 Violence to the Word, be called Love; though, perhaps, it was at first not
very judiciously placed.
    This then was the true Reason of that Insensibility which he had shewn to
the Charms of Sophia, and that Behaviour in her, which might have been
reasonably enough interpreted as an Encouragement to his Addresses: For as he
could not think of abandoning his Molly, poor and destitute as she was, so no
more could he entertain a Notion of betraying such a Creature as Sophia. And
surely, had he given the least Encouragement to any Passion for that young Lady,
he must have been absolutely guilty of one or other of those Crimes; either of
which would, in my Opinion, have very justly subjected him to that Fate, which
at his first Introduction into this History, I mentioned to have been generally
predicted as his certain Destiny.
 

                                  Chapter VII

                    Being the shortest Chapter in this Book.
 
Her Mother first perceived the Alteration in the Shape of Molly, and in order to
hide it from her Neighbours, she foolishly clothed her in that Sack which Sophia
had sent her. Though indeed that young Lady had little Apprehension, that the
poor Woman would have been weak enough to let any of her Daughters wear it in
that Form.
    Molly was charmed with the first Opportunity she ever had of shewing her
Beauty to Advantage; for though she could very well bear to contemplate herself
in the Glass, even when drest in Rags; and though she had in that Dress
conquered the Heart of Jones, and perhaps of some others; yet she thought the
Addition of Finery would much improve her Charms, and extend her Conquests.
    Molly, therefore, having dressed herself out in this Sack, with a new laced
Cap, and some other Ornaments which Tom had given her, repairs to Church with
her Fan in her Hand the very next Sunday. The Great are deceived, if they
imagine they have appropriated Ambition and Vanity to themselves. These noble
Qualities flourish as notably in a Country Church, and Churchyard, as in the
Drawing-Room, or in the Closet. Schemes have indeed been laid in the Vestry,
which would hardly disgrace the Conclave. Here is a Ministry, and here is an
Opposition. Here are Plots and Circumventions, Parties and Factions, equal to
those which are to be found in Courts.
    Nor are the Women here less practised in the highest Feminine Arts than
their fair Superiors in Quality and Fortune. Here are Prudes and Coquettes. Here
are Dressing and Ogling, Falshood, Envy, Malice, Scandal; in short, every Thing
which is common to the most splendid
