 of his Company when in his Power,
that she had no occasion to assign any particular Reason for his staying with
her, and consequently it could give her no Cause of Suspicion. The Saturday one
of her Children was a little disordered with a feverish Complaint, which
confined her to her Room, and prevented her drinking Tea in the Afternoon with
her Husband in Mrs. Ellison's Apartment, where a noble Lord, a Cousin of Mrs.
Ellison's, happened to be present: for though that Lady was reduced in her
Circumstances, and obliged to let out Part of her House in Lodgings, she was
born of a good Family, and had some considerable Relations.
    His Lordship was not himself in any Office of State; but his Fortune gave
him great Authority with those who were. Mrs. Ellison therefore very bluntly
took an Opportunity of recommending Booth to his Consideration. She took the
first Hint from my Lord's calling the Gentleman Captain - To which she answered
- »Ay, I wish your Lordship would make him so. It would be but an Act of
Justice, and I know it is in your Power to do much greater things.« She then
mentioned Booth's Services, and the Wounds he had received at the Siege, of
which she had heard a faithful Account from Amelia. - Booth blushed, and was as
silent as a young Virgin at the hearing her own Praises. His Lordship answered,
»Cousin Ellison, you know you may command my Interest; nay, I shall have a
Pleasure in serving one of Mr. Booth's Character: for my part, I think Merit in
all Capacities ought to be encouraged; but I know the Ministry are greatly
pestered with Solicitations at this time. However, Mr. Booth may be assured I
will take the first Opportunity; and in the mean time I shall be glad of seeing
him any Morning he pleases.« For all these Declarations, Booth was not wanting
in Acknowledgments to the generous Peer, any more than he was in secret
Gratitude to the Lady, who had shewn so friendly and uncommon a Zeal in his
Favour.
    The Reader, when he knows the Character of this Nobleman, may perhaps
conclude that his seeing Booth alone was a lucky Circumstance; for he was so
passionate an Admirer of Women, that he could scarce have escaped the Attraction
of Amelia's Beauty. And few Men, as I have observed, have such disinterested
Generosity as to serve a Husband the better, because they are in Love with his
Wife, unless she will condescend to pay a Price beyond the
