In this last particular, however, the pawnbroker a little savoured of his profession, and made a small deviation from the truth; for when the man had asked him if he knew the lady, he answered she was some poor undone woman, who had pawned all her clothes to him the day before; and I suppose, says he, this picture is the last of her goods and chattels. This hint we thought proper to give the reader, as it may chance to be material.

Amelia answered coldly, that she had taken so very little notice of the man, that she scarce remem

bered he was there.

6

'I assure you, madam,' says the pawnbroker, he hath taken very great notice of you; for the man changed countenance upon what I said, and presently after begged me to give him a dram. Oho! thinks I to myself, are you thereabouts? I would not be so much in love with some folks, as some 'people are, for more interest than I shall ever make of a thousand pounds.'

Amelia blushed, and said, with some peevishness, That she knew nothing of the man; but supposed he was some impertinent fellow or other.'

I

Nay, madam,' answered the pawnbroker, assure you he is not worthy your regard. He is a poor wretch, and I believe I am possessed of most of his moveables. However, I hope you 6 are not offended; for, indeed, he said no harm; but he was very strangely disordered, that is the truth of it.'

Amelia was very desirous of putting an end to this conversation, and altogether as eager to return to her children she therefore bundled up her things as fast as she could, and calling for a hackney coach, directed the coachman to her lodgings, and bid him drive her home with all the haste he could.

CHAP. IV.

In which Dr. Harrison visits Colonel James. THE doctor, when he left Amelia, intended to go directly to Booth; but he presently changed his mind, and determined first to call on the colonel, as he thought it was proper to put an end to that matter, before he gave Booth his liberty.

The doctor found the two colonels, James and Bath, together. They both received him very civilly; for James was a very well-bred man; and Bath always shewed a particular respect to the clergy, he being indeed a perfect good Christian, except in the articles of fighting and swearing.

Our divine sat some time without mentioning the subject of his errand, in hopes that Bath would go away; but when he found no likelihood of that (for indeed Bath was of the two much the most pleased with his company) he told James that he had something to say to him relating to Mr. Booth, which he believed he might speak before his brother.

'Undoubtedly, sir,' said James; for there can be no secrets between us which my brother may 6 not hear.'

I come then to you, sir,' said the doctor, from the most unhappy woman in the world, to whose afflictions you have very greatly and very cruelly added, by sending a challenge to her husband, ' which hath very luckily fallen into her hands; for had the man, for whom you designed it, received it, I am afraid you would not have seen me upon this occasion.'

If I writ such a letter to Mr. Booth, sir,' said James, you may be assured I did not expect this

visit in answer to it.'

'I do not think you did,' cries the doctor; but you have great reason to thank heaven for ordering this matter contrary to your expectations. I know not what trifle may have drawn this challenge 'from you; but after what I have some reason to know of you, sir, I must plainly tell you, that if you had added to your guilt already committed against this man that of having his blood upon your hands, your soul would have become as black 6 as hell itself."

¢

'Give me leave to say,' cries the colonel,

this is a language which I am not used to hear; and if your cloth was not your protection, you should not give it me with impunity. After what you know of me, sir! What do you presume to know ' of me to my disadvantage?'

You say my cloth is my protection, colonel,' answered the doctor, therefore pray lay aside your anger; I do not come with any design of affronting or offending you.'

Very well,' cries Bath, that declaration is sufficient from a clergyman, let him say what he pleases.'

6

Indeed, sir,' says the doctor very mildly, I consult equally the good of you both, and, in a spiritual sense, more especially yours; for you know you have injured this poor man.'

'So far on the contrary,' cries James, that I have been his greatest benefactor. I scorn to upbraid him; but you force me to it. Nor have • I ever done him the least injury.'

،

Perhaps not,' said the doctor; I will alter what I have said.-But for this I apply to your ⚫ honour.-Have you not intended him an in"jury, the very intention of which cancels every "obligation?'

6

How, sir?' answered the colonel

What do

My meaning,' replied the doctor, is almost too tender to mention-Come, colonel, examine your own heart; and then answer me on your honour, if you have not intended to do him the highest wrong which one man can do ano⚫ther?'

I do not know what you mean by the question,' answered the colonel.

'D-n_me, the question is very transparent,' cries Bath. From any other man it would be an 'affront with the strongest emphasis, but from one of the doctor's cloth, it demands a categorical

, answer.'

6

.

"I am not a Papist, sir,' answered colonel James, nor am I obliged to confess to my priest. But if you have any thing to say, speak openly-for I do not understand your meaning.'

'I have explained my meaning to you already,' said the doctor, in a letter I wrote to you on the subject-a subject which I am sorry I should have any occasion to write upon to a Christian.

I do remember now,' cries the colonel, that I received a very impertinent letter, something like a scimon, against adultery; but I did not expect to hear the author own it to my face.'

That brave man then, sir,' answered the doctor, • stands before you who dares own he wrote that C letter, and dares affirm too, that it was writ on a just and strong foundation. But if the hardness of your heart could prevail on you to treat my good intention with contempt and scorn, what, pray, could induce you to shew it, nay, to give it Mr. Booth? What motive could you have for that, unless you meant to insult him, and to provoke your rival to give you that opportunity of putting him out of the world, which you have since wickedly sought by your challenge?'

6

"I give him the letter!' said the colonel.

Yes, sir,' answered the doctor, he shewed me the letter, and affirmed that you gave it him at the masquerade.'

'He is a lying rascal then,' said the colonel very passionately. I scarce took the trouble of reading the letter, and lost it out of my pocket."

Here Bath interfered, and explained this affair in the manner in which it happened, and with which the reader is already acquainted. He concluded by great eulogiums on the performance, and declared it was one of the most enthusiastic (meaning perhaps ecclesiastic) letters that ever was written. · Ând d-n me,' says he, if I do not respect the author with the utmost emphasis of 'thinking."

The doctor now recollected what had passed with Booth, and perceived he had made a mistake of one colonel for another. This he presently acknowledged to colonel James, and said that the mistake had been his, and not Booth's.

Bath now collected all his gravity and dignity, as he called it, into his countenance, and addressing himself to James, said-' And was that letter writ to you, brother?—I hope you never deserved any 'suspicion of this kind.'

6

Brother, cries James, I am accountable to myself for my actions, and shall not render an account either to you or to that gentleman.'

As to me, brother,' answered Bath, you say right; but I think this gentleman may call you to an account; nay, I think it is his duty so to do. And let me tell you, brother, there is one much greater than he to whom you must give an account. • Mrs. Booth is really a fine woman, a lady of most imperious and majestic presence. I have heard you often say, that you liked her; and if you have quarrelled with her husband upon this account, by all the dignity of man, I think you ought to • ask his pardon.'