almost these three Weeks? Nay, did I not even then send you a Card,
which sure was doing more than all the Friendship and good Breeding in the World
required; but indeed as I had met you in no public Place, I really thought you
was ill?« »How can you mention public Places to me,« said Amelia, »when you can
hardly be a Stranger to my present Situation? Did you not know, Madam, that I
was ruined?« »No indeed, Madam, did I not,« replied Mrs. James, »I am sure I
should have been highly concerned if I had.« »Why sure, my Dear,« cries Amelia,
»you could not imagine that we were in affluent Circumstances, when you found us
in such a Place, and in such a Condition.« »Nay, my Dear,« answered Mrs. James,
»since you are pleased to mention it first yourself, I own I was a little
surprized to see you in no better Lodgings; but I concluded you had your own
Reasons for liking them; and for my own part, I have laid it down as a positive
Rule, never to enquire into the private Affairs of any one, especially of my
Friends. I am not of the Humour of some Ladies, who confine the Circle of their
Acquaintance to one Part of the Town, and would not be known to visit in the
City for the World. For my part, I never dropt an Acquaintance with any one,
while it was reputable to keep it up; and I can solemnly declare, I have not a
Friend in the World for whom I have a greater Esteem than I have for Mrs. Booth.
«
    At this Instant the Arrival of a new Visitant put an end to the Discourse,
and Amelia soon after took her Leave without the least Anger, but with some
little unavoidable Contempt for a Lady, in whose Opinion, as we have hinted
before, outward Form and Ceremony constituted the whole Essence of Friendship;
who valued all her Acquaintance alike, as each Individual served equally to fill
up a Place in her visiting Roll, and who in reality had not the least Concern
for the good Qualities or Wellbeing of any of them.
 

                                   Chapter V

                         Containing much heroic Matter.

At the End of three Days Mrs. Ellison's Friend had so far purchased Mr. Booth's
Liberty, that he could walk again abroad within the Verge, without any Danger of
having a Warrant backed against him by the Board before he had Notice. As for
the ill-