we arrived at a place about twenty miles from York, I left my companion at the inn, and proceeded to Sir George's alone. I wished to reconnoitre, and be certain of a kind reception, before I introduced her. If my reception should not be as warm as my invitation, or if there happened to be any company I did not like to join, I was determined to return from his honour's the fame evening. But I beg Sir George's pardon for even the bare fuppofition. Had I confidered rightly, I could have had no caufe for apprehenfion on either point, particularly the latter, as he had always been remarkably careful in the choice of the company he introduced me to.

When I approached the house, I saw the owner of it at a distance; and as the road I was in led to his manfion only, he was affured the vifit muft be to him; he therefore haftened to the chaife. I was much furprized at feeing him alone; nor did he feem to be less fo at my being without a companion. As foon as I came up to him, he cried out, "My dear Pop! how comes it that "you are by yourself and in a hack? My chaife "has been waiting for you several days at York. "I began to be alarmed at your stay, and fent "George, and my nephew, and fome others, yefterday, to make enquiries about you. But "where is Mifs Wordley? I hoped to have had

"the

"the pleasure of her company." From fo cordial a reception, I no longer harboured a doubt of my prefence giving pleasure at Cave. I then informed Sir George, that I had left Mifs Wordley at a village fome miles from his houfe; upon which he dispatched the chaise to bring her.

As I entered the hospitable mansion, I had the pleasure of feeing the faithful valet I have formerly had occafion to mention. The worthy fellow absolutely fhed tears of joy upon my hand as he kiffed it. He had conceived fuch an affection for my fon, that I looked upon him more like a relation than a fervant. He had lived with his mafter from his childhood; having been brought up in a school, erected by Mr. Montgomery, Sir George's father, for the education of the children of fuch of his tenants and neighbours as could not afford to beftow one on them. At this period, most of Sir George's fervants, both men and women, had partaken of the old gentleman's "goodness. I am forry to be able to add, that I heard with infinite concern fome years. after, that Sir George had discharged his faithful Sherrad, through the mifreprefentations of a favourite mistress.

We had not been long feated, when we beheld Mifs Wordley approach, attended by the cavalcade which had been dispatched in queft of me.

The

The Goddess of Nonfenfe, forgetting it was Sunday, had placed herfelf in the window, and fat very compofedly at work. So unusual a fight drew the attention of those who paffed, and foon raised a crowd before the inn. My fon and his companions happening to ride through the village at the fame time, in their return, their notice was likewife attracted by the novelty. This gave Mifs Wordley an opportunity of seeing my younker, whom the immediately knew by the great refemblance he bore to his father. Upon which, being above all ceremony, and her apprehenfions of a favourable reception being removed by the fight of the chaife, fhe threw up the window, made herself known to the young gentlemen, and being feated in the chaife, was conducted by four fquires on horfeback, en grand train, to join us.

After tea, my hoft defired he might have the pleasure of fhewing me to my apartment, as he had fomething particular to fay to me. I arose, and followed him. When we got into my room, I was not a little furprized to fee him affume an air of confequence, which no one knew better than himself how to do. He then, with a grave countenance, faid, that he was very much concerned to tell me, he had fomething very difagreeable to inform me of. I began to fear, from

this

this exordium, that I had been too hafty in fending away the chaife. But my apprehenfions foon vanished, when he told me, with great folemnity, that, during the diftraction occafioned by our feparation, he had rafhly bound himself, by the most facred vows, never more to have any tender connection with me.

The conclufion of this fpeech had such an effect upon me, that I was in danger of forgetting the graces, fo far as to burft into a fit of laughter. But recollecting myself as well as I could, I begged he would not be under the confufion of an apology; for could I have fuppofed, that in the prefent fituation of things it would have been otherwise, I certainly fhould not have accepted his invitation. I perceived that his vanity was much hurt at this declaration, and was concerned at it. He had not fuppofed that I should receive a circumstance of fuch great import with the unaffected indifference I did. He expected that I should regret the reftriction, with the fame poignant feelings he had declared he himself felt; and his chagrin upon the occafion was vifible. However, upon rejoining the company, he re-affumed his good humour and politenefs. In both of these Sir George exceeded the generality of his fex, particularly in the latter. I cannot recollect a perfon amongst all my acquaintance, except the

Dowager

Dowager Lady Harrington, who knew how to acquit themselves in doing the honours of their house with more ease and attention; an indifputable proof of a good heart, improved by a polite education.

LETTER LXXX.

G. A. B.

Sept. 12, 17

WHILST I continued at Cave, every body

feemed to vie with each other which could most

fucceed in pleafing me. But my anxiety to procure an engagement at the theatre made me at times very uneafy. Such a ftep was abfolutely neceffary, to clear me from the debts with which I was encumbered; for, notwithstanding the fums I had paid, I ftill owed above four thousand pounds. Sir George expreffed to me a defire of felling an eftate, in order to extricate both himself and me; which he affured me he would do, as foon as it was in his power; and he gave me a commiffion to fpeak to Alderman Cracroft, upon my return to London, to look out for a purchafer.

In the mean time, he wrote to his coufin, Lord Eglington, defiring he would use his interest with

Mr.