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    With Reflections of this nature, she usually, as hath been hinted,
accompany'd every Act of Compliance with her Brother's Inclinations; and surely
nothing could more contribute to heighten the Merit of this Compliance, than a
Declaration that she knew at the same time the Folly and Unreasonableness of
those Inclinations to which she submitted. Tacit Obedience implies no Force upon
the Will, and consequently may be easily, and without any Pains, preserved; but
when a Wife, a Child, a Relation, or a Friend, performs what we desire, with
Grumbling, and Reluctance, with Expressions of Dislike and Dissatisfaction, the
manifest Difficulty which they undergo, must greatly enhance the Obligation.
    As this is one of those deep Observations which very few Readers can be
supposed capable of making themselves, I have thought proper to lend them my
Assistance; but this is a Favour rarely to be expected in the Course of my Work.
Indeed I shall seldom or never so indulge him, unless in such Instances as this,
where nothing but the Inspiration with which we Writers are gifted, can possibly
enable any one to make the Discovery.
 

                                   Chapter VI

 Mrs. Deborah is introduced into the Parish, with a Simile. A short Account of
 Jenny Jones, with the Difficulties and Discouragements which may attend young
                       Women in the Pursuit of Learning.
 
Mrs. Deborah, having disposed of the Child according to the Will of her Master,
now prepared to visit those Habitations which were supposed to conceal its
Mother.
    Not otherwise than when a Kite, tremendous Bird, is beheld by the feathered
Generation soaring aloft, and hovering over their Heads, the amorous Dove, and
every innocent little Bird spread wide the Alarm, and fly trembling to their
Hiding-places: He proudly beats the Air, conscious of his Dignity, and meditates
intended Mischief.
    So when the Approach of Mrs. Deborah was proclaimed through the Street, all
the Inhabitants ran trembling into their Houses, each Matron dreading lest the
Visit should fall to her Lot. She with stately Steps proudly advances over the
Field, aloft she bears her tow'ring Head, filled with Conceit of her own
Pre-eminence, and Schemes to effect her intended Discovery.
    The sagacious Reader will not, from this Simile, imagine these poor People
had any Apprehension of the Design with which Mrs. Wilkins was now coming
towards them; but as the great Beauty of the Simile may possibly sleep these
hundred Years, till some future Commentator shall take this Work in hand, I
think proper to lend the Reader a little Assistance in this Place.
    It is my Intention therefore to
