 take Notice of what discovered itself in the Mind of any other Person.
    Unfortunately for us, Mrs. Harris's Lawyer happened at this time to be at
London, where Business detained him upwards of a Month; and as Mrs. Harris would
on no Occasion employ any other, our Affair was under an entire Suspension till
his Return.
    Amelia, who was now big with Child, had often expressed the deepest Concern
at her Apprehensions of my being sometime commanded abroad, a Circumstance which
she declared, if it should ever happen to her, even tho' she should not then be
in the same Situation as at present, would infallibly break her Heart. These
Remonstrances were made with such Tenderness, and so much affected me, that to
avoid any Probability of such an Event, I endeavoured to get an Exchange into
the Horse-guards, a Body of Troops which very rarely goes abroad unless where
the King himself commands in Person. I soon found an Officer for my Purpose, the
Terms were agreed on, and Mrs. Harris had ordered the Money which I was to pay
to be ready, notwithstanding the Opposition made by Miss Betty, who openly
dissuaded her Mother from it; alledging that the Exchange was highly to my
Disadvantage; that I could never hope to rise in the Army after it; not
forgetting, at the same time, some Insinuations very prejudicial to my
Reputation as a Soldier.
    When every thing was agreed on, and the two Commissions were actually made
out, but not signed by the King, one Day, at my Return from hunting, Amelia flew
to me, and eagerly embracing me, cried out, O Billy, I have News for you, which
delights my Soul. Nothing sure was ever so fortunate as the Exchange you have
made. The Regiment you was formerly in is ordered for Gibraltar.
    I received this News with far less Transport than it was delivered. I
answered coldly, since the Case was so, I heartily hoped the Commissions might
be both signed. What do you say? replied Amelia eagerly, - Sure you told me
every thing was entirely settled. That Look of yours frightens me to Death. -
But I am running into too minute Particulars. In short, I received a Letter by
that very Post, from the Officer with whom I had exchanged, insisting that tho'
his Majesty had not signed the Commissions, that still the Bargain was valid,
partly urging it as a Right, and partly desiring it as a Favour, that he might
go to Gibraltar in my Room.
    This Letter convinced me in every Point. I
