 for that Evening;
but resolved early in the Morning to enquire after the Lady, into whose
Protection, as we have formerly mentioned, she had determined to throw herself,
when she quitted her Father's House. And this she was the more eager in doing,
from some Observations she had made during her Journey in the Coach.
    Now as we would by no Means fix the odious Character of Suspicion on Sophia,
we are almost afraid to open to our Reader the Conceits which filled her Mind
concerning Mrs. Fitzpatrick; of whom she certainly entertained at present some
Doubts; which, as they are very apt to enter into the Bosoms of the worst of
People, we think proper not to mention more plainly, till we have first
suggested a Word or two to our Reader touching Suspicion in general.
    Of this there have always appeared to me to be two Degrees. The first of
these I chuse to derive from the Heart, as the extreme Velocity of its
Discernment seems to denote some previous inward Impulse, and the rather, as
this superlative Degree often forms its own Objects; sees what is not, and
always more than really exists. This is that quick-sighted Penetration, whose
Hawk's Eyes no Symptom of Evil can escape; which observes not only upon the
Actions, but upon the Words and Looks of Men; and as it proceeds from the Heart
of the Observer, so it dives into the Heart of the Observed, and there espies
Evil, as it were, in the first Embryo; nay sometimes before it can be said to be
conceived. An admirable Faculty, if it were infallible; but as this Degree of
Perfection is not even claimed by more than one mortal Being, so from the
Fallibility of such acute Discernment have arisen many sad Mischiefs and most
grievous Heart-akes to Innocence and Virtue. I cannot help therefore regarding
this vast Quicksightedness into Evil, as a vicious Excess, and as a very
pernicious Evil in itself. And I am the more inclined to this Opinion, as I am
afraid it always proceeds from a bad Heart, for the Reasons I have
above-mentioned, and for one more, namely, because I never knew it the Property
of a good one. Now from this Degree of Suspicion I entirely and absolutely
acquit Sophia.
    A second Degree of this Quality seems to arise from the Head. This is indeed
no other than the Faculty of seeing what is before your Eyes, and of drawing
Conclusions from what you see. The former of these is unavoidable by those who
have any Eyes, and the latter is perhaps no less
