for Instance; hath the
Government provided any Law to punish it; or doth the Priest take any Care to
correct it? On the contrary, is the most notorious Practice of it any Detriment
to a Man's Fortune or to his Reputation in the World? Doth it exclude him from
any Preferment in the State, I had almost said in the Church? Is it any Blot in
his Escutcheon? Any Bar to his Honour? Is he not to be found every Day in the
Assemblies of Women of the highest Quality? In the Closets of the greatest Men,
and even at the Tables of Bishops? What Wonder then, if the Community in general
treat this monstrous Crime as Matter of Jest, and that Men give way to the
Temptations of a violent Appetite, when the Indulgence of it is protected by Law
and countenanced by Custom. I am convinced there are good Stamina in the Nature
of this very Man: For he hath done Acts of Friendship and Generosity to your
Husband, before he could have any evil Design on your Chastity; and in a
Christian Society, which I no more esteem this Nation to be, than I do any Part
of Turky, I doubt not but this very Colonel would have made a worthy and
valuable Member.«
    »Indeed, my dear Sir,« cries Amelia, »you are the wisest as well as best Man
in the World -«
    »Not a Word of my Wisdom,« cries the Doctor. »I have not a Grain - I am not
the least versed in the Chrematistic11 Art, as an old Friend of mine calls it. I
know not how to get a Shilling, nor how to keep it in my Pocket, if I had it.«
    »But you understand Human Nature to the Bottom,« answered Amelia; »and your
Mind is the Treasury of all ancient and modern Learning.«
    »You are a little Flatterer,« cries the Doctor; »but I dislike you not for
it. And to shew you I don't, I will return your Flattery; and tell you, you have
acted with great Prudence in concealing this Affair from your Husband; but you
have drawn me into a Scrape: For I have promised to dine with this Fellow again
To-morrow; and you have made it impossible for me to keep my Word.«
    »Nay but, dear Sir,« cries Amelia, »for Heaven's Sake take Care. If you shew
any kind of Disrespect to the Colonel, my Husband may be led into some Suspicion
- Especially after our Conference.«
    »