Our hypocritical mother and daughter had all this time business enough upon their hands: Syrena no sooner came home, which was about six in the morning, than finding Mr D––'s letter, she made no delay, for fear he should return, and use her as she knew she merited at his hands, but packed up her things, quitted her lodging, and took a coach immediately to Greenwich. Mrs Tricksy, on being told what had happened, thought that place altogether unsafe for them; so they both returned the same day to London, and took lodgings at Westminister; where, having no acquaintance, they lived quite private for some days, to avoid meeting with Mr D–– or Capt. H––s, to whom they did not doubt, but that the resentment of the other, had exposed them, as he had threatened in his letter. Between the liberality of Mr D––, the Portuguese merchant, and the Captain, they had made a pretty handsome purse, which if they could have resolved to be honest, might have put them in some way of getting bread; but neither of them were of frugal dispositions, they indulged themselves in everything they liked, and Syrena sent for a mercer, milliner, and other tradespeople to equip her in a gay manner, that when she went abroad, her charms might appear to advantage: by private enquiries they soon heard that the captain had failed, and also of Maria's death, and Mr D––'s voluntary banishment from England; on which Syrena broke from her obscurity, dressed, and trod the mall with as great a grace, and as little concern, as the most virtuous that frequented that place; she had nothing, indeed, to apprehend; but meeting with some or other of Sir Thomas L––'s family; she had, therefore, her eyes continually on the watch, that if she happened to see any of them at a distance, she might turn away, before they came near enough to distinguish her, thus disguised as the hussy was in lace and embroidery. The season for park-walking in an evening being far advanced, it quite passed over without her being able to make one conquest, which was no small mortification to this fine lady, especially as her money was almost exhausted in clothes, luxurious eating, and chair-hire. In short, winter came on, without anything being done. She durst not go to plays, operas, nor concerts, because she very well knew, that there was seldom a night but some or other of that family she had so grossly imposed upon, were at those diversions. The masquerade was the only place she could go to without fear of being exposed, and even there was in danger of being accosted, either by Sir Thomas or his son; she flattered herself, however, that she should have penetration enough to find either of them out in any habit, without their being able to discover her; and she happened in reality to be more lucky than she deserved on this score. She was not so, however, in her principal intention, that of being addressed to in a particular manner. She had been there twice without having been accosted with any other than the common salutations of the place, as do you know me, and I know you, and such like stuff; or the impudent freedoms which are used to common women, and which some who glory in being accounted libertines, have the effrontery to practise in the most public places. The expense of her tickets, dress, and chair-hire thus thrown away, was no small mortification to her, as cash began now to run very low: she adventured, however, a third time, and happening to be addressed by a person, who, on stretching out his arm to reach at something on one of the buffets, she perceived, by his domino falling a little open, had a star on his coat; she resolved to encourage a conversation with him; and keeping her eye constantly fixed upon him, had artifice enough to draw him off, wherever she found he was engaging with any other of the masks. Her wit and manner pleased him extremely, and at length he grew very particular with her. She seemed no less charmed with his behaviour; and, after a good deal of feigned reluctance, consented he should conduct her to some place, where they might discourse with more freedom; and he accordingly carried her to a bagnio in St. James's Street. If she had appeared agreeable to him before, she was much more so now, when she had an opportunity of revealing those beauties in full, which in the ball-room could but be shown in part, and that too, but by stealth.

            After a supper, and some amorous conversation, he entreated she would stay with him all night; but though she pretended to have been struck with an irresistible passion for him, the first moment she saw his face, and had it not in her power to refuse him anything; yet said, she would sooner die than be guilty of an injustice to one of her own sex; so begged to know if he were married. He told her, on his honour, that he was not. She then insisted on his name, and he made no scruple of letting her know, he was Lord R––.

            They passed the time till morning in mutual endearments, and indeed mutual dissimulation, Syrena artfully mingling with her pretended fondness certain modest shocks to heighten his good opinion of her, and he affecting to be possessed of a more than ordinary passion, for the more emboldening her to meet his amorous desires with equal warmth. The night being past, and his lordship fully gratified, he made her a present of ten guineas, which she at first refused with an air of disdain, telling him that he injured her greatly if he imagined she had yielded from any motive but love. But he forced her to accept this token, as he called it, of his affection; on those terms, said she, I take it from my dear lord; but were every piece a thousand I would reject them with scorn if offered as the purchase of my virtue. "I am no prostitute," continued she, "and if I thought you looked on me as such, and having accomplished your desires would never see me more, I would this instant undeceive you, by running your sword through my too fond, too easily charmed heart." Lord R–– smiled within himself to hear her talk in this romantic style; but willing to humour her in it, made her as many promises of constancy as she desired, and assured her in a very small time, he would write to appoint a second meeting, and they would then settle things so as to see each other often.

            Thus they parted, and Syrena went home somewhat better satisfied with the effects of this masquerade than she had been with the two former, though she did not flatter herself with securing the heart of this nobleman, as she had done those of Mr L–– and Mr D––; she feared he knew the town too well to be drawn into any serious engagement with a woman he had come acquainted with in that manner, but expected however, that he would send to her, and that she should have further presents from him.

            The first part of her conjectures she soon found were but too true for her, but the other greatly deceived her; for his lordship thought little of her after they were parted, and less desired a second interview: he judged by her behaviour that if he were to encourage her expectations by making any future assignations she would become a troublesome dependant, and be a kind of burr not easily shaken off. Beside he had a mistress whose love and fidelity he had for many years experienced; by whom he had several fine children, and who was at that time lying-in at his seat in the country. He would have been loath to give any cause of discontent to a woman he loved, and had reason to do so, by any settled intrigue with another, and though meeting with Syrena (at a time when Christians as well as Jews think they may indulge an amorous inclination without breach of constancy) he had toyed away a night, it never entered into his head to continue an acquaintance with her.

            Four days being passed over, Syrena's impatience would suffer her to wait no longer, and having enquired where Lord R–– lodged, for he kept no house in town, dressed herself in as alluring a manner as she could, and went to make him a visit.

            His lordship was strangely surprised when his gentleman told him a lady in a chair, who said her name was Tricksy, desired to speak with him; he looked on her coming to his lodging as a piece of impudence altogether inconsistent with the modesty she affected to be mistress of; however he ordered she should be admitted, but resolved to behave to her in such a manner as should prevent her from ever troubling him again.

            This was certainly a very wrong step in Syrena, and what her mother would fain have dissuaded her from; she told her that none but those who were not ashamed to be thought common, ever went to visit men at their lodgings; and that if Lord R–– were a man of sense, or had but the least knowledge of the world, he must contemn her for it; but our young deluder was of a quite different opinion; she imagined that going to him in that manner, would give him a high idea of the extreme passion she had flattered him with, and that also it would make her seem to act without disguise, and that she was too innocent even to know there was any indecency in what she did. So all the arguments Mrs Tricksy made use of were to no purpose; the pert baggage told her she was capable of managing now for herself, and would walk with leading-strings no longer.

            "This is a favour I little expected madam," said his lordship, as soon as she was introduced. "Then, my lord," answered she, "you were ignorant of the power you have over me; but it is not to be wondered at, that you should not expect any effects of love from me, when you are so insensible of that passion yourself. What," continued she, "to be four long days without seeing me or sending to me." "I have had business," returned he coldly. "O ungrateful!" cried she, "can you have any business of equal moment to the peace of one who adores you as I do, who have given you the greatest proofs of it a woman can do, and who cannot live without you?" "Hush, madam," interrupted he, "we may be overheard. This is not a place for expostulations or upbraidings, and as I never receive visits from your sex, unless those who are known to be nearly related to me; I must beg you will make yours as short as possible for both our reputations." "O my stars!" cried she, "are you then ashamed of me?" With these words she burst into tears. "Fie, fie," said he, with a half smile, which denoted his contempt, "do not spoil that pretty face with crying. You were all gaiety when I saw you before, and good company, and if you desire to pass three or four hours again in the same manner, I assure you this is not the way to charm a man of my humour." Syrena now burst into a real rage, and scrupled not to treat him in a manner little befitting his quality; on which he bid her leave the house, and learn better manners. She had then recourse to fits, and swooned so naturally, that if he had not been well versed in this artifice of the sex, he would have taken it to be real; but he immediately saw through it, and instead of calling for any help, only said "Look you, madam, these airs won't pass upon me, I see your drift. You want to pin yourself upon me; but it won't do; and instead of softening me into the cully you want, you only incur my disdain, and inspire me with the worst sentiments for you I can have of any woman; therefore put your face into order and be gone; for if you continue in this posture, I shall order my servants to put your head in a pail of water, which I look upon to be the best remedy in the world for such disorders as yours." These words frighted her, and not doubting by all his behaviour to her, that he would do as he said; raised herself from the ground, and flew downstairs without making any farther attempts to bring him to her purpose.

            I do not doubt but many of my fair readers will be highly disobliged at this nobleman's behaviour; they will say, he ought to have carried with more complaisance, at least to a pretty young creature, who had obliged him; and some perhaps may even tax him with savageness and brutality; therefore to vindicate his character from all such aspersions, I must inform them, that he had before met with women of Syrena's stamp; that he had for some few years of his life devoted himself so much to gallantry, that he was perfectly acquainted with every little art put in practice by those, whose business it is to ensnare; and had more than once been imposed upon by the pretence of a violent affection, which made him not only presently discern, but likewise abhor those studied and counterfeited tendernesses; but as to the rest, no man knew more how to value real merit in the sex, nor paid a greater regard to it.

            The disappointment Syrena had met with, made her half distracted: she was ready on her coming home to break and tear to pieces everything that was in her way; then her mother remonstrated to her, that she could expect no better usage, when she pretended to pursue a man to his lodgings, and reproached her for not taking her advice; but the other, instead of acquiescing with what she said, or acknowledging she had been to blame, flew into a greater rage than before, and told her, that all her misfortunes had been owing to the rules she had prescribed. "You were always preaching up softness and tenderness," cried she, "but I dare swear if I had been saucy, and given myself an air of insolence, as indeed is more to natural to me, I should have fared better." "You are a poor ignorant fool," replied the mother, "if you are not used well by the man who thinks you love him, you never will by the man who thinks you do not. Softness is the most prevailing arms we have; beauty may attract, but that alone secures the heart." A great argument on this arose between them, and at length terminated in a quarrel, in so much, that Syrena went directly and took a separate lodging, and vowed she would henceforth follow no direction, but her own humour; but this quarrel did not last long, each found she had need of the other, and their mutual interest reconciled them; it was judged proper, however, they should live apart for some time; Syrena having embarked in an adventure, which could best be carried on without the appearance of a mother.

            She remembered that in the time she was kept by Mr D––, happening to buy some silk for a short-apron, at a shop in Covent Garden, the mercer had seemed to look upon her with an eye of admiration, pulled down several pieces of fine brocade, under the pretence of tempting her to buy; but in reality, only to have the pleasure of detaining her as long as he could; and though she bought only such a trifle, would fain have sent one of his young men home with it. All this she thought testified a desire of being acquainted with her, if he could find any means to bring it about, so she contrived it for him in this manner.

            She made it her business to walk for several evenings by his shop, just in the close of day, when they were preparing to shut up; and the first time she saw him there, ran in a vast hurry and seeming fright up the steps, and cried, "I beg a thousand pardons for this trouble, sir, but for god's sake give me house room for a few minutes, for I am frighted to death." He immediately reached a chair, and having made her sit down, enquired the cause of her disorder. "O!" said she, "this Covent Garden is a wicked place. I hope I have not the look of an ill woman, but a gentleman has followed me I know not how far. I could not get rid of him for my life; and he swore I should either go with him to a tavern, or he would see me home. O! What a terror he has put me in! So I took the liberty to run into your shop to avoid him." The complaisant mercer told her she was extremely welcome, and perceiving she grew pale, and ready to faint (which she could counterfeit whenever she pleased) ordered a glass of water, and bid his man ask his wife for some drops; the good gentlewoman hearing of the accident, ran down, and assisted in recovering the hypocrite from her pretended illness, exclaiming all the time against the vileness of mankind; who, though there were so many fit for their purpose, could not suffer civil women to pass. Syrena having created a good deal of bustle, began at last to come to her senses, and then made a great many apologies for the trouble she had given, but begged they would add to the obligation, that of letting one of the servants call a chair for her; this was readily granted, but not till they had made her drink a glass of sack, and eat a bit of rich cake; she assured them she would endeavour to return their favours, by buying everything she wanted in their way, and recommending the shop to all her acquaintance. As she was going into the chair, she took care to give the men directions where to carry her, loud enough for the mercer not to be mistaken in the place, in case he should take it into his head to visit her, as she imagined he would do, by some tender looks and pressures he gave her, while he supposed her not in a condition to be sensible of them.

            She was not deceived, indeed, for the amorous mercer was quite charmed with her, and the next day came to her lodgings, under the pretence of enquiring how she got home, and found herself after her fright. She had dressed herself in expectation of him in a loose and most becoming dishabille, and received him full of sweetness and affected modesty. Every look she gave him, and every word she spoke, was new fuel to the unhappy flame she before had kindled in his heart. He thought there never was so perfect, so beautiful a creature born, and wished himself unmarried, that he might have endeavoured to gain her affection, which he now durst not presume to attempt. He thought however he might indulge himself in the pleasure of seeing and conversing with her, without any injury either to her or his wife; but the consequence proved (as indeed it always does) how fatal it is to give way to inclinations of that sort, which, by not being nipped in the bud, at length grow too sturdy to be bowed down, and extend themselves to the most dreadful and enormous size. She asked him to drink tea, which he too gladly complied with, and after that a bottle of wine; among other chat, she led him into that of his business, and of the fashions, asked him many questions concerning what colours, and what patterns were most in vogue; and then told him, she should soon be his customer for three or four suits of clothes; for, said she, "I have been out of town for a considerable time, and am quite out of gowns and petticoats; but I must stay," continued she, "till I receive a remittance from my husband." "Husband! Madam!" interrupted the mercer, are you married then?" "Yes," cried she, with a deep sigh. "You answer, madam," added he, "as though you were not so happy in that state, as I am sure you deserve to be." "Where hearts are not united," replied she, "there can be no solid felicity–however, he is my husband, and absent, neither is it owing to him if I am miserable;" in speaking these words she let fall some tears, which gave him a curiosity to know the motive; and though he thought it would be too great a freedom to ask it, yet he could not help dropping some expressions which testified his desire, and gave her an opportunity of telling him a long story that she had invented to amuse him.

            As she found he was married, and that there could be no hope of drawing him in for a husband, she thought it best, for many reasons, to pass for a wife; so said, that being courted very young by a gentleman, who was heir to a great estate, her mother had compelled her to marry him, but that his friends were so enraged at it, that they had sent him to Venice, where he now resided; and added she, "Must do so till heaven shall turn their hearts, which I see little hope of; they allow him a very handsome income, however, out of which he sends me sufficient to support me, in the little way you see me in; as we lived together but three days, I do not choose to be called by his name, till I can appear in a fashion more befitting his rank in the world; and also, because I have been privately informed, that if they can bring him to consent to it, they will give me a handsome sum of money to renounce all claim to him. Thus, sir," said she, "I am a wife, and no wife–have lost my peace of mind and character, with those who know not the truth of my unhappy marriage, and all through the mistaken care of a too covetous parent."

            The mercer seemed much affected with her misfortunes, but gathered more courage for his love, thinking there was more hope at least of being listened favourably to by a wife in such circumstances, than there would have been by a young virgin of a handsome fortune, as he at first took her for.

            He made her a great many compliments on her beauty and merit; highly blaming her husband's friends for their inexorable behaviour; and saying, that in his opinion, such a woman as she would become the highest rank of life. He told her moreover, that as she had said she wanted some silks, she was extremely welcome to whatever his shop afforded, and begged she would come the next day, and order what she would have sent in.

            She thanked him for his kind offer, but seemed loath to accept it, till he pressed her over and over, and assured her, with the tenderest air he could put on, that having it in his power to oblige her, was the happiest thing could befall him. At last she promised to come, and he took his leave, rejoiced at this opportunity of continuing an acquaintance with her.

            She, who was perfectly sensible of the ascendancy she had gained over him, resolved to manage him, so as to command everything he had: she went the next day according to appointment; and became his customer for three rich suits and two night-gowns, which she carried away with her in a hackney-coach, after having invited him and his wife to drink tea at her lodging, the first time their leisure permitted.

            It is not to be supposed he failed waiting on her; and his wife taking her to be a lady of strict modesty, was so much charmed with her, that nothing but the fear of being troublesome, kept her from being almost continually with her. She never thought herself so happy, as in her company, and was for ever inviting her to dine and sup at their house. Syrena accepted her kindness, as often as prudence would admit; and the intimacy between them increasing every day; the husband took the advantage of their familiarity, to grow more so also. He told Syrena that if she were a man, he should not approve of the affection his wife had for her; and as she was a woman, he thought he merited something from her in compensation, for robbing him of so much of his wife's company. The sly deluder answered, that she looked upon him and his wife as one, and therefore desired when she could not have them both, that she might not be without one. "Your business calls you so often my way," added she, with a most bewitching air, "that, methinks, I need not miss the sight of you once or twice every day." This with some other kind expressions she let fall, whenever she had an opportunity, by degrees dissipated the awe his good opinion of her had inspired him with; and he at length took courage to discover his inclinations. Never had Syrena given a greater proof, how perfect a mistress she was in the art of dissimulation, than by the amazement she put on at hearing him talk to her in the language of a lover; a half resentment, and a half compliance were blended with it, so as not to dash his hopes too much, nor lessen herself with him by approving too easily of his addresses. In fine, she behaved in such a fashion, as made him think her an angel of virtue, and at the same time, a woman not a little attached to him by a secret liking of his person. He was not, however, long held in suspense, he was one night at her lodging–they were alone–had drank a glass of wine pretty freely–he was bolder than ordinary, and she sunk into his arms at once, and gave herself up entirely to him, without seeming to know what she did.

            Never man thought himself happier than the transported mercer; and Syrena was perfectly content with what she done; not doubting but she should henceforward have the command of his purse; as indeed, she had; he loved her too well to refuse her anything, and she had so little conscience in the expenses she brought him into, that in three months, there was a frightful diminution of his substance. His lavish love bestowed so much upon her, that had she lived in any frugal decorum, she might have saved sufficient to have made her easy for a long time; but having nothing now to think on, farther than indulging every luxury, she became exceedingly lewd; and the mercer not being able to give her enough of his company, and, besides, had something of a sobriety in his nature, not agreeable to her present way of thinking; she fell into an adventure which was not a little expensive to her.

            Living in good lodgings, appearing always rich in dress, and conversing with none who were any blemish to her character, for her intimacy with the mercer's wife, took off all scandal on his account; she visited, and received visits from several ladies in the neighbourhood; with them she used frequently to take a morning's walk up Constitution Hill, as it is called, in the Green Park. She was seldom there without seeing a man of a genteel appearance and agreeable person; she was struck at first sight of him, with something she had never felt before, and which made her uneasy to become acquainted with him. As she found he was pretty constantly there; she went one morning alone, and had, what she thought, the good fortune to meet him–as they drew pretty near, she tripped her foot purposely against a little pebble, and fell down as if by accident, as he was just by her; he ran and raised her, but she pretended to have sprained her ankle, and was not able to walk without support, so she leaned upon his arm till they got into the lower park, where they sat down on the first bench. As she had no farther designs on him, than entering into an amour, she showed herself without disguise, and was all the libertine. On his proposing to go to a tavern, she immediately consented, and yielded herself up to his embraces, without the least reserve or scruple. If such abandoned inclinations can be called love, she might be said to love this new gallant to a very great degree. She stayed with him the whole day, and encroached some hours on the night; nor parted without telling him her name and lodgings, and exacting a promise from him, of coming to see her the next day.

            She had no reason to doubt his punctuality in this point. He was of as amorous a constitution, as her vicious desires had made her languish for. He was at that time free from all engagements, and thought himself lucky, in having so young and beautiful a mistress thrown in his way; but what extremely added to his satisfaction, in the enjoyment of her was, that he was pretty secure, both by her appearance and temper; for she would not suffer him to pay the reckoning, that she would be no manner of charge to him; but on the contrary, he should be able to render his acquaintance with her serviceable, as well to his interest, as he had found it to his pleasure.

            Their second interview was no less full of rapture than the first; and they were so highly satisfied with each other, that both swore eternal constancy, and, perhaps, at that juncture intended to preserve it. From this time they were seldom asunder; he breakfasted with her at her lodgings, then they went together to the White Eagle in Suffolk Street to dine; and parted not till the hour, in which she expected the mercer, or his deluded, injured wife; she always defraying the expense, though he complained he was ashamed of it; but that being a young fellow of a small fortune, he had it not in his power to behave towards her in that respect, as he could wish. She told him she had enough for both, and begged he would make himself easy, for his love and constancy, was all she expected from him; and withal told him, that he might command whatever she was mistress of, with the same freedom as his own. Nor was she backward in the performance of this promise; whenever they went abroad, she took care to put more money in his pocket, than the charges of the day could possibly amount to. So that never any man, who could content himself with receiving obligations of that nature from a woman, had more reason to be satisfied.

            The passion she had for this young gallant, however, did not make her negligent in preserving her interest with the mercer. She was never out of the way, when he appointed to be with her, and received him with such an infinity of tenderness, that he would almost have doubted the testimony of his own eyes, had they told him she was false.

            But being willing to prevent any accident that might discover her intrigue, or render it even suspected by the people of the house; she considered that it would be proper, he should not be much seen at her lodgings: she had passed him at first, as a country kinsman just come to town; but as a continuance of such frequent visits, might occasion enquiries, she henceforward met him at her mother's; and for this reason it was she submitted herself to her, and was reconciled. But knowing well that Mrs Tricksy, being past the pleasures of love herself, was solely devoted to interest; she carefully concealed from her the truth of her sentiments for her new lover, pretending to her that he was a man of fortune, and allowed her five guineas a week; and to gain credit for what she said, gave him wherewith, to make her very handsome presents. Thus was the instructress in deceit, deceived herself; and though she did receive some profit from her daughter's vices, yet it was little in comparison of what she might have got, if the other had been as sincere to her, and to her own interest, as she pretended. But it is generally speaking, the fate of prostitutes to lavish on some indigent favourite, who, perhaps, despises them, what they gain by the folly of the deluded keeper.

            The mercer at length finding her grow exorbitant in her demands upon him, and beyond what he could continue to grant without ruining his family, began to feel some touches of remorse for the wrong he did his wife and children, but the artful Syrena, whenever she found him slack either in his embraces or presents, knew so well how to win him to her purpose, and disperse all thoughts, but those of the pleasures he enjoyed in her arms, that he could not find in his heart to refuse anything to so lovely, so endearing, so faithful a creature; much less to abandon her entirely; and had certainly kept on his correspondence with her, till his destruction had been inevitable, had not an accident happened to open his eyes to her perfidy and ingratitude.

            Early one morning she received a letter from her beloved, acquainting her, that he had been arrested the night before, by his tailor, for the sum of an hundred pounds, and desiring she would forthwith oblige him with the money; for he had no bail to offer, and had other debts, which, he feared, would come upon him and fix him in a gaol for life, if not discharged immediately. This news gave her the utmost concern, she had been too profuse to have half that sum by her, and could not bear the loss of a lover, so well qualified to please her. She, therefore, sent directly to the mercer, begging he would come to her that moment, on a business of equal moment with her life: he had too much real tenderness not to obey so pressing a summons, and found her lying on her bed, half drowned in tears. She told him her mother was going to be carried to prison for a debt of an old standing, and that though there had not been a very good understanding between them of late, on account of her unhappy marriage; yet she could not live and see her parent die in a gaol, as she must do, if the money was not paid; "It would be highly improper, both on your own account and mine," said she, "that you should appear in the affair, either as to bail her yourself, or send any other person to do it; and besides the money must be paid at last, so that if you have any love, friendship, or pity for the poor Syrena, let me have the sum required, that I may fly to save from misery, the person to whom I owe my being. I would have pawned my jewels, and what little plate I have," added she, "rather than have given you this trouble; but I know not which way to go about such a business, and also fear they would not raise so much." How moving are the griefs of those we love; had she asked him for his soul he would have given it, and though at that time he could very ill spare it, being going to pay a bill drawn on him by one of his weavers, yet he immediately took out of his pocket-book two fifty pound bank notes and gave her, bidding her dry her tears, and go instantly to remedy the cause; with these words, accompanied with a thousand kisses, he took his leave, and she ordered a hackney coach to carry her to the place where her lover was confined. As the believing mercer was going home, he met a tailor, with whom he had been long acquainted, and was a customer; this man seeing him so opportunely, told him he was going to a sponging house, to hear what offers a person he had arrested, had to make him: the mercer complied, and they went together. On their coming to the officer's house, they were told a lady had just gone up to the prisoner, and desired to wait in the parlour till she was gone: accordingly they did so, but the door not being shut, what astonishment was the mercer in, when the lady passing by to go into the coach that waited for her, he saw it was his, till then, supposed faithful Syrena: she had plucked her hood pretty much over her face, not that she suspected in the least who was there, but that her face might not be known hereafter, by anyone who should have seen her in such a place: her clothes, however, being the same he had just left her in, and which had come from his own shop, her shape, her air, and her voice in speaking to the coachman, discovered Syrena too plainly, to one who had so much cause to know her, for him to be mistaken. He was scarce able to dissemble his confusion, before the person he was with, but their being that moment desired to go up to the prisoner, prevented the other from taking notice of it. On going in he received a dreadful confirmation of Syrena's baseness, had he doubted of it; –he saw the two fifty pound bills he had just given to her, and the number of which he knew, paid as so much money to his friend, and on the prisoner's finger a diamond ring he presented her with, and which she pretended to have lost.

            Those of my readers who have some time or other in their lives, found themselves in the mercer's case, need not be told what 'twas he felt at so amazing a proof, how greatly he had all along been imposed upon by the artifices of this wicked woman; and those who have never been so unhappy to experience such deceptions, ought to be warned by the despair this poor man afterwards fell into, how they enter into any engagements with women, whose principles they are not acquainted with; and not like him be beguiled and ruined by a fair face and seeming affection; but, as the poet says,

Shun the dangerous beauty of the wanton�E/p>

For in corrupted morals no sincerity can be expected, and the sacred names of love and friendship are but profaned and prostituted for the basest ends.

            The mercer thought every moment an age till the business on which his friend had brought him there was ended, that he might go to Syrena, and vent some part of his rage in those reproaches which her behaviour had merited from him. He found her at home, and was received by her with such a show of love and gratitude, that his astonishment at her dissimulation was so great, he had not presently the power of uttering what was in his heart; but he gave her a look, and, at the same time pushed her from him, as she was throwing her arms about his waist, as sufficiently informed her somewhat very extraordinary was labouring in his mind. She trembled inwardly, but disguised it with her usual artifice, and asked him tenderly, what had disordered him? As soon as he could speak there was nothing opprobrious, that he omitted saying to her; he called her every vile name that his passion could suggest, and on her having recourse to protestations of innocence, and falling into faintings, he let her know he was not to be again deceived, and flung out of the room, leaving her in a pretended swoon.

            The loss of so great a support vexed her to the heart; but perceiving he was not to be recovered, and that the proofs of her infidelity were too plain for her to aim at any justification of her actions, she consoled herself with the reflection, that he would not dare to expose her, for the sake of his own character; and that she had youth and beauty enough to attract some other, who might be as much devoted to her interest as he had been.

            The mercer after this examining into his affairs more heedfully than he had done during the hurry of his passion for the infamous Syrena, found himself in very bad circumstances, and that he was no less than thirteen hundred pounds a worse man, for his acquaintance with her, though it had not lasted above four months. The injury he had done his wife and family now glared him full in the face, and together with the thoughts how impossible it was for him to retrieve this false step, made him grow extremely melancholy: his wife perceived it through all his endeavours to conceal it, and often with the greatest tenderness, urged him to reveal the cause; but could get no other answer from him, than that he had of late had some losses in trade, which hindered him from being so punctual in his payments as he had been accustomed to be; but that he hoped he should recover it in time. This he said, to keep her from the knowledge of her misfortune as long as he could; but finding his creditors grow impatient, and no visible way of making things easy, but by a statute of bankruptcy, his pride would not suffer him to consent to that, and, therefore, resolved to put a period to his life and troubles at once. To this end he shut himself one day in his counting-house, and clapped a loaded pistol to his ear, with an intent to shoot himself through the head; but providence averted his aim, and by a sudden shaking of his hand just in that dreadful moment, directed the bullets another way, and they but grazed on the back part of his head, and lodged in a shelf behind him. The report of the pistol drew all the family to the place; the door was immediately broke open, and they found him with that instrument of death in his hand, about to charge it for a second attempt. His servants by force wrested it from him, and his wife having made them carry it away, and leave the room, threw herself upon her knees before him, and conjured him, for the sake of his own soul, and for the sake of those dear babes, who must be left orphans, not to harbour thoughts so contrary to religion and to nature. "You know," said she, "that my fortune is by our marriage-articles settled on me, I will give it you up entirely; dispose of it as you please to make you easy; if that is not sufficient, take all my jewels, my clothes, and should all be ineffectual, I will go to my father, prostrate myself before him, and never leave his feet, till I have obtained wherewith to retrieve your circumstances." It was now he found the difference between a virtuous and a vicious woman; and having naturally very tender and grateful sentiments, was quite overcome with her generosity. He could not resolve to abuse it, nor suffer her to remain longer in ignorance. The wrong he had done her, was a burthen on his soul, which he could not sustain. "O cease this goodness," said he, "to an unworthy husband; I have been base, been unfaithful, and deserve the punishment my crime has brought upon me. I will not involve you in my ruin. Live, my dear virtuous wife," continued he, "and enjoy what, I thank heaven, my creditors cannot dispossess you of; and do the best you can with it for yourself, and our unhappy children; for me, I am determined either not to live, or not to live in England." The poor gentlewoman was ready to die at these words; but insisted, as well as she was able, on his accepting her offer. "O," said he, "you little imagine what a villain I have been–but you shall know. Then after some small struggles between shame and generosity, he made her sit down by him, and related the whole story of his guilty commerce, concealing not the least article of what he had done for Syrena, nor the ingratitude with which she had returned his too sincere, though criminal affection, concluding with these words: "Now my injured dear," said he, "judge if a wretch like me ought to live, much less to receive any marks of good-will from you, whom I have so much abused and deceived?" It was impossible for a wife to hear such an account of the cause of their misfortunes, and from a husband's mouth, without being seized with many different emotions, all violent in their turns; but jealousy, resentment, pride, all subsided, and gave way to tenderness and pity. She was a few minutes without being able to give him any answer for tears, but a kind embrace supplied the want of words, and when she spoke, it was in these terms: "My dearest love," said she, "I look on your making me the confidant of your failing, as a full atonement for it; had I been told it by any other, I could not, perhaps, so readily have forgiven it; because I cannot but think, that the heart still takes pleasure in a crime which it cannot bring itself to acknowledge as such, and that there is no true penitence without confession. But your having told me all, obliges me in return to pardon all, and to do all in my power to contribute to your ease. I now, more than ever, insist on your commanding my fortune; and if you refuse taking it up, I will do it myself, and distribute it among your creditors, as far as it will go." The husband was confounded at a sweetness, so rarely to be found in a woman wronged in so tender a point; and the pleasure he took in having thus eased his aching heart, mingled with the just sense of shame, for having injured a goodness and excellence of nature, superior to all he ever heard of, rendered him in a manner beside himself. He could say nothing but "What a blind wretch was I? How insensible of what was truly valuable; how could I slight the real diamond, and set my heart upon a common pebble, fit only to be trod upon, spurned, and kicked into the sewer!" "Come, come, no more of this, my dear," cried she, "throwing herself upon his breast, many men like you, have erred where there was less temptation to excite them; but few men like you, have honour enough to own they have done amiss. If you think me worthy the return of your affection, oblige me by speaking no more of this matter than I shall do, to whom it shall be as it had never happened; and let us study how to recover our little affairs from the perplexity they are at present involved in."

            It was with the utmost difficulty however, that she at length prevailed on him to call in her fortune; and just as he was about to do it, news arrived of the death of a brother he had abroad, who left him more than ten times what was necessary for the retrieving of his credit. To make what reparation he could to his wife, he settled upon her all that remained after paying his debts; he soon after left off trade, and retired into the country, where no people live more happy in each other; she blessing his return to virtue, and he the goodness that had reclaimed him.

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