Amelia -- Volume 3

n Amelia and Dr Harri

e authority of the doctor, especially as she well knew how unreasonable her declarations must appear to every one who was ignorant of her real motives to persevere

ately brought her some comfort. This was, to make a confidant of the doctor, and to impart to him the whole truth. This method, indeed, appeared to her now to be so adv

d him that she had something of great moment to impart to him, which must be an entire secret from

plied with Amelia's request in visiting her. He found her drinking tea

of the tea-table Mrs.

our clergy do not often exact it. However, it is proper to exercise our power sometimes, in order to remind the laity of the

pleasure with more gravity and dignity; none therefore was ever more immediately obeyed than you shall be."

ned in a silent astonishment. Upon which Amelia said, "Is villany so rare a thing, sir, that it should so much surprize you?" "No, child," cries he; "but I am shocked at seeing it so artfully disguised under the appearance of so much virtue; and, to confess the truth, I believe my own vanity is a little hurt in having been so grossly imposed upon. Indeed, I had a very high regard

I begin to grow enti

mankind almost are vil

great sin of adultery, for instance; hath the government provided any law to punish it? or doth the priest take any care to correct it? on the contrary, is the most notorious practice of it any detriment to a man's fortune or to his reputation in the world? doth it exclude him from any preferment in the state, I had almost said in the church? is it any blot in his escutcheon? any bar to his honour? is he not to be found every day in the assemblies of women of the highest quality? in the closets of the greatest men, and even at the tables of bishops? What wonder then if the

melia, "you are the wisest as

atistic [Footnote: The art of getting wealth is so called by Aristotle in his Politics.] art, as an old

om," answered Amelia; "and your mind is the

ttery, and tell you you have acted with great prudence in concealing this affair from your husband; but you have drawn me into

! If you shew any kind of disrespect to the colonel, my husband

hat I will so far betray my character as to give any countenance to such flagitious proceedings. Besides, my promise was only conditional; and I do not know whether I could otherwise have kept it;

"I must admire you and lo

e doctor. "I could cure you

fy you, sir,"

ught you not handsome, away would vanish all ideas of g

u expected. But do, pray, sir, be serious, and give me your advice what to do. Consider the difficult game I have to p

the doctor, "whilst I have a h

t giving him any suspicion of the real cause, the conseq

in the morning you shall see me again. In the mean time

she, "I put my w

; for, upon my word, he hath shewn a good catholic patience. And where is the honest serjeant and his wife? I am pleased with the behaviour of you both to that worthy fellow, in opposition to the custom of the world; which, inst

e evening together in great mirth and festivity; for the doctor was one of the best companions in the world, and a vein of c