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'both expressed such unusual coldness that day to Paul, that he, who was quick of apprehension, taking Lennard aside, pressed him so home, that he at last discovered 'the secret. Paul acknowledged the truth, but told him 'the design with which he had done it-To which the 'other answered, He would have acted more friendly to have let him into the whole design; for that he might have assured himself of his secresy. Paul replied, with some indignation, he had given him a sufficient proof how capable he was of concealing a secret from his 'wife. Lennard returned with some warmth-He had more reason to upbraid him, for that he had caused 'most of the quarrels between them by his strange conduct, and might (if they had not discovered the 'affair to each other) have been the occasion of their separation. Paul then said'-But something now happened which put a stop to Dick's reading, and of which we shall treat in the next chapter.

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CHAPTER XI.

In which the history is continued.

JOSEPH ANDREWS had borne with great uneasiness the impertinence of beau Didapper to Fanny, who had been talking pretty freely to her, and offering her settlements; but the respect to the company had restrained him from interfering whilst the beau confined himself to the use of his tongue only; but the said beau, watching an opportunity whilst the ladies' eyes were disposed another way, offered a rudeness to her with his hands; which Joseph no sooner perceived, than he presented him with so sound a box on the ear, that it conveyed him several

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paces from where he stood. The ladies immediately screamed out, rose from their chairs; and the beau, as soon as he recovered himself, drew his hanger: which Adams observing, snatched up the lid of a pot in his left hand, and covering himself with it as with a shield, without any weapon of offence in his other hand, stept in before Joseph, and exposed himself to the enraged beau, who threatened such perdition and destruction, that it frighted the women, who were all got in a huddle together, out of their wits, even to hear his denunciations of vengeance. Joseph was of a different complexion, and begged Adams to let his rival come on; for he had a good cudgel in his hand, and did not fear him. Fanny now fainted into Mrs. Adams's arms, and the whole room was in confusion, when Mr. Booby, passing by Adams, who lay snug under the pot-lid, came up to Didapper, and insisted on him sheathing the hanger, promising he should have satisfaction; which Joseph declared he would give him, and fight him at any weapon whatever. The beau now sheathed his hanger, and taking out a pocket-glass, and vowing vengeance all the time, re-adjusted his hair; the parson deposited his shield; and Joseph, running to Fanny, soon brought her back to life. Lady Booby chid Joseph for his insult on Didapper; but he answered, He would have attacked an army in the same cause. 'What 'cause?' said the lady. 'Madam,' answered Joseph, 'he เ was rude to that young woman.'-'What,' says the lady, 'I suppose he would have kissed the wench; and ' is a gentleman to be struck for such an offer? I must 'tell you, Joseph, these airs do not become you.'Madam,' said Mr. Booby, 'I saw the whole affair, and I 'do not commend my brother; for I cannot perceive why 'he should take upon him to be this girl's champion.''I can commend him,' says Adams: 'he is a brave lad; ' and it becomes any man to be the champion of the

'innocent; and he must be the basest coward, who would เ not vindicate a woman with whom he is on the brink of marriage.'-' Sir,' says Mr. Booby, 'my brother is not a ' match for such a young woman as this.'-'No,' says Lady Booby; nor do you, Mr. Adams, act in your proper character, by encouraging any such doings; and 'I am very much surprised you should concern yourself in 'it. I think your wife and family your properer care.’— 'Indeed, Madam, your ladyship says very true,' answered 'Mrs. Adams: 'he talks a pack of nonsense, that the 'whole parish are his children. I am sure I don't under'stand what he means by it; it would make some women เ suspect he had gone astray, but I acquit him of that; I can read scripture as well as he, and I never found that 'the parson was obliged to provide for other folks' chilเ dren; and besides, he is but a poor curate, and hath little 'enough, as your ladyship knows, for me and mine.'

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You say very well, Mrs. Adams,' quoth the Lady Booby, who had not spoken a word to her before; 'you seem to be a very sensible woman; and I assure you your husband is acting a very foolish part, and opposing 'his own interest, seeing my nephew is violently set เ against this match, and, indeed, I can't blame him; it is by no means one suitable to our family.' In this manner the lady proceeded with Mrs. Adams, whilst the beau hopped about the room, shaking his head, partly from pain and partly from anger; and Pamela was chiding Fanny for her assurance, in aiming at such a match as her brother. Poor Fanny answered only with her tears, which had long since began to wet her handkerchief; which Joseph perceiving, took her by the arm, and wrapping it in his, carried her off, swearing he would own no relation to any one who was an enemy to her he loved more than all the world. He went out with Fanny under his left arm, brandishing a cudgel in his right, and neither Mr. Booby

nor the beau thought proper to oppose him. Lady Booby and her company made a very short stay behind him; for the lady's bell now summoned them to dress; for which they had just time before dinner.

Adams seemed now very much dejected, which his wife perceiving, began to apply some matrimonial balsam. She told him he had reason to be concerned; for that he had probably ruined his family with his tricks almost: but perhaps he was grieved for the loss of his two children, Joseph and Fanny. His eldest daughter went on: Indeed, father, it is very hard to bring strangers here to 'eat your children's bread out of their mouths. You have kept them ever since they came home; and for anything I see to the contrary, may keep them a month longer: are you obliged to give her meat, tho'f she was never so 'handsome? But I don't see she is so much handsomer 'than other people. If people were to be kept for their

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beauty, she would scarce fare better than her neighbours, 'I believe. As for Mr. Joseph, I have nothing to say; 'he is a young man of honest principles, and will pay some time or other for what he hath: but for the girl— why doth she not return to her place she ran away 'from? I would not give such a vagabond slut a halfpenny, though I had a million of money; no, though 'she was starving.'-'Indeed but I would,' cries little Dick; and, father, rather than poor Fanny should be 'starved, I will give her all this bread and cheese.'(offering what he held in his hand.) Adams smiled on the boy, and told him he rejoiced to see he was a Christian; and that if he had a halfpenny in his pocket, he would have given it him; telling him it was his duty to look upon all his neighbours as his brothers and sisters, and love them accordingly. 'Yes, papa,' says he, 'I love 'her better than my sisters; for she is handsomer than of them.'—' Is she so, saucebox?' says the sister,

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giving him a box on the ear; which the father would probably have resented, had not Joseph, Fanny, and the pedlar at that instant returned together. Adams bid his wife prepare some food for their dinner; she said, Truly she could not, she had something else to do. Adams rebuked her for disputing his commands, and quoted many texts of scripture to prove, 'That the husband is 'the head of the wife, and she is to submit and obey.' The wife answered, It was blasphemy to talk scripture out of church; that such things were very proper to be said in the pulpit; but that it was profane to talk them in common discourse. Joseph told Mr. Adams, He was not come with any design to give him or Mrs. Adams any trouble; but to desire the favour of all their company to the George (an alehouse in the parish), where he had bespoke a piece of bacon and greens for their dinner. Mrs. Adams who was a very good sort of woman, only rather too strict in œconomics, readily accepted this invitation, as did the parson himself by her example; and away they all walked together, not omitting little Dick, to whom Joseph gave a shilling, when he heard of his intended liberality to Fanny.

CHAPTER XII.

Where the good-natured reader will see something which will give him no great pleasure.

THE pedlar had been very inquisitive from the time he had first heard that the great house in this parish belonged to the Lady Booby; and had learnt that she was the widow of Sir Thomas, and that Sir Thomas had bought Fanny, about the age of three or four years, of a