'that I deserve that character any more, than I 'know the person that now gives it me.' • And

you have the assurance then,' said she in her own voice, to affect not to remember me."- I think,' cries Booth, I have heard that voice before; but, upon my soul, I do not recollect it.' • Do you

' recollect,' said she, no woman that you have used with the highest barbarity? I will not say ingratitude.' No, upon my honour,' answered Booth. Mention not honour,' said she, thou wretch; for hardened as thou art, I could shew thee a face, that, in spite of thy consummate im6 pudence, would confound thee with shame and 'horror. Dost thou not yet know me?' I do, madam, indeed,' answered Booth, and I confess, 'that of all women in the world you have the most reason for what you said.'

Here a long dialogue ensued between the gentleman and the lady, whom, I suppose, I need not mention to have been Miss Matthews; but as it consisted chiefly of violent upbraidings on her side, and excuses on his, I despair of making it entertaining to the reader, and shall therefore return to the colonel, who having searched all the rooms with the utmost diligence, without finding the woman he looked for, began to suspect that he had before fixed on the right person, and that Amelia had denied herself to him, being pleased with her paramour, whom he had discovered to be the noble peer

He resolved, therefore, as he could have no sport himself, to spoil that of others; accordingly he found out Booth, and asked him again, what was become of both their wives; for that he had searched all over the rooms, and could find neither of them.

Booth was now a little alarmed at this account, and parting with Miss Matthews, went along with the colonel in search of his wife. As for Miss Matthews, he had at length pacified her with a

promise to make her a visit; which promise she extorted from him, swearing bitterly in the most solemn manner, unless he made it to her, she would expose both him and herself at the masquerade.

As he knew the violence of the lady's passions, and to what heights they were capable of rising, he was obliged to come into these terms; for ha had, I am convinced, no fear upon earth equal to that of Amelia's knowing what it was in the power of Miss Matthews to communicate to her, and which to conceal from her, he had already undergone so much uneasiness.

The colonel led Booth directly to the place where he had seen the peer and Amelia (such he was now well convinced she was) sitting together.

Booth no sooner saw her, than he said to the colonel, sure that is my wife in conversation with that masqueI took her for your lady myself, said the colonel; but I found I was mistaken. (Hark'e, that is my lord, and I have seen that very lady with him all this night.)

-

This conversation passed at a little distance, and out of the hearing of the supposed Amelia; when Booth looking stedfastly at the lady, declared with an oath, that he was positive the colonel was in the right. She then beckoned to him with her fan; upon which, he went directly to her; and she asked him to go home, which he very readily consented to. The peer then walked off; the colonel went in pur suit of his wife, or of some other woman; and Booth and his lady repaired in two chairs to their lodgings.

CHAP. III.

Consequences of the Masquerade, not uncommon nor surprising.

THE lady, getting first out of her chair, ran hastily up into the nursery to the children; for such was Amelia's constant method at her return home, at whatever hour. Booth then walked into the dining-room, where he had not been long before Amelia came down to him, and with a most cheerful countenance, said, My dear, I fancy we have neither of us supped, shall I go down and see ' whether there is any cold meat in the house?'

For yourself, if you please,' answered Booth; ⚫ but I shall eat nothing.'

How, my dear!' said Amelia, I hope you have not lost your appetite at the masquerade.' For supper was a meal at which he generally eat very heartily,

I know not well what I have lost,' said Booth; I find myself disordered. My head aches. I know not what is the matter with me.'

Indeed, my dear, you frighten me,' said Amelia; C you look indeed disordered. I wish the masquerade ' had been far enough, before you had gone thither.' Would to Heaven it had,' cries Booth; but that is over now. But pray, Amelia, answer me one question, Who was that gentleman with you, when I came up to you?'

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The gentleman! my dear,' said Amelia, what gentleman ?'

The gentleman, the nobleman, when I came up; sure I speak plain.'

Upon my word, my dear, I don't understand you,' answered she; I did not know one person at the masquerade.'

How!' said he, what! spend the whole evening with a masque without knowing him?'

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Why, my dear,' said she, you know we were 'not together.'

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I know we were not,' said he; but what is that to the purpose? sure you answer me strangely. I know we were not together; and therefore I ask you whom you were with?'

Nay but, my dear,' said she, can I tell people in masques?'

I say again, madam,' said he, would you converse two hours or more with a masque whom you did not know?'

Indeed, child,' says she, I know nothing of the methods of a masquerade; for I never was at one in my life.'

I wish to Heaven you had not been at this,' cries Booth. Nay, you will wish so yourself, if you tell me truth-What have I said? do I, can I suspect you of not speaking truth ?—Since you are ignorant then I will inform you, the man you

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have conversed with was no other than lord And is that the reason,' said she, you wish I had not been there?'

suffi

And is not that reason,' answered he, cient? Is he not the last man upon earth with • whom I would have you converse?'

So you really wish then that I had not been at the masquerade ??

I do,' cried he, 'from my soul.'

So may I ever be able,' cried she, to indulge wish as in this. I was not there.'

you

you would

in every Do not trifle, Amelia,' cried he; not jest with me, if you knew the situation of my

mind.'

Indeed, I do not jest with you,' said she. Up' on my honour I was not there. Forgive me this first deceit I ever practised, and indeed, it shall be the last; for I have paid severely for this by

the uneasiness it hath given me.' She then revealed to him the whole secret, which was thus:

I think it hath been already mentioned in some part of this history, that Amelia and Mrs. Atkinson were exactly of the same make and stature, and that there was likewise a very near resemblance between their voices. When Mrs. Atkinson, therefore, found that Amelia was so extremely averse to the masquerade, she proposed to go thither in her stead, and to pass upon Booth for his own wife.

This was afterwards very easily executed; for when they left Booth's lodgings, Amelia, who went last to her chair, ran back to fetch her masque, as she pretended, which she had purposely left behind. She then whipped off her domino, and threw it over Mrs. Atkinson, who stood ready to receive it, and ran immediately down stairs, and stepping into Amelia's chair, proceeded with the rest to the masquerade.

As her stature exactly suited that of Amelia, she had very little difficulty to carry on the imposition; for, besides the natural resemblance of their voices, and the opportunity of speaking in a feigned one, she had scarce an intercourse of six words with Booth during the whole time; for the moment they got into the crowd, she took the first opportunity of slipping from him. And he, as the reader may remember, being seized by other women, and concluding his wife to be safe with Mrs. James, was very well satisfied, till the colonel set him upon the search, as we have seen before.

Mrs. Atkinson, the moment she came home, ran up stairs to the nursery, where she found Amelia, and told her in haste that she might very easily carry on the deceit with her husband; for that she might tell him what she pleased to invent, as they had not been a minute together during the whole evening.

Booth was no sooner satisfied that his wife had not been from home that evening, than he fell into