ed to look kindly on a wretch, who durft prefume fo far on her fuppofed affection, and tho' fhe fpared thofe pretty twincklers that violence, fhe half drowned their luftre in a deluge of tears. Never was a night paffed in more cruel anxieties than what the fuftained, both from the affront she had received, and reflection, that it was chiefly the folly of her own conduct, which had brought it on her; and what greatly added to her vexation, was the uncertainty how it would best become her to act, on an occafion which appeared fo extraordinary to her. She had no friend whom he thought it proper to confult;

fhe was afhamed to relate the story to any of the discreet and ferious part of her acquaintance; fhe feared their reproofs for having counterfeited a tenderness for a man, which fhe was now fenfible fhe ought, if it had been real, rather to, have concealed with the utmost care, both from him, and all the world: - and as for lady Mellafin and mifs Flora, though their conduct inspired her not with any manner of awe, yet the thought fhe faw fomething in thofe ladies, which did not promife much fincerity, and fhewed as if they would rather turn her complaints into ridicule, than afford her that cordial and friendly advice fhe ftood in need of.

Thefe were the reafons which determined her to keep the whole thing a secret from every one. At first she was tempted to write to Gayland, and testify her difdain of his prefumption, in terms which fhould convince him how grofsly his vanity had impofed upon him; but she afterwards confidered, that a letter from her was doing him too much honour, and, though never fo reproachful, might draw another from him, either to excufe and beg pardon for the temerity of the former, or poffibly to affront her a fecond time, by defending it, and repeating his request. She despised and hated him too much to engage in a correfpondence with him of any kind, and therefore refolved, as it was certainly moft prudent, not to let him have any thing under her hand, but, when next fhe faw him, to fhew her refentment by fuch ways as occafion should permit.

He came not to mr. Goodman's, however, for three days, poffibly waiting that time for a letter from mifs Betfy; but on the fourth he appeared at lady Mellafin's tea-table. There were, befides the family, feveral others prefent, fo that he had not an opportunity of fpeaking in private to mifs Betfy; but the looks fhe gave him,

fo

fo different from all he had ever feen her affume towards him, might have fhewn any man, not blinded with his vanity, how much fhe was offended; but he imagining her ill-humour proceeded only from the want of means to fend to him, came again the next day, and happening to find her alone in the parlour, "What,

my dear," faid he, taking her in a free manner by the hand, "have you been fo "clofely watched by your guardian and

guardianeffes here, that no kind mo"ment offered for you to answer the de"voirs of your humble fervant ?" “The "fureft guardians of my fame and peace," replied fhe, fnatching her hand away, "is "the little. fhare of underftanding I am "miftrefs of, which, I hope, will always "be fufficient to defend my honour in "more dangerous attacks, than the rude "impertinencies of an idle coxcomb."

These words, and the air with which they were fpoke, one would think, should have ftruck with confufion the perfon to whom they were directed; but Gayland was not fo eafily put out of countenance, and looking her full in the face," Ah, "Child!" cried he, "fure you are not "in your right fenfes to-day :- underftanding, impertinencies, idle coxvery pleasant i'faith! but upon C 5

"comb,

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66 my

my foul, if you think thefe airs become "you, you are the most mistaken woman "in the world." "It may be fo," cried fhe, ready to burft with inward fpite at his infolence, "but I fhould be yet more "mistaken, if I were capable of thinking "a wretch, like you, worthy of any thing "but contempt. With thefe words fhe flung out of the room, and he pursued her with a horse-laugh, till fhe was out of hearing, and then went into the diningroom, where he found lady Mellafin, and feveral who had come to visit her.

Mifs Betfy, who had gone directly to her own chamber, fent to excufe coming down to tea, pretending a violent headach; nor would be prevailed upon to join the company, 'till fhe heard Gayland had taken his leave, which he did much sooner than ufual, being probably a good deal difconcerted at the fhock his vanity had received.

CHAP.

Verifies the old proverb, that one affliction treads upon the heels of another.

AS mifs Betfy was prevented from difcovering to any one, the impudent attempt Gayland had made on her virtue, by the fhame of having emboldened him to it, by too unreserved a behaviour, fo alfo the fhame of the difappointment, and rebuff he had received from her, kept him from faying any thing of what had paffed between them; and this refolution, on both fides, rendered it very difficult for either of them to carry to the other, fo as not to give some fufpicion. Betfy could not always avoid feeing him, when he came to lady Mellafin's, for he would not all at once defist his vifit, for two reasons : firft, because it might give occafion for an enquiry into the caufe; and fecondly, becaufe mifs Betfy would plume herself on the occafion, as having, by her fcorn, triumphed over his audacity, and drove him from the field of battle. He therefore refolved to continue his vifits for fome time, and to pique her, as he imagined, directed all the fine things his comC 6

mon