 certain and necessary a
Consequence of our having any Brains. This is altogether as bitter an Enemy to
Guilt, as the former is to Innocence, nor can I see it in an unamiable Light,
even though, through human Fallibility, it should be sometimes mistaken. For
Instance, if a Husband should accidentally surprize his Wife in the Lap or in
the Embraces of some of those pretty young Gentlemen who profess the Art of
Cuckoldmaking, I should not highly, I think, blame him for concluding something
more than what he saw, from the Familiarities which he really had seen, and
which we are at least favourable enough to, when we call them innocent Freedoms.
The Reader will easily suggest great Plenty of Instances to himself; I shall add
but one more, which however unchristian it may be thought by some, I cannot help
esteeming to be strictly justifiable; and this is a Suspicion that a Man is
capable of doing what he hath done already, and that it is possible for one who
hath been a Villain once, to act the same Part again. And to confess the Truth,
of this Degree of Suspicion I believe Sophia was guilty. From this Degree of
Suspicion she had, in Fact, conceived an Opinion, that her Cousin was really not
better than she should be.
    The Case, it seems, was this: Mrs. Fitzpatrick wisely considered, that the
Virtue of a young Lady is, in the World, in the same Situation with a poor Hare,
which is certain, whenever it ventures abroad, to meet its Enemies: For it can
hardly meet any other. No sooner therefore was she determined to take the first
Opportunity of quitting the Protection of her Husband, than she resolved to cast
herself under the Protection of some other Man; and whom could she so properly
chuse to be her Guardian as a Person of Quality, of Fortune, of Honour; and who,
besides a gallant Disposition which inclines Men to Knight-Errantry; that is, to
be the Champions of Ladies in Distress; had often declared a violent Attachment
to herself, and had already given her all the Instances of it in his Power?
    But as the Law hath foolishly omitted this Office of Vice-Husband, or
Guardian to an eloped Lady; and as Malice is apt to denominate him by a more
disagreeable Appellation; it was concluded that his Lordship should perform all
such kind Offices to the Lady in secret, and without publicly assuming the
Character of her Protector. Nay, to prevent any other Person from seeing him in
this Light, it was agreed that the Lady should proceed directly
