the cause of which was presently opened by the parson's daughter, who was the only unconcerned person, (for the mother was chafing Fanny's temples, and taking the utmost care of her;) and, indeed, Fanny was the only creature whom the daughter would not have pitied in her situation; wherein, though we compassionate her ourselves, we shall leave her for a little while, and pay a short visit to the Lady Booby.

CHAPTER XIII.

The history returning to the Lady Booby, gives some account of the terrible conflict in her breast between love and pride; with what happened on the present discovery.

She! a little, ugly minx,' cries Slipslop, leave her to me. I suppose your ladyship hath heard of Joseph's fitting with one of Mr. Didapper's servants about her; and his master hath ordered them to carry her away by force this evening. I'll take care they shall not want assistance. I was talking with this gentleman, who was below just when your ladyship sent for me.'- Go back,' says the Lady Booby, 'this instant; for I expect Mr. Didapper will soon be going. Do all you can; for I am resolved this wench shall not be in our family; I will endeavour to return to the company; but let me know as soon as she is carried off.' Slipslop went away; and her mistress began to arraign her own conduct in the following manner:

THE lady sat down with her company to dinner, but ate nothing. As soon as her 'What am I doing? How do I suffer this cloth was removed, she whispered Pamela, passion to creep imperceptibly upon me! That she was taken a little ill, and desired How many days are passed since I could her to entertain her husband and Beau Di- have submitted to ask myself the question? dapper. She then went up into her cham--Marry a footman! Distraction! Can I ber, sent for Slipslop, threw herself on the afterwards bear the eyes of my acquaintbed, in the agonies of love, rage, and de-ance? But I can retire from them; retire spair; nor could she conceal these boiling with one, in whom I propose more happipassions longer, without bursting. Slipslop now approached her bed, and asked how her ladyship did; but, instead of revealing her disorder, as she intended, she entered into a long encomium on the beauty and virtues of Joseph Andrews; ending, at last, with expressing her concern that so much tenderness should be thrown away on so despicable an object as Fanny. Slipslop, well knowing how to humour her mistress's frenzy, proceeded to repeat, with exaggeration, if possible, all her mistress had said, and concluded with a wish that Joseph had been a gentleman, and that she could see her lady in the arms of such a husband. The lady then started from the bed, and taking a turn or two across the room, cried out, with a deep sigh, 'Sure he would make any woman happy! Your ladyship,' says she, 'would be the happiest woman in the world with him. A fig for custom and nonsense. What 'vails what people say? Shall I be afraid of eating sweetmeats, because people may say I have a sweet tooth? If I had a mind to marry a man, all the world should not hinder me. Your ladyship hath no parents to tutelar your infections; besides, he is of your ladyship's family now, and as good a gentleman as any in the country; and why should not a woman follow her mind as well as a man? Why should not your ladyship marry the brother, as well as your nephew the sister? I am sure, if it was a fragrant crime, I would not persuade your ladyship to it.' But, dear Slipslop,' answered the lady, if I could prevail on myself to commit such a weakness, there is that cursed Fanny in the way, whom the idiot-O, how I hate and despise him

ness than the world without him can give me! Retire-to feed continually on beauties, which my inflamed imagination sickens with eagerly gazing on; to satisfy every appetite, every desire, with their utmost wish. Ha! and do I dote thus on a footman! I despise, I detest my passion.-Yet why? Is he not generous, gentle, kind?— Kind! to whom? to the meanest wretch, a creature below my consideration. Doth he not—yes, he doth prefer her. Curse his beauties, and the little low heart that possesses them; which can basely descend to this despicable wench, and be ungratefully deaf to all the honours I do him. And can I then love this monster! No, I will tear his image from my bosom, tread on him, spurn him. I will have those pitiful charms, which now I despise, mangled in my sight; for I will not suffer the little jade I hate, to riot in the beauties I contemn. No, though I despise him myself; though I would spurn him from my feet, was he to languish at them, no other shall taste the happiness I scorn. Why do I say happiness? To me it would be misery. To sacrifice my reputation, my character, my rank in life, to the indulgence of a mean and a vile appetite! How I detest the thought! How much more exquisite is the pleasure resulting from the reflection of virtue and prudence, than the faint relish of what flows from vice and folly! Whither did I suffer this improper, this mad passion to hurry me, only by neglecting to summon the aids of reason to my assistance? Reason, which hath now set before me my desires in their proper colours, and immediately helped me to expel them. Yes, I thank Heaven and my pride,

tion such an accident, that it must be certainly false; and except the Lady Booby, who suspected the falsehood of the story from her ardent desire that it should be true; and Joseph, who feared its truth, from his earnest wishes that it might prove false.

I have now perfectly conquered this un- every circumstance; so that all who heard worthy passion; and if there was no obsta-him were extremely well satisfied of the cle in its way, my pride would disdain any truth, except Pamela, who imagined, as she pleasures which could be the consequence had never heard either of her parents menof so base, so mean, so vulgar'-Slipslop returned at this instant in a violent hurry, and with the utmost eagerness cried out, O, madam! I have strange news. Tom the footman is just come from the George; where it seems Joseph and the rest of them are a jinketing; and he says there is a strange man, who hath discovered that Mr. Booby now desired them all to susFanny and Joseph are brother and sister.'-pend their curiosity and absolute belief or 'How, Slipslop!' cries the lady in a sur- disbelief, till the next morning, when he exprise. I had not time, madam,' cries Slip-pected old Mr. Andrews and his wife to slop, to inquire about particles, but Tom fetch himself and Pamela home in his says it is most certainly true.'

coach, and then they might be certain of certainly knowing the truth or falsehood of this relation; in which, he said, as there were many strong circumstances to induce their credit, so he could not perceive any interest the pedlar could have in inventing it, or in endeavouring to impose such a falsehood on them.

This unexpected account entirely obliterated all those admirable reflections which the supreme power of reason had so wisely made just before. In short, when despair, which had more share in producing the resolutions of hatred we have seen taken, began to retreat, the lady hesitated a moment, and then, forgetting all the purport of her The Lady Booby, who was very little soliloquy, dismissed her woman again, with used to such company, entertained them all orders to bid Tom attend her in the par---viz. her nephew, his wife, her brother and lour, whither she now hastened to acquaint Pamela with the news. Pamela said, She could not believe it; for she had never heard that her mother had lost any child, or that she had ever had any more than Joseph and herself. The lady flew into a very violent rage with her, and talked of upstarts and disowning relations who had so lately been on a level with her. Pamela made no answer; but her husband, taking up her cause, severely reprimanded his aunt for her behaviour to his wife: he told her, If it had been earlier in the evening, she should not have staid a moment longer in her house; that he was convinced if this young woman could be proved her sister, she would readily embrace her as such; and he himself would do the same. He then desired the fellow might be sent for, and the young woman with him; which Lady Booby immediately ordered; and thinking proper to make some apology to Pamela for what she had said, it was readily accepted, and all things reconciled.

The pedlar now attended, as did Fanny and Joseph, who would not quit her: the parson likewise was induced, not only by curiosity, of which he had no small portion, but his duty, as he apprehended it, to follow them; for he continued all the way to exhort them, who were now breaking their hearts, to offer up thanksgivings, and be joyful for so miraculous an escape.

When they arrived at Booby-Hall, they were presently called into the parlour, where the pedlar repeated the same story he had told before, and insisted on the truth of

sister, the beau, and the parson, with great good-humour at her own table. As to the pedlar, she ordered him to be made as welcome as possible by her servants. All the company in the parlour, except the disappointed lovers, who sat sullen and silent, were full of mirth; for Mr. Booby had prevailed on Joseph to ask Mr. Didapper's pardon, with which he was perfectly satisfied. Many jokes passed between the beau and the parson, chiefly on each other's dress; these afforded much diversion to the company. Pamela chid her brother Joseph for the concern which he expressed at discovering a new sister. She said, If he loved Fanny as he ought, with a pure affection, he had no reason to lament being related to her.-Upon which Adams began to discourse on Platonic love; whence he made a quick transition to the joys in the next world, and concluded with strongly asserting, that there was no such thing as pleasure in this. At which Pamela and her husband smiled on one another.

This happy pair proposing to retire, (for no other person gave the least symptom of desiring rest,) they all repaired to several beds provided for them in the same house; nor was Adams himself suffered to go home, it being a stormy night. Fanny, indeed, often begged she might go home with the parson; but her stay was so strongly insisted on, that she at last, by Joseph's advice, consented.

CHAPTER XIV.

Containing several curious night adventures, in which Mr. Adams fell into many hair-breadth 'scapes, partly owing to his goodness, and partly

to his inadvertency.

into the apartment whence the cries proceeded. He made directly to the bed in the dark, where laying hold of the beau's skin, (for Slipslop had torn his shirt almost off,) and finding his skin extremely soft, and hearing him in a low voice begging Slipslop to let him go, he no longer doubted but that this was the young woman in danger of ravishing, and immediately falling on the bed, and laying hold on Slipslop's chin, where he found a rough beard, his belief was confirmed; he therefore rescued the beau, who presently made his escape, and then turning towards Slipslop, received such a cuff on his chops, that his wrath kindling instantly, he offered to return the favour so stoutly, that had poor Slipslop received the fist, which in the dark passed by her and fell on the pillow, she would most probably have given up the ghost.

to heal some wounds, which her late conduct had, she feared, given her reputation; and as she had a wonderful presence of mind, she conceived the person of the unfortunate beau to be luckily thrown in her way to restore her lady's opinion of her impregABOUT an hour after they had all separa-nable chastity. At that instant, therefore, ted, (it being now past three in the morn- when he offered to leap from the bed, she ing,) Beau Didapper, whose passion for caught fast hold of his shirt, at the same Fanny permitted him not to close his eyes, time roaring out, O thou villain! who hast but had employed his imagination in con- attacked my chastity, and, I believe, ruined trivances how to satisfy his desires, at last me in my sleep; I will swear a rape against hit on a method by which he hoped to effect thee, I will prosecute thee with the utmost it. He had ordered his servant to bring vengeance.' The beau attempted to get him word where Fanny lay, and had re- loose, but she held him fast, and when he ceived his information; he therefore arose, struggled, she cried out, 'Murder! murder! put on his breeches and night-gown, and rape! robbery! ruin!' At which words, Parstole softly along the gallery which led to son Adams, who lay in the next chamber, her apartment; and being come to the door, wakeful, and meditating on the pedlar's as he imagined it, he opened it with the discovery, jumped out of bed, and without least noise possible, and entered the cham-staying to put a rag of clothes on, hastened ber. A savour now invaded his nostrils, which he did not expect in the room of so sweet a young creature, and which might have probably had no good effect on a cooler lover. However, he groped out the bed with difficulty, for there was not a glimpse of light, and opening the curtains, he whispered in Joseph's voice, for (he was an excellent mimic,) Fanny, my angel; I am come to inform thee, that I have discovered the falsehood of the story we last night heard. I am no longer thy brother, but thy lover; nor will I be delayed the enjoyment of thee one moment longer. You have sufficient assurances of my constancy not to doubt my marrying you, and it would be want of love to deny me the possession of thy charms.'-So saying, he disencumbered himself from the little clothes he had on, and leaping into bed, embraced his angel, as he conceived her, with great rapture. If he was surprised at receiving no answer, he was no less pleased to find his hug returned with equal ardour. He remained not long in this sweet confusion; for both he and his paramour presently discovered their error. Indeed it was no other than the accomplished Slipslop whom he had engaged; but though she immediately knew the person whom she had mistaken for Joseph, he was at a loss to guess at the representative of Fanny. He had so little seen or taken notice of this gentlewoman, that light itself would have afforded him no assistance in his conjecture. Beau Didapper no sooner had perceived his mistake, than he attempted to escape from the bed with much greater haste than he had made to it but the watchful Slipslop prevented him. For that prudent woman being disappointed of those delicious offerings which her fancy had promised her pleasure, resolved to make an immediate sacrifice to her virtue. Indeed, she wanted an opportunity

Adams, missing his blow, fell directly on Slipslop, who cuffed and scratched as well as she could; nor was he behindhand with her in his endeavours; but happily the darkness of the night befriended her. She then cried, she was a woman; but Adams answered, she was rather the devil, and if she was, he would grapple with him; and being again irritated by another stroke on his chops, he gave her such a remembrance in the guts, that she began to roar loud enough to be heard all over the house. Adams then, seizing her by the hair, (for her double-clout had fallen off in the scuffle,) pinned her head down to the bolster, and then both called for lights together. The Lady Booby, who was as wakeful as any of her guests, had been alarmed from the beginning; and being a woman of a bold spirit, she slipped on a night-gown, petticoat, and slippers, and taking a candle, which always burnt in her chamber, in her hand, she walked undauntedly to Slipslop's room; where she entered just at the instant

Booby, whose heart went now pit-a-pat, as did those of Joseph and Fanny. They felt perhaps little less anxiety in this interval than Edipus himself, whilst his fate was

rudeness to you?'-She answered, She could | came of the arrival of old Mr. Andrews and not accuse him of any more than villan- his wife. They were immediately introously stealing to bed to her, which she duced, and kindly received by the Lady thought rudeness sufficient, and what no man would do without a wicked intention. Joseph's great opinion of Adams was not easily to be staggered, and when he heard from Fanny, that no harm had hap-revealing. pened, he grew a little cooler; yet still he was confounded, and as he knew the house, and that the women's apartments were on this side Mrs. Slipslop's room, and the men's on the other, he was convinced that he was in Fanny's chamber. Assuring Adams therefore of this truth, he begged him to give some account how he came there. Adams then, standing in his shirt, which did not offend Fanny, as the curtains of the bed were drawn, related all that had happened; and when he had ended, Joseph told him, it was plain he had mistaken, by turning to the right instead of the left. Odso!' cries Adams, that's true: as sure as sixpence, you have hit on the very thing.' He then traversed the room, rubbing his hands, and begged Fanny's pardon, assuring her he did not know whether she was man or woman. That innocent creature firmly believing all he said, told him, she was no longer angry, and begged Joseph to conduct him into his own apartment, where he should stay himself till she had put her clothes on. Joseph and Adams accordingly departed, and the latter soon was convinced of the mistake he had committed; however, whilst he was dressing himself, he often asserted, he believed in the power of witchcraft notwithstanding, and did not see how a Christian could deny it.

CHAPTER XV.

The arrival of gaffer and gammer Andrews, with
another person not much expected; and a perfect
solution of the difficulties raised by the pedlar.
As soon as Fanny was dressed, Joseph
returned to her, and they had a long con-
versation together, the conclusion of which
was, that if they found themselves to be
really brother and sister, they vowed a per-
petual celibacy, and to live together all their
days, and indulge a Platonic friendship for
each other.

The company were all very merry at breakfast, and Joseph and Fanny rather more cheerful than the preceding night. The Lady Booby produced the diamond button, which the beau most readily owned, and alleged that he was very subject to walk in his sleep. Indeed, he was far from being ashamed of his amour, and rather endeavoured to insinuate that more than was really true had passed between him and the fair Slipslop.

Their tea was scarce over, when news

Mr. Booby first opened the cause, by informing the old gentleman that he had a child in the company more than he knew of, and taking Fanny by the hand, told him, This was that daughter of his who had been stolen away by gipsies in her infancy. Mr. Andrews, after expressing some astonishment, assured his honour that he had never lost a daughter by gipsies, nor ever had any other children than Joseph and Pamela. These words were a cordial to the two lovers; but had a different effect on Lady Booby. She ordered the pedlar to be called, who recounted his story as he had done before.-At the end of which, old Mrs. Andrews, running to Fanny, embraced her, crying out, She is, she is my child !' The company were all amazed at this disagreement between the man and his wife; and the blood had now forsaken the cheeks of the lovers, when the old woman turning to her husband, who was more surprised than all the rest, and having a little recovered her own spirits, delivered herself as follows: You may remember, my dear, when you went a sergeant to Gibraltar, you left me big with child; you staid abroad, you know, upwards of three years. In your absence I was brought to bed, I verily believe, of this daughter; whom I am sure I have reason to remember, for I suckled her at this very breast till the day she was stolen from me. One afternoon, when the child was about a year, or a year and a half old, or thereabouts, two gipsy women came to the door, and offered to tell my fortune. One of them had a child in her lap. I showed them my hand and desired to know if you was ever to come home again, which I remember as well as if it was but yesterday: they faithfully promised me that you should.

'I left the girl in the cradle, and went to draw them a cup of liquor, the best I had: when I returned with the pot, (I am sure I was not absent longer than whilst I am telling it to you,) the women were gone. I was afraid they had stolen something, and looked, and looked, but to no purpose, and heaven knows I had very little for them to steal. At last, hearing the child cry in the cradle, I went to take it up-but, O the living! how was I surprised to find, instead of my own girl, that I had put into the cradle, who was as fine a fat thriving child as you shall see in a summer's day, a poor, sickly boy, that did not seem to have an