 I suppose, that Sympathy which hath been so often noted in
Lovers, and which will sufficiently account for her being so much
quicker-sighted than her Father.
    But, to say the Truth, there is a more simple and plain Method of accounting
for that prodigious Superiority of Penetration which we must observe in some Men
over the rest of the human Species, and one which will serve not only in the
Case of Lovers, but of all others. From whence is it that the Knave is generally
so quick-sighted to those Symptoms and Operations of Knavery which often dupe an
honest Man of a much better Understanding? There surely is no general Sympathy
among Knaves, nor have they, like Free Masons, any common Sign of Communication.
In reality, it is only because they have the same thing in their Heads, and
their Thoughts are turned the same Way. Thus, that Sophia saw, and that Western
did not see the plain Symptoms of Love in Jones can be no Wonder, when we
consider that the Idea of Love never entered into the Head of the Father,
whereas the Daughter, at present, thought of nothing else.
    When Sophia was well satisfied of the violent Passion which tormented poor
Jones, and no less certain that she herself was its Object, she had not the
least Difficulty in discovering the true Cause of his present Behaviour. This
highly endeared him to her, and raised in her Mind two of the best Affections
which any Lover can wish to raise in a Mistress. These were Esteem and Pity; for
sure the most outragiously rigid among her Sex will excuse her pitying a Man,
whom she saw miserable on her own Account; nor can they blame her for esteeming
one who visibly from the most honourable Motives, endeavoured to smother a Flame
in his own Bosom, which, like the famous Spartan Theft, was preying upon, and
consuming his very Vitals. Thus his Backwardness, his Shunning her, his Coldness
and his Silence, were the forwardest, the most diligent, the warmest, and most
eloquent Advocates; and wrought so violently on her sensible and tender Heart,
that she soon felt for him all those gentle Sensations which are consistent with
a virtuous and elevated female Mind - In short, all which Esteem, Gratitude and
Pity, can inspire in such, towards an agreeable Man - Indeed, all which the
nicest Delicacy can allow - In a Word, - she was in Love with him to
Distraction.
    One Day, this young Couple accidentally met in the Garden, at the End of two
Walks, which were both bounded by that Canal in which Jones
