that I have some private Business with
your Wife; and I expect your immediate Absence.«
    »Upon my Word, Doctor,« answered Booth, »no Popish Confessor, I firmly
believe, ever pronounced his Will and Pleasure with more Gravity and Dignity;
none therefore was ever more immediately obeyed than you shall be.« Booth then
quitted the Room, and desired the Doctor to recall him when his Business with
the Lady was over.
    Doctor Harrison promised he would, and then turning to Amelia, he said,
»Thus far, Madam, I have obeyed your Commands, and am now ready to receive the
important Secret which you mention in your Note.«
    Amelia now informed her Friend of all she knew, all she had seen and heard,
and all that she suspected of the Colonel. The good Man seemed greatly shocked
at the Relation, and remained in a silent Astonishment. - Upon which, Amelia
said, »Is Villany so rare a Thing, Sir, that it should so much surprize you?«
»No, Child,« cries he; »but I am shocked at seeing it so artfully disguised
under the Appearance of so much Virtue. And to confess the Truth, I believe my
own Vanity is a little hurt in having been so grossly imposed upon. Indeed, I
had a very high Regard for this Man; for, besides the great Character given him
by your Husband, and the many Facts I have heard so much redounding to his
Honour, he hath the fairest and most promising Appearance I have ever yet beheld
- A good Face they say, is a Letter of Recommendation. O Nature, Nature, why art
thou so dishonest, as ever to send Men with these false Recommendations into the
World!«
    »Indeed, my dear Sir, I begin to grow entirely sick of it,« cries Amelia:
»For sure all Mankind almost are Villains in their Hearts.«
    »Fie, Child,« cries the Doctor, »Do not make a Conclusion so much to the
Dishonour of the great Creator. The Nature of Man is far from being in itself
Evil: It abounds with Benevolence, Charity and Pity, coveting Praise and Honour,
and shunning Shame and Disgrace. Bad Education, bad Habits, and bad Customs,
debauch our Nature, and drive it Headlong as it were into Vice. The Governors of
the World, and I am afraid the Priesthood, are answerable for the Badness of it.
Instead of discouraging Wickedness to the utmost of their Power, both are too
apt to connive at it. In the great Sin of Adultery