3.  His wife, who was a woman of sense and virtue, behaved herself on this occasion with uncommon decency, and never appeared so amiable in his eyes as now.  Instead of upbraiding him with the ample fortune she had brought, or the many great offers she had refused for his sake, she redoubled all the instances of her affection, while her husband was continually pouring out his heart to her in complaints, that he had ruined the best woman in the we world.

4.  He sometimes came home at a time when she did not expect him, and surprised her in tears, which she endeavoured to conceal, and always put on an air of cheerfulness to receive him.  To lessen their expense, their eldest daughter (whom I shall call Amanda) was sent into the country, to the house of an honest farmer, who had married a servant of the family:  This young woman was apprehensive of the ruin which was approaching, and had privately engaged a friend in the neighbourhood to give her an account of what passed from time to time in her father’s affairs.

5.  Amanda was in the bloom of her youth and beauty, when the lord of the manor, who often called in at the farmer’s house as he followed his country sports, fell passionately in love with her.  He was a man of great generosity, but from a loose education had contracted a hearty aversion to marriage.  He therefore entertained a design upon Amanda’s virtue, which at present he thought fit to keep private.  The innocent creature, who never suspected his intentions, was pleased with his person; and, having observed his growing passion for her, hoped by so advantageous a match she might quickly be in a capacity of supporting her impoverished relations.

6.  One day as he called to see her, he found her in tears over a letter she had just received from her friend, which gave an account that her father had been lately stript of every thing by an execution.  The lover, who with some difficulty found out the cause of her grief, took this occasion to make her a proposal.  It is impossible to express Amanda’s confusion when she found his pretentions were not honourable.

7.  She was now deserted of all hopes, and had no power to speak; but rushing from him in the utmost disturbance, locked herself up in her chamber.  He immediately dispatched a messenger to her father with the following letter.

8.  SIR,

’I have heard of your misfortune, and have offered your daughter, if she will live with me, to settle on her four hundred pounds a year, and to lay down the sum for which you are now distressed.  I will be so ingenuous as to tell you, that I do not intend marriage; but if you are wise, you will use your authority with her not to be too nice, when she has an opportunity of serving you and your family, and of making herself happy.

‘I am, &c.’

9.  This letter came to the hands of Amanda’s mother:  she opened and read it with great surprise and concern.  She did not think it proper to explain herself to the messenger; but desiring him to call again the next morning, she wrote to her daughter as follows: