What do you think of want of clothes, madam?' said Amelia.

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'Ridiculous!' cries Mr. James.

• What need

have you to dress yourself out?--You will see nobody but our own family, and I promise you I 'don't expect it.-A plain night-gown will do very 'well.'

6

But if I must be plain with you, madam,' said Amelia, I have no other clothes but what I have now on my back.-I have not even a clean shift in the world; for you must know, my dear, said she to Booth, that little Betty is walked off this morning, and hath carried all my linen with

' her.'

How, my dear!' cries Booth, little Betty robbed you!'

It is even so,' answered Amelia. Indeed, she spoke truth; for little Betty having perceived the evening before that her mistress was moving her goods, was willing to lend all the assistance in her power, and had accordingly moved off early that morning, taking with her whatever she could lay her hands on.

Booth expressed himself with some passion on the occasion, and swore he would make an example of the girl. If the little slut be above ground,' cried he, I will find her out, and bring her to justice.'

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I am really sorry for this accident,' said Mrs. James, and (though I know not how to mention it) I beg you'll give me leave to offer you any ' of mine, till you can make new of your own.'

linen

Amelia thanked Mrs. James, but declined the favour, saying, she should do well enough at home; and that, as she had no servant now to take care of her children, she could not, nor would not leave them on any account.

Then bring master and miss with you,' said Mrs. James. You shall positively dine with us

to-morrow.'

'I beg, madam, you will mention it no more,' said Amelia; for besides the substantial reasons I have already given, I have some things on my mind at present which made me unfit for company; and I am resolved nothing shall prevail on me to stir from home.'

Mrs. James had carried her invitation already to the very utmost limits of good-breeding, if not beyond them. She desisted therefore from going any farther, and after some short stay longer, took her leave, with many expressions of concern, which however, great as it was, left her heart and her mouth together, before she was out of the house.

6

Booth now declared that he would go in pursuit of little Betty; against whom he vowed so much vengeance, that Amelia endeavoured to moderate his anger by representing to him the girl's youth, and that this was the first fault she had ever been guilty of. Indeed,' says she, I would be very glad to have my things again, and I should have the girl too punished in some degree, which might possibly be for her own good; but I tremble to think of taking away her life;' for Booth in his rage had sworn he would hang her.

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I know the tenderness of your heart, my dear,' said Booth, and I love you for it; but I must beg leave to dissent from your opinion. I do not think the girl in any light an object of mercy. She is not only guilty of dishonesty, but of cruelty; for she must know our situation, and the very little we had left. She is besides guilty of ingratitude to you, who have treated her with so 'much kindness, that you have rather acted the part of a mother than of a mistress. And so far from thinking her youth an excuse, I think it rather an aggravation. It is true, indeed, there are faults which the youth of the party_very strongly recommends to our pardon. Such are all those which proceed from carelessness, and

'want of thought; but crimes of this black dye, which are committed with deliberation, and imply a bad mind, deserve a more severe punishment in a young person than in one of riper years; ' for what must the mind be in old age which hath acquired such a degree of perfection in villainy so very early! such persons as these it is really a charity to the public to put out of the society; and, indeed, a religious man would put them out of the world for the sake of themselves; for whoever understands any thing of human nature must know, that such people, the longer they live, the more they will accumulate vice and wickedness.'

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Well, my dear,' cries Amelia, I cannot argue ' with you on these subjects. I shall always submit to your superior judgment, and I know you too well to think that you will ever do any thing

'cruel.'

Booth then left Amelia to take care of her children, and went in pursuit of the thief.

CHAP. VI.

A Scene of the tragic Kind.

He had not been long gone before a thundering

knock was heard at the door of the house where Amelia lodged, and presently after a figure all pale, ghastly, and almost breathless, rushed into the room where she then was with her children.

This figure Amelia soon recognized to be Mrs. Atkinson, though, indeed, she was so disguised, that at her first entrance Amelia scarce knew her. Her eyes were sunk in her head, her hair dishevelled, and not only her dress, but every feature in her face, was in the utmost disorder.

Amelia was greatly shocked at this sight, and the little girl was much frightened; as for the boy he immediately knew her, and running to Amelia, he cried, La mamma, what is the matter with poor Mrs. Atkinson?'

As soon as Mrs. Atkinson recovered her breath, she cried out- O Mrs. Booth! I am the most 'miserable of women; I have lost the best of hus• bands.'

Amelia, looking at her with all the tenderness imaginable, forgetting, I believe, that there had ever been any quarrel between them, said- Good • Heavens, madam, what 's the matter?'

<

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'O Mrs. Booth!' answered she, I fear I have lost my husband. The doctor says, there is but little hope of his life. O madam! however I have been in the wrong, I am sure you will forgive me and pity me. I am sure I am severely punished; for to that cursed affair I owe all my misery.'

Indeed, madam,' cries Amelia, I am extremely concerned for your misfortune. But pray tell me, hath any thing happened to the serjeant?'

O madam!' cries she, I have the greatest reason to fear I shall lose him. The doctor hath almost given him over-He says he hath scarce any hopes.-O madam! that evening that the fatal quarrel happened between us, my dear captain took it so to heart, that he sat up all night and drank a whole bottle of brandy.-Indeed, • he said, he wished to kill himself; for nothing • could have hurt him so much in the world, he • said, as to have any quarrel between you and me. His concern, and what he drank together, threw him into a high fever.-So that, when I came home from my lord's-(for indeed, madam, I have been and set all to rights-Your reputation is now in no danger) when I came home, I found the poor man in a raving delirious

I say,

'fit, and in that he hath continued ever since till about an hour ago, when he came perfectly to his senses; but now he says he is sure he shall die, ' and begs for Heaven's sake to see you first. Would you, madam, would you have the goodness to grant my poor captain's desire ? consider he is a dying man, and neither he nor I shall ever ask you a second favour. He says he hath something to say to you that he can mention to no other person, and that he cannot die in peace unless he sees you.'

6

I

Upon my word, madam,' cries Amelia, am extremely concerned at what you tell me. I knew the poor serjeant from his infancy, and always had an affection for him, as I think him to be one of the best-natured and honestest creatures opon earth. I am sure, if I could do him any service, but of what use can my going be?'

Of the highest in the world,' answered Mrs. Atkinson. If you knew how earnestly he intreated it, how his poor breaking heart begged to see you, " you would not refuse.'

Nay, I do not absolutely refuse,' cries Amelia. Something to say to me of consequence, and that he could not die in peace unless he said itDid he say that, Mrs. Atkinson?"

Upon my honour he did,' answered she, and

❝ much more than I have related.'

Well, I will go with you,' cries Amelia. I 'cannot guess what this should be; but I will go.'

Mrs. Atkinson then poured out a thousand blessings and thanksgivings; and taking hold of Ames lia's hand, and eagerly kissing it, cried out- How could that fury passion drive me to quarrel with

such a creature?'

Amelia told her she had forgiven and forgot it; and then calling up the mistress of the house, and