 made him
desirous to see her once more, when he promised he would take Leave of her for
ever. No, Madam,« concluded he, »my Love is not of that base Kind which seeks
its own Satisfaction, at the Expence of what is most dear to its Object. I would
sacrifice every Thing to the Possession of my Sophia, but Sophia herself.«
    Though the Reader may have already conceived no very sublime Idea of the
Virtue of the Lady in the Mask; and tho' possibly she may hereafter appear not
to deserve one of the first Characters of her Sex; yet, it is certain, these
generous Sentiments made a strong Impression upon her, and greatly added to the
Affection she had before conceived for our young Heroe.
    The Lady now, after a Silence of a few Moments, said, »She did not see his
Pretensions to Sophia so much in the Light of Presumption, as of Imprudence.
Young Fellows,« says she, »can never have too aspiring Thoughts. I love Ambition
in a young Man, and I would have you cultivate it as much as possible. Perhaps
you may succeed with those who are infinitely superior in Fortune, nay, I am
convinced there are Women, - but don't you think me a strange Creature, Mr.
Jones, to be thus giving Advice to a Man, with whom I am so little acquainted,
and one with whose Behaviour to me I have so little Reason to be pleased?«
    Here Jones began to apologize, and to hope he had not offended in any thing
he had said of her Cousin. - To which the Mask answered, »And are you so little
versed in the Sex, to imagine you can well affront a Lady more, than by
entertaining her with your Passion for another Woman? If the Fairy Queen had no
better Opinion of your Gallantry, she would scarce have appointed you to meet
her at a Masquerade.«
    Jones had never less Inclination to an Amour than at present; but Gallantry
to the Ladies was among his Principles of Honour; and he held it as much
incumbent on him to accept a Challenge to Love, as if it had been a Challenge to
Fight. Nay, his very Love to Sophia made it necessary for him to keep well with
the Lady, as he made no doubt but she was capable of bringing him into the
Presence of the other.
    He began therefore to make a very warm Answer to her last Speech, when a
Mask, in the Character of an old Woman, joined them. This Mask was one of those
Ladies who
