LETTER S.

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LETTER XXVIII.

Now have it in my Power to refume my Narrative; the Gentleman, from whom I am furnish'd with Materials, being returned to Town.

Mrs. Melfort was brought to bed of a Son, whom, in complimental Gratitude, they nam'd after Sir Charles Goodville, whofe Lady, though pretty far gone with Child herfelf, was fo humanely condescending, at the Distance of St. James's from Rotherhithe, to visit Sophia, two or three Times, during her Lying-in; stood God-mother to the Boy- and putting a Bank Note of twenty Pounds into So- VOL. II. phia's

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phia's Hand to buy her Godfon a new Coat, told her, he fhou'd never want a Mother while fhe lived.

Mrs. Melfort thinking this a fit Occafion to return Thanks for that before received of a Hundred, faid-Your Ladyfhip's Goodness to us is unmerited, in thus heaping fresh Acts of unparalell'd Bounty, before we have Gratitude enough to return our humbleft Acknowledgments for that most extenfive Mark of it, we fo lately received. - Melfort coming into the Room, prevented her pursuing the Profeffions fhe was about to make; and not having confulted him in her Refolution, thought it most adviseable to say no more upon the Subject: fince his Opinion had been against making a perfonal Acknowledgment for what had been conferred, by a very particular, and private Method, and was not abfolutely certain had come from that Lady-who was well pleafed with an Occafion of being relieved from the disagreeable Mention of her

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own Merit, which, fhe concluded, had a general Reference to the Obligations they had received-therefore, addreffing herself to Mrs. Melfort, told her, fhe hoped when the Family went down to

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which would not, now, be very long, fhe fhould be able to unravel the mysterious Affair of the Receipt, which fhe would take all imaginable Pains to do Melfort offering to fpeak-Lady Goodville continued-nay, do not imagine, Sophy, 'tis wholly for your fake - I affure you, my own Intereft is in View; I fhould be glad Things were fo happily circumftanced, that I might have your Attendance upon the young Stranger, who, about that Time, will have made us a Vifit; and the Care of whom, I had rather commit to your Truft, than any other Woman's in England-then ordering her Coach, left them.

Melfort's and his Wife's Situation being in a more fettled and tranquil State, by the Affistance of the two Bank Notes, than

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than they had been for fome Time paft, and nothing material occurring in their Affairs, I fhall return for a while to Mrs. Frankly, and a new Admirer; who had made deeper Impreffions upon her Heart, than the fluttering Addreffes of Bellair, had been, in the leaft equal to. This Gentleman's Name was Springlove, a Man of Senfe and Fortune, whofe Compofition had greatly the Turn of Mrs. Frankly's-Love, Levity, Honour, and a. ftrong Attachment to Pleasure, made the motley Materials of his Mind thus fimilarly formed to his Mistress, no wonder he was a favoured Lover.

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Paying her an Afternoon's Vifit, he found Lady Merit there, to whom he was flightly known by Mrs. Frankly's Means -A Man of lefs Gaiety of Difpofition, wou'd have been more mortified at finding his Mistress with a Companion, when he had flattered himself with the Hope. of meeting her alone; but Springlove's Mind was as fashionable as his Cloaths;

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