 gives them the Air and Looks of Furies, if their Husbands bring in an
unexpected Guest, without giving them timely Warning to provide a Sacrifice to
their own Vanity. Amelia received her Husband's Friend with the utmost
Complaisance and good Humour: She made indeed some Apology for the Homeliness of
her Dinner; but it was politely turned as a Compliment to Mr. James's
Friendship, which could carry him where he was sure of being so ill entertained;
and gave not the least Hint how magnificently she would have provided, had she
expected the Favour of so much good Company. A Phrase which is generally meant
to contain not only an Apology for the Lady of the House, but a tacit Satir on
her Guests for their Intrusion, and is at least a strong Insinuation that they
are not welcome.
    Amelia failed not to enquire very earnestly after her old Friend Mrs. James,
formerly Miss Bath, and was very sorry to find that she was not in Town. The
Truth was, as James had married out of a violent Liking of, or Appetite to her
Person, Possession had surfeited him, and he was now grown so heartily tired of
his Wife, that she had very little of his Company; she was forced therefore to
content herself with being the Mistress of a large House and Equipage in the
Country, ten Months in the Year by herself. The other two he indulged her with
the Diversions of the Town; but then, tho' they lodged under the same Roof, she
had little more of her Husband's Society, than if they had been one hundred
Miles a-part. With all this, as she was a Woman of calm Passions, she made
herself contented; for she had never had any violent Affection for James; the
Match was of the prudent Kind, and to her Advantage: for his Fortune, by the
Death of an Uncle, was become very considerable; and she had gained every thing
by the Bargain but a Husband, which her Constitution suffered her to be very
well satisfied without.
    When Amelia after Dinner retired to her Children, James began to talk to his
Friend concerning his Affairs. He advised Booth very earnestly to think of
getting again into the Army, in which he himself had met with such Success, that
he had obtained the Command of a Regiment, to which his Brother-in-Law was
Lieutenant-Colonel. These Preferments they both owed to the Favour of Fortune
only: for tho' there was no Objection to either of their military Characters;
yet neither of them had any extraordinary Desert; and if Merit
