company at this play plant themselves in a ring upon the ground, all, except one who stands in the middle, whole business is to catch a fhoe, which the company fhove about under their hams from one to another, fomething like a weaver's fhuttle. As it is impoffible, in this cafe, for the lady who is up to face all the company at once, the great beauty of the play lies in hitting her a thump with the heel of the fhoe on that fide leaft capable of making defence. It was in this manner that my eldest daughter was hemmed in and thumped about, all blowzed, in fpirits, and bawling for fair play, with a voice that might deafen a ballad-finger, when, confufion on confufion, who fhould enter the room but our two great acquaintances from town, Lady Blarney and Mifs Carolina Wilelmina Amelia Skeggs! Defcription would but beggar, therefore it is unneceffary to describe, this new mortification. Death! To be seen by ladies of fuch high breeding in fuch vulgar attitudes! Nothing better could enfue from fuch a vulgar play of Mr. Flamborough's propofing. We feemed ftruck to the ground for fome time, as if actually petrified with

amazement.

The two ladies had been at our house to see us, and finding us from home, came after us hither, as they were uneafy to know what accident could have kept us from church the day before. Olivia undertook to be our prolocutor, and delivered the whole in a fummary way, only faying, We were thrown from our horfes.' At which account the ladies were greatly concerned; but being told the family received no hurt, they were extremely glad; but being informed that we were almost killed by the fright, they were vaftly forry; but hearing that we had a very good. night, they were extremely glad again. Nothing could exceed their complaifance to my daughters; their profeffions the last evening were warm, but now they were ardent. They protefted a defire of having a more lasting acquaintance. Lady Blarney was particularly attached to Olivia; Mifs Carolina Wilel

mina

mina Amelia Skeggs (I love to give the whole name)' took a greater fancy to her fifter. They fupported the converfation between themselves, while my daughters fat filent, admiring their exalted breeding. But as every reader, however beggarly himself, is fond of high-lived dialogues, with anecdotes of Lords, Ladies, and Knights of the Garter, I must beg leave to give him the concluding part of the prefent converfation.

All that I know of the matter, cried Mifs Skeggs, is this, that it may be true, or it may not be true: < but this I can affure your Ladyship, that the whole < route was in amaze; his Lordship turned all manner of colours, my Lady fell into a found; but Sir Tomkyn, drawing his fword, fwore he was her's to the laft drop of his blood.'

Well,' replied our peerefs, this I can fay, that the Duchefs never told me a fyllable of the matter, and I believe her Grace would keep nothing a fe cret from me. This you may depend on as fact, "that the next morning my Lord Duke cried out three * times to his valet de chambre, Jernigan, Jernigan, Jernigan, bring me my garters.'

But previously I fhould have mentioned the very impolite behaviour of Mr. Burchell, who, during this difcourfe, fat with his face turned to the fire, and at the conclufion of every fentence would cry out fudge, an expreffion which difpleafed us all, and in fome measure damped the rifing spirit of the converfation.

Befides, my dear Skeggs,' continued our peerefs, there is nothing of this in the copy of verfes that Dr. Burdock made upon that occafion.' Fudge!

I am furprised at that,' cried Miss Skeggs; for he feldom leaves any thing out, as he writes only for his own amufement. But can your Ladyfhip favour me with a fight of them? Fudge!

My dear creature,' replied our peerefs, do you think I carry fuch things about me? though they are very fine to be fure, and I think myself fomething of a judge; at least I know what pleases myfelf. Indeed I was ever an admirer of all Dr. • Burdock's

Burdock's little pieces; for except what he does, and our dear Counters at Hanover-fquare, there's nothing' « comes out but the most lowest stuff in nature; not a ⚫ bit of high life among them.' Fudge!

Your Ladyship fhould except,' fays t'other, your • own things in the Lady's Magazine. I hope you'll say there's nothing low-lived there? But I fuppofe we are to have no more from that quarter?' Fudge! Why, my dear,' fays the Lady, you know my reader and companion has left me to be married to Captain Roach, and as my poor eyes won't fuffer me to write myself, I have been for some ⚫ time looking out for another. A proper perfon is no easy matter to find, and to be fure thirty pounds a year is a small stipend for a well-bred girl of character, that can read, write, and behave in company; as for the chits about town, there is no bearing them about one.' Fudge!

་

That I know,' cried Mifs Skeggs, by experience. For of the three companions I had this laft half year, one of them refused to do plain-work an hour in the day, another thought 'twenty-five guineas a year too small a falary, and I was obliged to fend away the third, because I fufpected an intrigue with the chaplain. Virtue, my dear Lady Blarney, virtue is worth any price; but where is that to be found?' Fudge!

My wife had been for a long time all attention to this difcourfe; but was particularly ftruck with the latter part of it. Thirty pounds and twenty-five guineas a year made fifty-fix pounds five fhillings English money, all which was in a manner going a begging, and might eafily be fecured in the family. She for a moment ftudied my looks for approbation; and, to own a truth, I was of opinion, that two fuch places would fit our two daughters exactly. Befides, if the 'Squire had any real affection for my eldest daughter, this would be the way to make her every way qualified for her fortune. My wife therefore was refolved that we should not be deprived of fuch advantages for want of affurance, and

undertook

undertook to harangue for the family. I hope,' cried fhe, your Ladyships will pardon my present prefumption. It is true we have no right to pretend to fuch favours; but yet it is natural for me to wifh putting my children forward in the world. And I will be bold to fay, my two girls have had a pretty good education, and capacity, at least the country can't fhew better. They can read, write, and caft accompts; they understand their needle, breadftitch, cross and change, and all manner of plain-work; they can pink, point, and frill; and know fomething of mufic; they can do up fmall clothes, work upon catgut; my eldest can paper, and my youngest has a very pretty manner of telling fortunes upon the cards.' Fudge!

cut

When he had delivered this pretty piece of eloquence, the two ladies looked at each other a few minutes in filence, with an air of doubt and importance. At laft Mifs Carolina Wilelmina Amelia Skeggs condefcended to obferve, that the young ladies, from the opinion fhe could form of them from fo flight an acquaintance, feemed very fit for fuch employments : But a thing of this kind, Madam,' cried fhe, addreffing my fpoufe, requires a thorough 'examination into characters, and a more perfect 'knowledge of each other. Not, Madam,' continued fhe, that I in the laft fufpect the young ladies 'virtue, prudence, and difcretion; but there is a form in these things, Madam, there is a form.'

My wife approved her fufpicions very much, obferving that he was very apt to be fufpicious herself : but referred her to all the neighbours for a character: but this our Peerefs declined as unneceffary, alleging that her coufin Thornhill's recommendation would be fufficient; and upon this we rested our petition.

CHAP. XII.

Fortune feems refolved to humble the family of Wakefield. Mortifications are often more painful than real cala

mities.

WHEN we were returned home, the night was

borah exerted much fagacity in conjecturing which of the two girls was likely to have the best place, and moft opportunities of feeing good company. The only obstacle to our preferment was in obtaining the 'Squire's recommendation; but he had already fhewn us too many inftances of his friendship to doubt of it now. Even in bed my wife kept up the usual theme: Well, faith, my dear Charles, between ourselves, I ⚫ think we have made an excellent day's work of it.' Pretty well,' cried I, not knowing what to say. What only pretty well!' returned the: • I think. it is very well. Suppose the girls fhould come to • make acquaintances of taste in town! This I am affured of, that London is the only place in the < world for all manner of husbands. Befides, my dear, ftranger things happen every day and as ladies of quality are fo taken with my daughters, ⚫ what will not men of quality be? Entre nous, I proteft I like my Lady Blarney vaftly, fo very obliging. However, Mifs Carolina Wilelmina Skeggs < has my warm heart. But yet, when they came to • talk of places in town, you saw at once how I nailed • them. Tell me, my dear, don't you think I did for

my children there ? Ay,' returned I, not knowing well what to think of the matter, heaven grant they may be both the better for it this day three • months!' This was one of those observations I ufually made to imprefs my wife with an opinion of my fagacity; for if the girls fucceeded, then it was a pious with fulfilled; but if any thing unfortunate enfued, then it might be looked upon as a prophecy.

All