Lady Towers said, My dear neighbour, you want no countenance; your own

merit is sufficient. I had a slight cold, that kept me at home in the

morning; but I heard you so much talked of, and praised, that I resolved

not to stay away in the afternoon; and I join in the joy every one gives

you. She turned to my master, and said, You are a sly thief, as I always

thought you. Where have you stolen this lady? And now, how barbarous is

it, thus unawares, in a manner, to bring her here upon us, to mortify

and eclipse us all?--You are very kind, madam, said he, that you and all

my worthy neighbours see with my eyes. But had I not known she had so

much excellency of mind and behaviour, as would strike every body in her

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favour at first sight, I should not have dared to class her with such of

my worthy neighbours, as now so kindly congratulate us both.

I own, said she, softly, I was one of your censurers; but I never liked

you so well in my life, as for this action, now I see how capable your

bride is of giving distinction to any condition.--And, coming to me, My

dear neighbour, said she, excuse me for having but in my thought, the

remembrance that I have seen you formerly, when, by your sweet air and

easy deportment, you so much surpass us all, and give credit to your

present happy condition. Dear good madam, said I, how shall I suitably return my acknowledgments!

But it will never be a pain to me to look back upon my former days,

now I have the kind allowance and example of so many worthy ladies to

support me in the honours to which the most generous of men has raised

me. Sweetly said! she was pleased to say. If I was in another place, I would

kiss you for that answer. Oh! happy, happy Mr. B----! said she to my

master; what reputation have you not brought upon your judgment! I

won't be long before I see you, added she, I'll assure you, if I come by

myself. That shall be your own fault, madam, said Mrs. Brooks.

And so they took leave; and I gave my hand to my dear master, and said,

How happy have you made me, generous sir!--And the dean, who had just

come up, heard me, and said, And how happy you have made your spouse,

I'll venture to pronounce, is hard to say, from what I observe of you

both. I courtesied, and blushed, not thinking any body heard me. And my

master telling him he should be glad of the honour of a visit from him;

he said, He would pay his respects to us the first opportunity, and

bring his wife and daughter to attend me. I said, That was doubly kind;

and I should be very proud of cultivating so worthy an acquaintance. I

thanked him for his kind discourse; and he thanked me for my attention,

which he called exemplary: and so my dear master handed me into the

chariot; and we were carried home, both happy, and both pleased, thank

God. Mr. Martin came in the evening, with another gentleman, his friend, one

Mr. Dormer; and he entertained us with the favourable opinion, he said,

every one had of me, and of the choice my good benefactor had made.




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