If Captain Tomlinson come while I stay here, I may see him; but as for you, Sir—­

Dearest creature! let me beg of you not to aggravate my offence to the Captain when he comes.  Let me beg of you—­

What askest thou?  It is not that I shall be of party against myself?  That I shall palliate—­

Do not charge me, Madam, interrupted I, with villainous premeditation!  —­Do not give such a construction to my offence as may weaken your uncle’s opinion—­as may strengthen your brother’s—­

She flung from me to the further end of the room, [she could go no further,] and just then Mrs. Moore came up, and told her that dinner was ready, and that she had prevailed upon Miss Rawlins to give her her company.

You must excuse me, Mrs. Moore, said she.  Miss Rawlins I hope also will —­but I cannot eat—­I cannot go down.  As for you, Sir, I suppose you will think it right to depart hence; at least till the gentleman comes whom you expect.

I respectfully withdrew into the next room, that Mrs. Moore might acquaint her, (I durst not myself,) that I was her lodger and boarder, as, whisperingly, I desired that she would; and meeting Miss Rawlins in the passage, Dearest Miss Rawlins, said I, stand my friend; join with Mrs. Moore to pacify my spouse, if she has any new flights upon my having taken lodgings, and intending to board here.  I hope she will have more generosity than to think of hindering a gentlewoman from letting her lodgings.

I suppose Mrs. Moore, (whom I left with my fair-one,) had apprized her of this before Miss Rawlins went in; for I heard her say, while I withheld Miss Rawlins,—­’No, indeed:  he is much mistaken—­surely he does not think I will.’

They both expostulated with her, as I could gather from bits and scraps of what they said; for they spoke so low, that I could not hear any distinct sentence, but from the fair perverse, whose anger made her louder.  And to this purpose I heard her deliver herself in answer to different parts of their talk to her:—­’Good Mrs. Moore, dear Miss Rawlins, press me no further:—­I cannot sit down at table with him!’

They said something, as I suppose in my behalf—­’O the insinuating wretch!  What defence have I against a man, who, go where I will, can turn every one, even of the virtuous of my sex, in his favour?’

After something else said, which I heard not distinctly—­’This is execrable cunning!—­Were you to know his wicked heart, he is not without hope of engaging you two good persons to second him in the vilest of his machinations.’

How came she, (thought I, at the instant,) by all this penetration?  My devil surely does not play me booty.  If I thought he did, I would marry, and live honest, to be even with him.

I suppose then they urged the plea which I hinted to Miss Rawlins at going in, that she would not be Mrs. Moore’s hindrance; for thus she expressed herself—­’He will no doubt pay you your own price.  You need not question his liberality; but one house cannot hold us.—­Why, if it would, did I fly from him, to seek refuge among strangers?’