 Mrs. Honour,
while she was adjusting herself after the Discomposure she had undergone. The
Subject of this was his Infidelity to her young Lady; on which she enlarged with
great Bitterness; but Jones at last found means to reconcile her, and not only
so, but to obtain a Promise of most inviolable Secrecy, and that she would the
next Morning endeavour to find out Sophia, and bring him a further Account of
the Proceedings of the Squire.
    Thus ended this unfortunate Adventure to the Satisfaction only of Mrs.
Honour; for a Secret (as some of my Readers will perhaps acknowledge from
Experience) is often a very valuable Possession; and that not only to those who
faithfully keep it, but sometimes to such as whisper it about till it come to
the Ears of every one, except the ignorant Person, who pays for the supposed
concealing of what is publicly known.
 

                                  Chapter VIII

                                Short and sweet.
 
Notwithstanding all the Obligations she had received from Jones, Mrs. Miller
could not forbear in the Morning some gentle Remonstrances for the Hurricane
which had happened the preceding Night in his Chamber. These were however so
gentle and so friendly; professing, and indeed truly, to aim at nothing more
than the real good of Mr. Jones himself, that he, far from being offended,
thankfully received the Admonition of the good Woman, expressed much Concern for
what had past, excused it as well as he could, and promised never more to bring
the same Disturbances into the House.
    But though Mrs. Miller did not refrain from a short Expostulation in private
at their first meeting, yet the Occasion of his being summoned down Stairs that
Morning was of a much more agreeable Kind; being indeed to perform the Office of
a Father to Miss Nancy, and to give her in Wedlock to Mr. Nightingale, who was
now ready drest, and full as sober as many of my Readers will think a Man ought
to be who receives a Wife in so imprudent a Manner.
    And here perhaps it may be proper to account for the Escape which this young
Gentleman had made from his Uncle, and for his Appearance in the Condition in
which we have seen him the Night before.
    Now when the Uncle had arrived at his Lodgings with his Nephew, partly to
indulge his own Inclinations (for he dearly loved his Bottle) and partly to
disqualify his Nephew from the immediate Execution of his Purpose, he ordered
Wine to be set on the Table; with which he so briskly ply'd the young Gentleman,
that this latter, who, though not much used to Drinking, did not detest it so
