 he ingratiated himself as much as possible with the Husband. He spent a large Portion of his Time at their House; and while his Friend was abroad, or engaged in the Counting Room, he endeavoured, by a winning Address, and a thousand Assiduities, to thieve from him the conjugal Affections of a Woman, on whose Virtue he deposited his Hopes and Delights, all the Honours of his Family, and all his Peace and Prospect in Life.
Wilding,
in order to establish his Credit with the Merchant, had punctually reimbursed him his two hundred Pounds. A Nobleman, to whom the Dice had been lately unfavourable, made him an Offer of a Place at Court on a preliminary Compliment of a thousand Pounds.
Wilding
consulted his Friend on this advantageous Proposal. The Merchant had not the Money but promised to procure it, and, in his Eagerness to promote the Fortune of this Traitor, he went directly and solicitously abroad for the Purpose. This was an Opportunity which a Man of his Gallantry could not neglect. The grateful Mr.
Wilding
accordingly seized upon it to accomplish the Fate of his Benefactor; and the happiest Lot he left him was, ignorantly, to contribute toward the begetting of Sons and Daughters who, like Maggots, were to be propagated from the Bed of Pollution.
If I didn't fear to be tedious, said Lady
Homespun,
I could give you a recent Instance of Ingratitude even greater than that which Mr.
Fenton
has mentioned, and attended with Circumstances that affected me extremely. The Company instantly urged her to gratify their Curiosity, and she began as follows.
Some Weeks ago, I sent to the Servants Office to enquire for a Female of some Education, who might assist me in the Instruction of my little Girls. The Day following a young Woman came to be hired. Her Appearance was most bespeaking; and, with a Countenance expressive of every Virtue, she looked a Renunciation of the smallest Title thereto.
I asked for her Character, but she answered, with an Air of the deepest Humiliation, that she never had been at Service; that she was an unfortunate Stranger who deserved no one's good Word, and that she had nothing to ask but my Acceptance of her Labour, and the Shelter of my Roof.
I had not the Heart to reject her; and on Trial I found that she was Mistress of the polite Languages, and of every female Accomplishment, though she did not seem to have reached her two and twentieth Year.
She grew extremely fond of my Children. She used to look with a melancholy Kind of Pleasure upon them
