ay to have been married to Mr Thornhill。 Nothing could equal her surprize at seeing Sir William and his nephew here before her； for her arrival was quite accidental。 It happened that she and the old gentleman her father were passing through the town； on their way to her aunt's； who had insisted that her nuptials with Mr Thornhill should be consummated at her house； but stopping for refreshment； they put up at an inn at the other end of the town。 It was there from the window that the young lady happened to observe one of my little boys playing in the street； and instantly sending a footman to bring the child to her； she learnt from him some account of our misfortunes； but was still kept ignorant of young Mr Thornhill's being the cause。 Though her father made several remonstrances on the impropriety of going to a prison to visit us； yet they were ineffectual； she desired the child to conduct her； which he did； and it was thus she surprised us at a juncture so unexpected。
Nor can I go on； without a reflection on those accidental meetings； which； though they happen every day； seldom excite our surprize but upon some extraordinary occasion。 To what a fortuitous concurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives。 How many seeming accidents must unite before we can be cloathed or fed。 The peasant must be disposed to labour； the shower must fall； the wind fill the merchant's sail； or numbers must want the usual supply。
We all continued silent for some moments； while my charming pupil； which was the name I generally gave this young lady； united in her looks compassion and astonishment； which gave new finishings to her beauty。 'Indeed； my dear Mr Thornhill；' cried she to the 'Squire； who she supposed was come here to succour and not to oppress us； 'I take it a little unkindly that you should come here without me； or never inform me of the situation of a family so dear to us both： you know I should take as much pleasure in contributing to the relief of my reverend old master here； whom I shall ever esteem； as you can。 But I find that； like your uncle； you take a pleasure in doing good in secret。'
'He find pleasure in doing good！' cried Sir William； interrupting her。 'No； my dear； his pleasures are as base as he is。 You see in him； madam； as complete a villain as ever disgraced humanity。 A wretch； who after having deluded this poor man's daughter； after plotting against the innocence of her sister； has thrown the father into prison； and the eldest son into fetters； because he had courage to face his betrayer。 And give me leave； madam； now to congratulate you upon an escape from the embraces of such a monster。'
'O goodness；' cried the lovely girl； 'how have I been deceived！ Mr Thornhill informed me for certain that this gentleman's eldest son； Captain Primrose； was gone off to America with his new married lady。'
'My sweetest miss；' cried my wife； 'he has told you nothing but falsehoods。 My son George never left the kingdom； nor was married。 Tho' you have forsaken him； he has always loved you too well to think of any body else； and I have heard him say he would die a batchellor for your sake。' She then proceeded to expatiate upon the sincerity of her son's passion； she set his duel with Mr Thornhill in a proper light； from thence she made a rapid digression to the 'Squire's debaucheries； his pretended marriages； and ended with a most insulting picture of his cowardice。
'Good heavens！' cried Miss Wilmot； 'how very near have I been to the brink of ruin！ But how great is my pleasure to have escaped it！ Ten thousand falsehoods has this gentleman told me！ He had at last art enough to persuade me that my promise to the only man I esteemed was no longer binding； since he had been unfaithful。 By his falsehoods I was taught to detest one equally brave and generous！'
But by this time my son was freed from the encumbrances of justice as the person supposed to be wounded was detected to be an impostor。 Mr Jenkinson also； who had acted as his valet de chambre； had dressed up his hair； and furnished him with whatever was necessary to make a genteel appearance。 He now therefore
entered； handsomely drest in his regimentals； and； without vanity； （for I am above it） he appeared as handsome a fellow as ever wore a military dress。 As he entered； he made Miss Wilmot a modest and distant bow； for he was not as yet acquainted with the change which the eloquence of his mother had wrought in his favour。 But no decorums could restrain the impatience of his blushing mistress to be forgiven。 Her tears； her looks； all contributed to discover the real sensations of her heart for having forgotten her former promise and having suffered herself to be deluded by an impostor。 My son appeared amazed at her condescension； and could scarce believe it real。'Sure； madam；' cried he； 'this is but delusion！ I can never have merited this！ To be； blest thus is to be too happy。''No； Sir；' replied she； 'I have been deceived； basely deceived； else nothing could have ever made me unjust to my promise。 You know my friendship； you have long known it； but forget what I have done； and as you once had my warmest vows of constancy； you shall now have them repeated； and be assured that if your Arabella cannot be yours； she shall never be another's。' 'And no other's you shall be；' cried Sir William； 'if I have any influence with your father。'
This hint was sufficient for my son Moses； who immediately flew to the inn where the old gentleman was； to inform him of every circumstance that had happened。 But in the mean time the 'Squire perceiving that he was on every side undone； now finding that no hopes were left from flattery or dissimulation； concluded that his wisest way would be to turn and face his pursuers。 Thus laying aside all shame； he appeared the open hardy villain。 'I find then；' cried he； 'that I am to expect no justice here； but I am resolved it shall be done me。 You shall know； Sir；' turning to Sir William； 'I am no longer a poor dependent upon your favours。 I scorn them。 Nothing can keep Miss Wilmot's fortune from me； which； I thank her father's assiduity； is pretty large。 The articles； and a bond for her fortune； are signed； and safe in my possession。 It was her fortune； not her person； that induced me to wish for this match； and possessed of the one； let who will take the other。'
This was an alarming blow； Sir William was sensible of the justice of his claims； for he had been instrumental in drawing up the marriage articles himself。 Miss Wilmot therefore perceiving that her fortune was irretrievably lost； turning to my son； she asked if the loss of fortune could lessen her value to him。 'Though fortune；' said she； 'is out of my power； at least I have my hand to give。'
'And that； madam；' cried her real lover； 'was indeed all that you ever had to give； at least all that I ever thought worth the acceptance。 And now I protest； my Arabella； by all that's happy； your want of fortune this moment encreases my pleasure； as it serves to convince my sweet girl of my sincerity。'
Mr Wilmot now entering； he seemed not a little pleased at the danger his daughter had just escaped； and readily consented to a dissolution of the match。 But finding that her fortune； which was secured to Mr Thornhill by bond； would not be given up； nothing could exceed his disappointment。 He now saw that his money must all go to enrich one who had no fortune of his own。 He could bear his being a rascal； but to want an equivalent to his daughter's fortune was wormwood。 He sate therefore for some minutes employed in the most mortifying speculations； till Sir William attempted to lessen his anxiety。'I must confess； Sir' cried he； 'that your present disappointment does not entirely displease me。 Your immoderate passion for wealth is now justly punished。 But tho' the young lady cannot be rich； she has still a competence sufficient to give content。 Here you see an honest young soldier； who is willing to take her without fortune； they have long loved each other； and for the friendship I bear his father； my interest shall not be wanting in his promotion。 Leave then that ambition which disappoints you； and for once admit that happiness which courts your acceptance。'
'Sir William；' replied the old gentleman； 'be assured I never yet forced her inclinations； nor will I now。 If she still continues to love this young gentleman； let her have him with all my heart。 There is still； thank heaven； some fortune left； and your promise will make it something more。 Only let my old friend here （meaning me） give me a promise of settling six thousand pounds upon my girl； if ever he should come to his fortune； and I am ready this night to be the first to join them together。'
As it now remained with me to make the young couple happy； I readily gave a promise of making the settlement he required； which； to one who had such little expectations as I； was no great favour。 We had now therefore the satisfaction of seeing them fly into each other's arms in a transport。 'After all my misfortunes；' cried my son George； 'to be thus rewarded！ Sure this is more than I could ever have presumed to hope for。 To be possessed of all that's good； and after such an interval of pain！ My warmest wishes could never rise so high！''Yes； my George；' returned his lovely bride； 'now let the wretch take my fortune； since you are happy without it so am I。 O what an exchange have I made from the basest of men to the dearest best！Let him enjoy our fortune； I now can be happy even in indigence。''And I promise you；' cried the 'Squire； with a malicious grin； 'that I shall be very happy with what you despise。''Hold； hold； Sir；' cried Jenkinson； 'there are two words to that bargain。 As for that lady's fortune； Sir； you shall never touch a single stiver of it。 Pray your honour；' continued he to Sir William； 'can the 'Squire have this lady's fortune if he be married to another？' 'How can you make such a simple demand；' replied the Baronet； 'undoubtedly he cannot。''I am sorry for that；' cried Jenkinson； 'for as this gentleman and I have been old fellow spotters； I have a friendship for him。 But I must declare； well as I love him； that his contract is not worth a tobacco stopper； for he is married already。''You lie； like a rascal；' returned