 the Lady's Intention in Fanny's Affair. She told him, »it
behoved every Man to take the first Care of his Family; that he had a Wife and
six Children, the maintaining and providing for whom would be Business enough
for him without intermeddling in other Folks Affairs; that he had always
preached up Submission to Superiours, and would do ill to give an Example of the
contrary Behaviour in his own Conduct; that if Lady Booby did wrong, she must
answer for it herself, and the Sin would not lie at their Door; that Fanny had
been a Servant, and bred up in the Lady's own Family, and consequently she must
have known more of her than they did, and it was very improbable if she had
behaved herself well, that the Lady would have been so bitterly her Enemy; that
perhaps he was too much inclined to think well of her because she was handsome,
but handsome Women were often no better than they should be; that G-- made ugly
Women as well as handsome ones, and that if a Woman had Virtue, it signified
nothing whether she had Beauty or no.« For all which Reasons she concluded, he
should oblige the Lady and stop the future Publication of the Banns: but all
these excellent Arguments had no effect on the Parson, who persisted in doing
his Duty without regarding the Consequence it might have on his worldly
Interest; he endeavoured to answer her as well as he could, to which she had
just finished her Reply, (for she had always the last Word every where but at
Church) when Joseph and Fanny entered their Kitchin, where the Parson and his
Wife then sat at Breakfast over some Bacon and Cabbage. There was a Coldness in
the Civility of Mrs. Adams, which Persons of accurate Speculation might have
observed, but escaped her present Guests; indeed it was a good deal covered by
the Heartiness of Adams, who no sooner heard that Fanny had neither eat nor
drank that Morning, than he presented her a Bone of Bacon he had just been
gnawing, being the only Remains of his Provision, and then ran nimbly to the
Tap, and produced a Mug of small Beer, which he called Ale, however it was the
best in his House. Joseph addressing himself to the Parson, told him the
Discourse which had past between Squire Booby, his Sister and himself,
concerning Fanny: he then acquainted him with the Dangers whence he had rescued
her, and communicated some Apprehensions on her account. He concluded, that he
should never have an easy Moment till Fanny was absolutely
