tle diminish'd by Grief and Tears, tho' not faded; the refembled a Lily over-charged with Rain, which fhrinks from its full Blowing, thro' Want of Serenity and Sun-fhine.

Lydia was now come to the Houfe of the Viscountefs; when enquiring if the Lady was at home, unhappily at that Moment, fhe was answered, that her Ladyfhip was gone to her Seat in Worcestershire: This answer was too interefting, not to create a senfible Air of Disappointment and Dejection in her Countenance, not that of Discontent and loft Labour, but Sorrow and Senfibility.

THIS mixt Expreffion on the Features of Beauty, adds the most prevailing of all Looks, on those Hearts which are humanely form'd.

IT had this Influence on the Servant, fhe defired her to walk in, and stay a Moment to refresh herself; this Civility Lydia complied with. It feems this Female Servant was a great Favourite of Lady Flimfy's, and left in charge with the House, when her Ladyfhip retired into the Country.

THE pleafing Countenance of Lydia won on this Woman's Opinion, fhe obliged her to drink Tea with her; and, during that Time, Lydia faid fhe had formerly lived a Servant with her Ladyfhip, and added her Name.

ARE you that young Woman,' fays fhe. Yes,' anfwered Lydia, 'I am.'

INDEED then my Lady will be extremely glad to fee you,' fays the Servant; I have heard her wifh to know where you lived. Blefs me! I am forry fhe is not in Town; I have often heard her talk of you in Worcestershire; I was there during your being with my Lady. Blefs me! I am glad to fee you: My Lord was a fad Man, but he is dead; you fuffer'd enough; however Heaven will reward you.'

I HOPE fo,' fays Lydia, with a figh.

LORD blefs me!' continued the Servant, how forry my Lady will be not to fee you; why did not you come before? fhe has been afking a thousand Times after you: and there's Frank, that was my

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• Lord's

Lord's Valet de Chambre, has been often here, to fee if you should happen to come to this House; he tells me, he has been looking for you all over London to no Purpofe; he hath fomething, which he wants to tell you with great Earnestness.'

Lydia was made as welcome as fhe could be: Before the left the Houfe, fhe gave the Servant Directions where to find her; then taking Leave, defired her Duty to Lady Flimfy.

'I SHALL not forget it,' faid the Servant; and pray come and fee me often: My Lady will be most exceedingly pleafed to know where you are; and I fhall be very glad of your Company.'"

THE lovely Creature return'd with a heavy Bosom; her prefent Diftrefs was too importuning to permit the Delay of Weeks; her Heart was beating the melancholy Strokes of Defpair; fhe wished to see her Mother, yet dreaded the Moment of her Return.

• How will the bear the Answer which I must give her?' the faid: Why an I denied the Means of fuftaining the helplefs Hours of old Age?'

Ar her Return, fhe found her Mother, and in the Room with her a little Boy, a Child of the Perfon who kept the House they lived in.

Lydia then, not attending to the Child, gave an Account to her Mother of her Reception at Lady FlimLy's. This Relation, as the good old Woman had fofter'd fome Hope of Relief, ftruck her the more fenfibly; the cried, Good God! what can keep us now from ftarving?'

You fhall not ftarve,' fays the Child, Billy will give you his Dinner; Grand-mamma Fairchild thall < not ftarve.' It feems fhe had been ever fond of him; and the pretty little Fellow had always called her his Grand-mamma. Sweet Infant!' anfwer'd the Parent

and lovely Daughter.

Lydia had now pledged the laft Thing, without ftripping herself of what was abfolutely neceffary; there remained but very few Shillings of the Money.

HOWEVER, he prepared fomething for her Mother, who had paffed the Day without Suftenance: During this Time fhe faid, If we fhall ever tafte Eafe and • Competency,

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Competency, with what Delight will thefe Things be relish'd by us, who have felt fo feverely the Affliction of this World?'

АH, Lydia! I am paft all Hope,' said the fighing, weeping Parent.

To this the Daughter only anfwer'd with a Sigh.

CHA P. LXIII.

The Humanity of a Child, and Brutality of a Mother; in which may be feen the Difference of Women. Difirefs, which gives us Pain to relate.

T

HE little Boy, whom we have mentioned above,

was fo fenfibly touch'd with the Expreffion of Mrs. Fairchild, he could not avoid faying to his Mother, the next Morning, Oh! Mamma, Grand• mamma Fairchild said she should be starved, and 'cried; and I told her the fhould not ftarve; shall I give her my Breakfaft? Do, Mamma, let me give • her my Breakfast.'

To this the good Womam of the House made no Answer: It seems Mrs. Fairchild owed for three Month's Lodging; fhe had alfo remarked Lydia's dejected Countenance, and perceived that her Cloaths were carried to be pledg'd, by her being reduced to one Linengrown.

THESE Remarks had given her fome Apprehenfions, left she should lofe her Rent, and the Story of the little Boy confirm'd her in that Opinion. Indeed she had been led to imagine, that Lydia being carried by Mrs. D- -s in a Coach, would have been taken into Keeping; or, as a new Face upon the Town, would have gotten Money, and thence fhe fhould have been paid; but this Discovery of the Child had cured her of that Opinion.

SHE therefore determined to infift on her Rent, before Affairs went worse. She was by Nature one of those tender-hearted Females, who would not give Six-pence to fave all Mankind from Ruin; of that

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Stamp

Stamp which follows the Fields of Battles, ftrips and plunders, without Remorfe, the wretched, wounded Objects, the Sacrifices of cuifed Ambition in the Heads of Minifters and Princes.

WITH this Defign fhe came into the Room of Mrs. Fairchild and Lydia.

MRS. Clinch, for that was her Name, being of no very delicate Temper, foon began with asking for her Rent; to which Lydia replied, the really had it not to give her? but,' fays the, Lady Flimfy will return to Town in fix Weeks, when I can almoft anfwer for the being able to pay you.'

་

ALMOST anfwer!' favs Mrs. Clinch; 'what do you mean by living in People's Houfes, without Money to pay your Rent? I imagined,' fays fhe,' that you would have been in a good Way, when I faw Mrs. D- s carry you to her Houfe in a Coach; ⚫ but I fuppofe your Pride has hinder'd you from doing as you ought.'

AND did you, Madam,' fays Lydia,' know that 'Woman to be that infamous Destroyer of Innocence, and not prevent me, by kindly telling it, froin being expofed to every Eye, to Lofs of Reputation, which I value more than Life; indeed, Madam, it was not • kind.'

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HERE'S a to-do about Lofs of Reputation, indeed!' fays Mrs. Clinch, in my Mind, not being able to pay your Debts, is a greater Lofs of Reputation than being a kept Miftrefs. Reputation, indeed, when People cannot pay their Rent! And fo, < your Mother muft ftarve, because you will not lose your Reputation.'

YES, and willingly,' replied the Mother, my Life 'fhall not be fuftained at the Price of her Virtue.'

and Polly

NOR my Rent paid, by canting about Virtue ? fays Mrs. Clinch. Here's a to-do about her Virtue, < as if no Girl ever loft her Maidenhead! There's · Fanny , and Lucy, who live like them, or are so respected by the Gentlemen? What Ladies are finer dreft, or at more Diverfions. ‹ than these? And methinks your Duty fhould bring down your proud Stomach to provide for your aged

Mother

• Mother as you ought, and not be misled by her Notions of Virtue,' fays Mrs. Clinch.

• WOULD you,' fays Lydia, perfuade me to fuf⚫tain my Parent by fuch detefted Ways?'

To be fure I would,' answered the.

'What's

become of the Money you got by the Diamonds you fold? I fuppofe you fquander'd it like a Fool: Talk ⚫ of Virtue, indeed: If you do not take this Advice, and let me fee that I am in a Way to be paid within this Week, I fhall immediately turn you out of Doors: Talk of Chastity, and not pay your Debts! A fine Virtue, indeed, that will not let People pay their Debts!' This fhe pronounced with much Vehemence, fhutting the Door with great Noife after her.

THE Moment he was gone, the old Lady threw her Arms about her Lydia's Neck, and pouring out an Ocean of Tears, the cried, Oh! my lovely Maid, let not this pernicious Woman tempt you to your Ruin on my Account; thy Infamy fhall not be my Support; let me die in Want. Oh, Heaven! preferve my Lydia's Virtue.'

<

MADAM,' anfwer'd the lovely, weeping Maid, be under no Pain for me; my Refolution has been long fix'd; I have inur'd my Mind to look on Death as preferable to Difgrace; your Daughter shall not ⚫ taint your Name with Infamy.' This the pronounced in that animated and refolute Tone of Voice which attends Truth, and imparted Confolation to the defpairing Mother.

My Child,' fays fhe,

• done?'

'ATTEND the Will of

what remains for us to be

Providence,' fays Lydia. HEAVEN fuftain us in this Hour of Trial. Me'thinks,' fays the Parent, to die in fuch a Cause has nothing very dreadful in it.'

NOTHING dreadful in the leaft,' anfwer'd Lydia ; the Guiltless lofe the Stings of Death, with which the Souls of those who die in Wickedness are eternally transfix'd; perhaps, Heaven, in Pity to our Woes, has thus graciously defigned to bring them to an End; a few Minutes will.'-Here the paused, and the old Lady entertaining the fame Thoughts with her Daugh

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ter,