, and compose the perturbations of your mind.'