 very unlike the Person that she lately
appeared, that it might have surprised any one who doth not know, that besides
that of a fine Lady, which is all mere Art and Mummery, every such Woman hath
some real Character at the Bottom, in which, whenever Nature gets the better of
her, she acts. Thus the finest Ladies in the World will sometimes love, and
sometimes scratch, according to their different natural Dispositions, with great
Fury and Violence, tho' both of these are equally inconsistent with a fine
Lady's artificial Character.
    Mrs. James then was at the Bottom a very good-natured Woman; and the Moment
she heard of Amelia's Misfortune, was sincerely grieved at it. She had
acquiesced on the very first Motion with the Colonel's Design of inviting her to
her House; and this Morning at Breakfast, when he had acquainted her that Amelia
made some Difficulty in accepting the Offer, very readily undertook to go
herself and persuade her Friend to accept the Invitation.
    She now pressed this Matter with such Earnestness, that Amelia, who was not
extremely versed in the Art of denying, was hardly able to refuse her
Importunity; nothing, indeed, but her Affection to Mrs. Atkinson could have
prevailed on her to refuse; that Point, however, she would not give up, and Mrs.
James, at last, was contented with a Promise, that as soon as their Affairs were
settled, Amelia, with her Husband and Family, would make her a Visit, and stay
some time with her in the Country, whither she was soon to retire.
    Having obtained this Promise, Mrs. James, after many very friendly
Professions, took her Leave; and stepping into her Coach, re-assumed the fine
Lady, and drove away to join her Company at an Auction.
    The Moment she was gone, Mrs. Atkinson, who had left the Room upon the
Approach of Mrs. James, returned into it, and was informed by Amelia of all that
had past.
    »Pray, Madam,« said Mrs. Atkinson, »do this Colonel and his Lady live, as it
is called, well together?«
    »If you mean to ask,« cries Amelia, »whether they are a very fond Couple, I
must answer that I believe they are not.«
    »I have been told,« says Mrs. Atkinson, »that there have been Instances of
Women who have become Bawds to their own Husbands, and the Husbands Pimps for
them.«
    »Fie upon it,« cries Amelia. »I
