, persuaded Fanny to accept this
kind Proposal, in which Sollicitation he was seconded by Joseph. Nor was she
very difficultly prevailed on; for she had slept little the last Night, and not
at all the preceding, so that Love itself was scarce able to keep her Eyes open
any longer. The Offer therefore being kindly accepted, the good Woman produced
every thing eatable in he House on the Table, and the Guests being heartily
invited, as heartily regaled themselves, especially Parson Adams. As to the
other two, they were Examples of the Truth of that physical Observation, that
Love, like other sweet Things, is no Whetter of the Stomach.
    Supper was no sooner ended, than Fanny at her own Request retired, and the
good Woman bore her Company. The Man of the House, Adams and Joseph, who would
modestly have withdrawn, had not the Gentleman insisted on the contrary, drew
round the Fire-side, where Adams, (to use his own Words) replenished his Pipe,
and the Gentleman produced a Bottle of excellent Beer, being the best Liquor in
his House.
    The modest Behaviour of Joseph, with the Gracefulness of his Person, the
Character which Adams gave of him, and the Friendship he seemed to entertain for
him, began to work on the Gentleman's Affections, and raised in him a Curiosity
to know the Singularity which Adams had mentioned in his History. This Curiosity
Adams was no sooner informed of, than with Joseph's Consent, he agreed to
gratify it, and accordingly related all he knew, with as much Tenderness as was
possible for the Character of Lady Booby; and concluded with the long, faithful
and mutual Passion between him and Fanny, not concealing the Meanness of her
Birth and Education. These latter Circumstances entirely cured a Jealousy which
had lately risen in the Gentleman's Mind, that Fanny was the Daughter of some
Person of Fashion, and that Joseph had run away with her, and Adams was
concerned in the Plot. He was now enamour'd of his Guests, drank their Healths
with great Cheerfulness, and return'd many Thanks to Adams, who had spent much
Breath; for he was a circumstantial Teller of a Story.
    Adams told him it was now in his power to return that Favour; for his
extraordinary Goodness, as well as that Fund of Literature he was Master of,5
which he did not expect to find under such a Roof, had raised in him more
Curiosity than he had ever known. »Therefore,« said he, »if it be not too
troublesome, Sir,
