his whole study to betray the daughters of such as received him to their houses； and after a fortnight or three weeks possession； turned them out unrewarded and abandoned to the world。 As we continued our discourse in this manner； his wife； who had been out to get change； returned； and perceiving that her husband was enjoying a pleasure in which she was not a sharer； she asked him； in an angry tone； what he did there； to which he only replied in an ironical way； by drinking her health。 'Mr Symmonds；' cried she； 'you use me very ill； and I'll bear it no longer。 Here three parts of the business is left for me to do； and the fourth left unfinished； while you do nothing but soak with the guests all day long； whereas if a spoonful of liquor were to cure me of a fever； I never touch a drop。' I now found what she would be at； and immediately poured her out a glass； which she received with a curtesy； and drinking towards my good health； 'Sir；' resumed she； 'it is not so much for the value of the liquor I am angry； but one cannot help it； when the house is going out of the windows。 If the customers or guests are to be dunned； all the burthen lies upon my back； he'd as lief eat that glass as budge after them himself。' There now above stairs； we have a young woman who has come to take up her lodgings here； and I don't believe she has got any money by her over…civility。 I am certain she is very slow of payment； and I wish she were put in mind of it。''What signifies minding her；' cried the host； 'if she be slow； she is sure。''I don't know that；' replied the wife； 'but I know that I am sure she has been here a fortnight； and we have not yet seen the cross of her money。''I suppose； my dear；' cried he； 'we shall have it all in a； lump。''In a lump！' cried the other； 'I hope we may get it any way； and that I am resolved we will this very night； or out she tramps； bag and baggage。''Consider； my dear；' cried the husband； 'she is a gentlewoman； and deserves more respect。''As for the matter of that；' returned the hostess； 'gentle or simple； out she shall pack with a sassarara。 Gentry may be good things where they take； but for my part I never saw much good of them at the sign of the Harrow。'Thus saying； she ran up a narrow flight of stairs； that went from the kitchen to a room over…head； and I soon perceived by the loudness of her voice； and the bitterness of her reproaches； that no money was to be had from her lodger。 I could hear her remonstrances very distinctly： 'Out I say； pack out this moment； tramp thou infamous strumpet； or I'll give thee a mark thou won't be the better for this three months。 What！ you trumpery； to come and take up an honest house； without cross or coin to bless yourself with； come along I say。''O dear madam；' cried the stranger； 'pity me； pity a poor abandoned creature for one night； and death will soon do the rest。' I instantly knew the voice of my poor ruined child Olivia。 I flew to her rescue； while the woman was dragging her along by the hair； and I caught the dear forlorn wretch in my arms。'Welcome； any way welcome； my dearest lost one； my treasure； to your poor old father's bosom。 Tho' the vicious forsake thee； there is yet one in the world that will never forsake thee； tho' thou hadst ten thousand crimes to answer for； he will forget them all。''O my own dear'for minutes she could no more'my own dearest good papa！ Could angels be kinder！ How do I deserve so much！ The villain； I hate him and myself； to be a reproach to such goodness。 You can't forgive me。 I know you cannot。''Yes； my child； from my heart I do forgive thee！ Only repent； and we both shall yet be happy。 We shall see many pleasant days yet； my Olivia！''Ah！ never； sir； never。 The rest of my wretched life must be infamy abroad and shame at home。 But； alas！ papa； you look much paler than you used to do。 Could such a thing as I am give you so much uneasiness？ Sure you have too much wisdom to take the miseries of my guilt upon yourself。''Our wisdom； young woman；' replied I。'Ah； why so cold a name papa？' cried she。 'This is the first time you ever called me by so cold a name。''I ask pardon； my darling；' returned I； 'but I was going to observe； that wisdom makes but a slow defence against trouble； though at last a sure one。
The landlady now returned to know if we did not chuse a more genteel apartment； to which assenting； we were shewn a room； where we could converse more freely。 After we had talked ourselves into some degree of tranquillity； I could not avoid desiring some account of the gradations that led to her present wretched situation。 'That villain； sir；' said she； 'from the first day of our meeting made me honourable； though private； proposals。'
'Villain indeed；' cried I； 'and yet it in some measure surprizes me； how a person of Mr Burchell's good sense and seeming honour could be guilty of such deliberate baseness； and thus step into a family to undo it。'
'My dear papa；' returned my daughter； 'you labour under a strange mistake； Mr Burchell never attempted to deceive me。 Instead of that he took every opportunity of privately admonishing me against the artifices of Mr Thornhill； who I now find was even worse than he represented him。''Mr Thornhill；' interrupted I； 'can it be？' 'Yes； Sir；' returned she； 'it was Mr Thornhill who seduced me； who employed the two ladies； as he called them； but who； in fact； were abandoned women of the town； without breeding or pity； to decoy us up to London。 Their artifices； you may remember would have certainly succeeded； but for Mr Burchell's letter； who directed those reproaches at them； which we all applied to ourselves。 How he came to have so much influence as to defeat their intentions； still remains a secret to me； but I am convinced he was ever our warmest sincerest friend。'
'You amaze me； my dear；' cried I； 'but now I find my first suspicions of Mr Thornhill's baseness were too well grounded： but he can triumph in security； for he is rich and we are poor。 But tell me； my child； sure it was no small temptation that could thus obliterate all the impressions of such an education； and so virtuous a disposition as thine。'
'Indeed； Sir；' replied she； 'he owes all his triumph to the desire I had of making him； and not myself； happy。 I knew that the ceremony of our marriage； which was privately performed by a popish priest； was no way binding； and that I had nothing to trust to but his honour。' 'What；' interrupted I； 'and were you indeed married by a priest； and in orders？''Indeed； Sir； we were；' replied she； 'though we were both sworn to conceal his name。' 'Why then； my child； come to my arms again； and now you are a thousand times more welcome than before； for you are now his wife to all intents and purposes； nor can all the laws of man； tho' written upon tables of adamant； lessen the force of that sacred connexion。'
'Alas； Papa；' replied she； 'you are but little acquainted with his villainies： he has been married already； by the same priest； to six or eight wives more； whom； like me； he has deceived and abandoned。'
'Has he so？' cried I； 'then we must hang the priest； and you shall inform against him to…morrow。''But Sir；' returned she； 'will that be right； when I am sworn to secrecy？''My dear；' I replied； 'if you have made such a promise； I cannot； nor will I tempt you to break it。 Even tho' it may benefit the public； you must not inform against him。 In all human institutions a smaller evil is allowed to procure a greater good； as in politics； a province may be given away to secure a kingdom； in medicine； a limb may be lopt off； to preserve the body。 But in religion the law is written； and inflexible； never to do evil。 And this law； my child； is right： for otherwise； if we commit a smaller evil； to procure a greater good； certain guilt would be thus incurred； in expectation of contingent advantage。 And though the advantage should certainly follow； yet the interval between commission and advantage； which is allowed to be guilty； may be that in which we are called away to answer for the things we have done； and the volume of human actions is closed for ever。 But I interrupt you； my dear； go on。'
'The very next morning；' continued she； 'I found what little expectations I was to have from his sincerity。 That very morning he introduced me to two unhappy women more； whom； like me； he had deceived； but who lived in contented prostitution。 I loved him too tenderly to bear such rivals in his affections； and strove to forget my infamy in a tumult of pleasures。 With this view； I danced； dressed； and talked； but still was unhappy。 The gentlemen who visited there told me every moment of the power of my charms； and this only contributed to encrease my melancholy； as I had thrown all their power quite away。 Thus each day I grew more pensive； and he more insolent； till at last the monster had the assurance to offer me to a young Baronet of his acquaintance。 Need I describe； Sir； how his ingratitude stung me。 My answer to this proposal was almost madness。 I desired to part。 As I was going he offered me a purse； but I flung it at him with indignation； and burst from him in a rage； that for a while kept me insensible of the miseries of my situation。 But I soon looked round me； and saw myself a vile； abject； guilty thing； without one friend in the world to apply to。 Just in that interval； a stage… coach happening to pass by； I took a place； it being my only aim to be driven at a distance from a wretch I despised and detested。 I was set down here； where； since my arrival； my own anxiety； and this woman's unkindness； have been my only companions。 The hours of pleasure that I have passed with my mamma and sister； now grow painful to me。 Their sorrows are much； but mine is greater than theirs； for mine are mixed with guilt and infamy。'
'Have patience； my child；' cried I； 'and I hope things will yet be better。 Take some repose to…night； and to…morrow I'll carry you home to your mother and the rest of the family； from whom you will receive a kind reception。 Poor woman； this has gone to her heart： but she loves you still； Olivia； and will forget it。
CHAPTER 22
Offences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom
The next morning I took my daughter behind me； and set out on my return home。 As we travelled along； I str