she; with much cheerfulness, delivered him all the money.

Booth was so overjoyed with the prospect of discharging his debt to Trent, that he did not perfectly reflect on the distress to which his family was now reduced. The good-humour which appeared in the countenance of Amelia, was, perhaps, another help to stifle those reflections; but, above all, were the assurances he had received from the great man, whom he had met at a coffee-house, and who had promised to do him all the service in his power; which several half-pay subaltern officers assured him was very considerable.

With this comfortable news he acquainted his wife, who either was, or seemed to be, extremely well pleased with it. And now he set out with the money in his pocket to pay his friend Trent, who unluckily for him happened not to be at home.

On his return home, he met his old friend the lieutenant, who thankfully paid him his crown, and insisted on his going with him and taking part of a bottle. This invitation was so eager and pressing, that poor Booth, who could not resist much importunity, complied.

While they were over this bottle, Booth acquainted his friend with the promises he had received that afternoon at the coffee house, with which the old gentleman was very well pleased: 'For I have heard,' says he, that 'gentleman hath very powerful interest;' but he informed him likewise, that he had heard that the great man must be touched; for that he never did any thing without touching. Of this, indeed, the great man himself had given some oblique hints, by saying, with great sagacity and slyness, that he knew where fifty pounds might be deposited to much advantage.

Booth answered, that he would very readily advance a small sum if he had it in his power, but that at present

it was not so; for that he had no more in the world than the sum of fifty pounds, which he owed Trent, and which he intended to pay him the next morning.

It is very right, undoubtedly, to pay your debts,' says the old gentleman; 'but sure, on such an occasion, any 'man but the rankest usurer would be contented to stay a little while for his money; and it will be only a little while I am convinced; for, if you deposit 'this sum in the great man's hands, I make no doubt but you will succeed immediately in getting your commission; ' and then I will help you to a method of taking up such 'a sum as this.' The old gentleman persisted in this advice, and backed it with every argument he could invent; declaring, as was indeed true, that he gave the same advice which he would pursue was the case his

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own.

Booth long rejected the opinion of his friend; till, as they had not argued with dry lips, he became heated with wine, and then at last the old gentleman succeeded. Indeed, such was his love, either for Booth, or for his own opinion, and perhaps for both, that he omitted nothing in his power. He even endeavoured to palliate the character of Trent, and unsaid half what he had before said of that gentleman. In the end, he undertook to make Trent easy, and to go to him the very next morning for that purpose.

Poor Booth at last yielded, though with the utmost difficulty. Indeed, had he known quite as much of Trent as the reader doth, no motive whatsoever would have prevailed on him to have taken the old gentleman's advice.

CHAPTER V.

Containing more wormwood, and other ingredients.

IN the morning Booth communicated the matter to Amelia, who told him she would not presume to advise him in an affair of which he was so much the better judge.

While Booth remained in a doubtful state what conduct to pursue, Bound came to make him a visit, and informed him, that he had been at Trent's house, but found him not at home; adding, that he would pay him a second visit that very day, and would not rest till he found

him.

Booth was ashamed to confess his wavering resolution in an affair in which he had been so troublesome to his friend; he therefore dressed himself immediately, and together they both went to wait on the little great man, to whom Booth now hoped to pay his court in the most effectual manner.

Bound had been longer acquainted with the modern methods of business than Booth; he advised his friend therefore, to begin with tipping (as it is called) the great man's servant. He did so, and by that means got speedy access to the master.

The great man received the money, not as a gudgeon doth a bait, but as a pike receives a poor gudgeon into his maw. To say the truth, such fellows as these may

well be likened to that voracious fish who fattens himself by devouring all the little inhabitants of the river. As soon as the great man had pocketed the cash, he shook Booth by the hand, and told him, he would be sure to slip no opportunity of serving him, and would send him word, as soon as any offered.

Here I shall stop one moment, and so, perhaps, will

my good-natured reader; for, surely, it inust be a hard heart, which is not affected with reflecting on the manner in which this poor little sum was raised, and on the manner in which it was bestowed. A worthy family, the wife and children of a man who had lost his blood abroad in the service of his country, parting with their little all, and exposed to cold and hunger, to pamper

such a fellow as this!

And if any such reader as I mention, should happen to be in reality a great man, and in power, perhaps the horror of this picture may induce him to put a final end to this abominable practice of touching, as it is called ; by which, indeed, a set of leeches are permitted to suck the blood of the brave and the indigent, of the widow and the orphan.

Booth now returned home, where he found his wife with Mrs. James. Amelia had, before the arrival of her husband, absolutely refused Mrs. James's invitation to dinner the next day; but when Booth came in the lady renewed her application, and that in so pressing a manner that Booth seconded her; for though he had enough of jealousy in his temper, yet such was his friendship to the colonel, and such his gratitude to the obligations which he had received from him, that his own unwillingness to believe any thing of him, co-operating with Amelia's endeavours to put every thing in the fairest light, had brought him to acquit his friend of any ill design. To this, perhaps, the late affair concerning my lord had moreover contributed; for it seems to me, that the same passion cannot much energize on two different objects at one and the same time: an observation which, I believe, will hold as true with regard to the cruel passions of jealousy and anger, as to the gentle passion of love, in which one great and mighty object is sure to engage the whole passion.

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When Booth grew importunate, Amelia answered, My dear, I should not refuse you whatever was in my power; but this is absolutely out of my power; for, 'since I must declare the truth, I cannot dress myself.' Why so?' said Mrs. James; 'I am sure you are in good health.'

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Is there no other impediment to dressing but want of 'health, Madam?' answered Amelia.

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Upon my word, none that I know of,' replied Mrs.

James.

'What do you think of want of clothes, Madam?' said Amelia.

'Ridiculous!' cries Mrs. James. 'What need have you 'to dress yourself out?-You will see nothing but our own family, and I promise you I don't expect it.-A 'plain night-gown will do very well.'

But if I must be plain with you, Madam,' said Amelia, 'I have no other clothes but what I have now on my back.-I have not even a clean shift in the 'world; for you must know, my dear,' said she to Booth, 'that little Betty is walked off this morning, and hath 'carried all my linen with her.'

'How, my dear,' cries Booth, 'little Betty robbed 'you!'

'It is even so,' answered Amelia. Indeed, she spoke truth; for little Betty, having perceived the evening before that her mistress was moving her goods, was willing to lend all the assistance in her power, and had accordingly moved off early that morning, taking with her whatever she could lay her hands on.

Booth expressed himself with some passion on the occasion, and swore he would make an example of the girl. 'If the little slut be above ground,' cried he, ‘I will find her out, and bring her to justice.'

'I am really sorry for this accident,' said Mrs. James,