 it; for on casting my eyes round the house, I discovered Mr. Roatsley in the adjoining box. As he sat alone, I could not avoid flattering myself that he would join us as he had done the week before, and Fanny and I could have easily contrived room for him, although the house was extremely crouded; but to my no small regret he did not appear to have the most distant thought of approaching. On perceiving us he indeed instantly bowed; but with a degree of coldness and reserve which almost disconcerted me; and though from the accidental change of places there was a spare seat by us most part of the evening, far from wishing to take possession of it, he never once came near the box.
Astonished at a change really striking, as well as unaccountable after the flow of civility with which he had before attended us at the same place, I tried in vain to

discover what could possibly have occasioned the alteration; but I could only rest my conclusions on that fickleness and caprice of which all his sex have been so vehemently accused by ours, and of which, though I have seen nothing, I have read and heard much.
Possessed with this idea, I endeavoured to satisfy myself; but another soon accompanied it, which partook perhaps not a little of the weakness attributed to our sex: I suspected that we did not improve upon intimacy; and that disappointed in the expectations which at first induced him to cultivate the acquaintance, he wished to let it drop. Soon after the first act was concluded, I took notice that we were evidently the subject of his conversation with another gentleman who had joined him; an idea which you may believe did not lessen my perplexity.
Roatsley seemed to regard me with looks of anxious gravity; while the countenance

of his companion, whom to my no small surprize I recollected to be our late fellow lodger, Captain Bradshaw, manifested nothing but satisfaction.
Just as the fourth act was concluded, Lady Farnford beckoned to a lady behind, desiring her to inform her son, who could not get admittance for the croud, that a seat was kept for him on the bench on which I was sitting.
Way was therefore made for the gentleman: but guess my astonishment and regret, when I found that this son of Lady Farnford's was the profligate and audacious young man who had terrified me at Mrs. Brumpton's. I was shocked on seeing him; nor was my perturbation abated, you may believe, from finding that his mother meant to place him by me.
Without having time to consider, I determined
