 now was had been left in the Care of one Maid-servant.
This faithful Creature came into the Hall, with the Footman who had driven the
Cart. A Scene of the highest Fondness having past between them, the Fellow
proposed, and the Maid consented, to open the Hamper and drink a Bottle
together, which they agreed their Mistress would hardly miss in such a Quantity.
They presently began to execute their Purpose. They opened the Hamper, and to
their great Surprize discovered the Contents.
    I took an immediate Advantage of the Consternation which appeared in the
Countenances of both the Servants, and had sufficient Presence of Mind to
improve the Knowledge of those Secrets to which I was privy. I told them that it
entirely depended on their Behaviour to me whether their Mistress should ever be
acquainted, either with what they had done, or with what they had intended to
do: for that if they would keep my Secret, I would reciprocally keep theirs. I
then acquainted them with my Purpose of lying concealed in the House, in order
to watch an Opportunity of obtaining a private Interview with Amelia.
    In the Situation in which these two Delinquents stood, you may be assured it
was not difficult for me to seal up their Lips. In short they agreed to whatever
I proposed. I lay that Evening in my dear Amelia's Bed-chamber, and was in the
Morning conveyed into an old lumber Garret, where I was to wait till Amelia
(whom the Maid promised, on her Arrival, to inform of my Place of Concealment)
could find some Opportunity of seeing me.«
    »I ask Pardon for interrupting you,« cries Miss Mathews, »but you bring to
my Remembrance a foolish Story which I heard at that time, tho' at a great
Distance from you: That an Officer had, in Confederacy with Miss Harris, broke
open her Mother's Cellar, and stole away a great Quantity of her Wine. I mention
it only to shew you what Sort of Foundations most Stories have.«
    Booth told her he had heard some such thing himself, and then continued his
Story as in the next Chapter.
 

                                   Chapter VI

                     Containing many surprising Adventures.

»Here,« continued he, »I remained the whole Day in Hopes of a Happiness, the
expected Approach of which, gave me such a Delight, that I would not have
exchanged my poor Lodgings for the finest Palace in the Universe.
    A little after it was dark Mrs. Harris arrived, together with Amelia and her
Sister. I cannot express how much my Heart now began to flutter; for as
