he explained it so much to
her ladyship's satisfaction, that she evidently perceived he had been
barbarously dealt with, and that the charge was no other than a most
villainous aspersion. Notwithstanding all his endeavours to conceal
the true state of his finances, it was impossible for him to give this
detail, without disclosing some of the difficulties under which he
laboured; and, her ladyship's sagacity divining the rest, she not only
made him a tender of assistance, but, presenting a bank-note for a
considerable sum, insisted upon his acceptance of it as a trifling mark
of her esteem, and a specimen of what she was inclined to do in his
behalf. But this mark of her benevolence he would by no means receive;
assuring her, that, though his affairs were at present a little
perplexed, he had never felt the least circumstance of distress,
and begging that she would not subject him to the burden of such an
unnecessary obligation.

Being obliged to put up with this refusal she protested she would never
forgive him should she ever hear that he rejected her offer when he
stood in need of her aid; or if, in any time to come, he should not
apply to her friendship, if ever he should find himself incommoded in
point of fortune. "An overdelicacy in this respect," said she, "I shall
look upon as a disapprobation of my own conduct; because I myself have
been obliged to have recourse to my friends in such emergencies." These
generous remonstrances and marks of particular friendship could not
fail to make a deep impression upon the heart of our hero, which still
smarted from the former impulse of her charms; he not only felt all
those transports which a man of honour and sensibility may be supposed
to feel upon such an occasion, but the sentiments of a more tender
passion awaking in his breast, he could not help expressing himself in
terms adapted to the emotion of his soul; and, at length, plainly told
her, that, were he disposed to be a beggar, he would ask something of
infinitely more importance to his peace than the charitable assistance
she had proffered. Her ladyship had too much penetration to mistake his
meaning; but, as she did not choose to encourage his advances, pretended
to interpret his intimation into a general compliment of gallantry, and,
in a jocose manner, desired he would not give her any reason to believe
his lucid interval was past. "In faith, my lady," said he, "I perceive
the fit coming on; and I don't see wh