either there or any where else, at that time, on which the other told her, fhe had got the spleen; but faid fhe, “I am "refolved not to be infected with it, fo

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you must not take it ill if I leave you "alone for a few hours; for I fhould "think it a fin against common-sense, "to fit moping at home without fhewing

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myfelf to any one foul in the world, "after having taken all this pains in "dreffing." Mifs Betfy affured her, as fhe might do with a great deal of fincerity, that fhe fhould not be at all difpleafed to be entirely free from any company whatsoever for the whole evening; and to prove the truth of what fhe faid, gave orders that inftant to be denied to whoever fhould come to vifit her. "Well," cried mifs Flora, laughing, "I fhall give "your compliments, however, where I "am going," and then mentioned the "names of fome perfons she had just then taken into her head to vifit. "As you "please for that," replied mifs Betfy, with the fame gay air; "but don't tell "them it is because I am eaten up with

the vapours, that I choose to stay at "home rather than carry my compliments "in perfon; for if ever I find out," continued fhe," that you are fo mischievous, " I shall contrive fome way or other to "be revenged on you."

They

They talked to each other in this pleafant manner, 'till a chair mifs Flora had fent for was brought into the hall, in which fhe feated herself for her intended ramble, and mifs Betfy went into her chamber, where how fhe was amused will presently be fhewn.

CHAP. XII.

Is little more than a continuance of the former.

MISS Betfy had no fooner difengaged

herself from the incumbrance of a formal drefs, and put on one more light and eafy, al fresco, as the Spaniards phrase it, than fhe began to give her brother's letter a more serious and attentive perufal, than she had the opportunity of doing before.

She was charmed and elated with the defcription mr. Francis had told her, fhe had inspired in the breast of his friend; fhe called to her mind the idea of those perfons who were prefent at the entertainments he mentioned, and easily recollected which was most likely to be the lover, G 4

though

though fhe remembered not the name: fhe very well now remembered there was one that seemed both times to regard her with glances, which had fomewhat peculiar in them, and which then fhe had interpreted as the certain indications of feeling fomething in his heart of the nature her brother had defcribed; but not seeing him afterwards, nor hearing any mention made of him, at leaft that fhe took notice of, the imagination went out of her head.

This account of him, however, brought to her memory every thing fhe had obferved concerning him, and was very well convinced she had feen nothing, either in his perfon or deportment, that was not perfectly agreeable; yet notwithstanding all this, and the high encomiums given of him by a brother, who fhe knew would not deceive her, fhe was a little vexed to find herself preffed by one fo dear, and fo nearly related to her, to think of him as a man fhe ever intended to marry: fhe thought she could be pleased to have fuch a lover, but could not bring herself to be content that he ever fhould be a husband. She had too much good fenfe not to know it fuited not with the condition of a wife to indulge herself in the gaieties fhe at prefent did, which though

innocent, and, as fhe thought, becoming enough in the present ftate fhe now was, might not be altogether pleafing to one, who, if he fo thought proper, had the power of reftraining them. In fine, fhe looked upon a serious behaviour as unfuitable to one of her years, and therefore refolved not to enter into a condition, which demanded fome share of it, at leaft for a long time; that is, when she should be grown weary of the admiration, flatteries, and addreffes of the men, and no longer found any pleasure in feeing herself preferred before all the women of her acquaintance.

Though it is certain, that few young handfome ladies are without fome fhare of the vanity here defcribed, yet it is to be hoped, there are not many who are poffeffed of it in that immoderate degree mifs Betly was. It is, however, for the fake of those who are fo, that these pages are wrote, to the end they may use their utmost endeavours to correct that error, as they will find it fo fatal to the happinefs of one, who had fcarce any other. blameable propensity in her whole compofition.

This young lady was full of meditations on her new conqueft, and the manner in G 5 which

which fhe fhould receive the victim, who was fo fhortly to proftrate himself at the fhrine of her beauty, when she heard fome body run hastily up ftairs, and go into lady Mellafin's dreffing-room, which being, as has been already taken notice of, on a very remarkable occafion, the stepped out of the chamber to fee who was there, and found mrs. Prinks very busy at a cabinet, where her lady's Jewels were always kept: " So, mrs. Prinks," faid fhe, " is my lady come home ?" "No, mifs," replied the other, "her ladyship is cer

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tainly the moft compaffionate best wo"man in the world; her coufin is very. "bad indeed, and fhe has fent me for a "bottle of reviving drops, which I am going back to carry." With these words the fhuffled fomething into her pocket, and having locked the cabinet again, went out of the room, faying, "Your "fervant, mifs Betfy, I cannot ftay, for. "life's at ftake."

This put mifs Betfy in the greatest confternation imaginable; fhe knew lady Mellafin could have no drops in that Cabinet, unless they were contained in a phial of no larger circumference than a thimble, the drawers of it being very fhallow, and made only to hold rings, croceats, necklaces, and fuch other flat trinkets: fhe thought