, or remain in the Company of this Lady.«
    »If so, Madam,« answered Mrs. Booth, »I shall not be long in determining to
stay where I am.«
    Mrs. Ellison then casting a Look of great Indignation at both the Ladies,
made a short Speech full of Invectives against Mrs. Atkinson, and not without
oblique Hints of Ingratitude against poor Amelia; after which she burst out of
the Room, and out of the House; and made Haste to her own Home, in a Condition
of Mind, to which Fortune without Guilt cannot, I believe, reduce any one.
    Indeed, how much the Superiority of Misery is on the Side of Wickedness, may
appear to every Reader who will compare the present Situation of Amelia, with
that of Mrs. Ellison. Fortune had attack'd the former with almost the highest
Degree of her Malice. She was involved in a Scene of most exquisite Distress;
and her Husband, her principal Comfort, torn violently from her Arms; yet her
Sorrow, however exquisite, was all soft and tender; nor was she without many
Consolations. Her Case, however hard, was not absolutely desperate; for scarce
any Condition of Fortune can be so. Art and Industry, Chance and Friends have
often relieved the most distrest Circumstances, and converted them into
Opulence. In all these she had Hopes on this Side the Grave, and perfect Virtue
and Innocence gave her the strongest Assurances on the other. Whereas in the
Bosom of Mrs. Ellison all was Storm and Tempest; Anger, Revenge, Fear, and
Pride, like so many raging Furies, possessed her Mind, and tortured her with
Disappointment and Shame. Loss of Reputation, which is generally irreparable,
was to be her Lot; Loss of Friends is of this the certain Consequence; all on
this Side the Grave appeared dreary and comfortless; and endless Misery on the
other, closed the gloomy Prospect.
    Hence, my worthy Reader, console thyself, that however few of the other good
Things of Life are thy Lot; the best of all Things, which is Innocence, is
always within thy own Power; and tho' Fortune may make thee often unhappy, she
can never make thee completely and irreparably miserable without thy own
Consent.
 



                                   Chapter IV

 

   Containing, among many Matters, the exemplary Behaviour of Colonel James.

When Mrs. Ellison was departed, Mrs. Atkinson began to apply all her Art to
soothe and comfort Amelia; but was presently prevented by her: »I am ashamed,
dear Madam,« said Amelia, »of having indulged my Affliction so