MR. BURCHELL had scarcely taken leave, and Sophia consented to dance with the chaplain, when my little ones came
running out to tell us that the 'Squire was come with a crowd of company. Upon our return, we found our landlord, with a
couple of under-gentlemen and two young ladies richly dressed, whom he introduced as women of very great distinction and
fashion from town. We happened not to have chairs enough for the whole company; but Mr. Thornhill immediately proposed
that every gentleman should sit in a lady's lap. This I positively objected to, notwithstanding a look of disapprobation from my
wife. Moses was therefore sent to borrow a couple of chairs; and as we were in want of ladies to make up a set at
countrydances, the two gentlemen went with him in quest of a couple of partners. Chairs and partners were soon provided. The
gentlemen returned with my neighbor Flamborough's rosy daughters, flaunting with red topknots, But an unlucky circumstance
was not

adverted to; though the Miss Flamboroughs were reckoned the very best dancers in the parish, and understood the jig and the
round-about to perfection, yet they were totally unacquainted with country-dances. This at first discomposed us; however, after
a little shoving and dragging, they at last went merrily on. Our music consisted of two fiddles, with a pipe and tabor. The moon
shone bright. Mr. Thornhill and my eldest daughter led up the ball, to the great delight of the spectators; for the neighbors
hearing what was going forward, came flocking about us. My girl moved with so much grace and vivacity, that my wife could
not avoid discovering the pride of her heart, by assuring me that though the little chit did it so cleverly, all the steps were stolen
from herself. The ladies of the town strove hard to be equally easy, but without success. They swam, sprawled, languished, and
frisked; but all would not do; the gazers indeed owned that it was fine; but neighbor Flamborough observed that Miss Livy's
feet seemed as pat to the music as its echo. After the dance had continued about an hour, the two ladies, who were
apprehensive of catching cold, moved to break up the ball. One of them, I thought, expressed her sentiments upon this
occasion in a very coarse manner, when she observed that by the "living jingo, she was all of a muck of sweat." Upon our
return to the house, we found a very elegant cold supper, which Mr. Thornhill had ordered to be brought with

him. The conversation at this time was more reserved than before. The two ladies threw my girls quite into the shade; for they
would talk of nothing but high life, and high-lived company; with other fashionable topics, such as pictures, taste, Shakespeare,
and the musical glasses. 'Tis true, they once or twice mortified us sensibly by slipping out an oath; but that appeared to me as
the surest symptom of their distinction (though I am since informed that swearing is perfectly unfashionable). Their finery,
however, threw a veil over any grossness in their conversation. My daughters seemed to regard their superior accomplishments
with envy; and what appeared amiss was ascribed to tip-top quality breeding. But the condescension of the ladies was still
superior to their other accomplishments. One of them observed that were Miss Olivia to see a little more of the world, it would
greatly improve her: to which the other added that a single winter in town would make little Sophia quite another thing. My wife
warmly assented to both; adding that there was nothing she more ardently wished than to give her girls a single winter's
polishing. To this I could not help replying that their breeding was already superior to their fortune; and that greater refinement
would only serve to make their poverty ridiculous, and give them a taste for pleasures they had no right to possess. "And what
pleasures," cried Mr. Thornhill, "do they not deserve to possess, who have

so much in their power to bestow? As for my part," continued he, "my fortune is pretty large; love, liberty, and pleasure, are my
maxims; but curse me, if a settlement of half my estate could give my charming Olivia pleasure, it should be hers; and the only
favor I would ask in return would be to add myself to the benefit." I was not such a stranger to the world as to be ignorant that
this was the fashionable cant to disguise the insolence of the basest proposal; but I made an effort to suppress my resentment.
"Sir," cried I, "the family which you now condescend to favor with your company has been bred with as nice a sense of honor
as you. Any attempts to injure that may be attended with very dangerous consequences. Honor, sir, is our only possession at
present, and of that last treasure we must be particularly careful." I was soon sorry for the warmth in which I had spoken this,
when the young gentleman, grasping my hand, swore he commended my spirit, though he disapproved my suspicions. "As to
your present hint," continued he, "I protest nothing was farther from my heart than such a thought. No, by all that's tempting, the
virtue that will stand a regular siege was never to my taste; for all my amours are carried by a coup de main,"

   The two ladies, who affected to be ignorant of the rest, seemed highly displeased with this last stroke of freedom, and began
a very discreet and serious dialogue upon virtue: in this my wife, the chaplain, and

I soon joined; and the 'Squire himself was at last brought to confess a sense of sorrow for his former excesses. We talked of
the pleasures of temperance, and of the sunshine in the mind unpolluted with guilt. I was so well pleased, that my little ones
were kept up beyond the usual time to be edified by so much good conversation. Mr. Thornhill even went beyond me, and
demanded if I had any objection to giving prayers. I joyfully embraced the proposal, and in this manner the night was passed in
a most comfortable way, till at last the company began to think of returning. The ladies seemed very unwilling to part with my
daughters, for whom they had conceived a particular affection, and joined in a request to have the pleasure of their company
home. The 'Squire seconded the proposal, and my wife added her entreaties; the girls, too, looked upon me as if they wished
to go. In this perplexity I made two or three excuses which my daughters as readily removed, so that at last I was obliged to
give a peremptory refusal, for which we had nothing but sullen looks and short answers the whole day ensuing.