ade, makes a
treacherous Attempt upon her Affection, and meets with a deserved
Repulse.

Scarce a night elapsed in which he did not conduct her to some public
entertainment. When, by the dint of his insidious carriage, he thought
himself in full possession of her confidence and affection, he lay in
wait for an opportunity; and, hearing her observe in conversation, that
she had never been at a masquerade, begged leave to attend her to the
next ball; at the same time extending his invitation to the young lady
in whose company he had found her at the play, she being present when
this subject of discourse was introduced. He had flattered himself,
that this gentlewoman would decline the proposal, as she was a person
seemingly of a demure disposition, who had been born and bred in the
city, where such diversions are looked upon as scenes of lewdness and
debauchery. For once, however, he reckoned without his host; curiosity
is as prevalent in the city as at the court end of the town. Emilia no
sooner signified her assent to his proposal, than her friend, with an
air of satisfaction, agreed to make one of the party; and he was obliged
to thank her for that complaisance, which laid him under infinite
mortification. He set his genius at work to invent some scheme for
preventing her unseasonable intrusion. Had an opportunity offered, he
would have acted as her physician, and administered a medicine that
would have laid her under the necessity of staying at home. But his
acquaintance with her being too slight to furnish him with the means of
executing this expedient, he devised another, which was practised with
all imaginable success. Understanding that her grandmother had left her
a sum of money independent of her parents, he conveyed a letter to
her mother, intimating, that her daughter, on pretence of going to the
masquerade, intended to bestow herself in marriage to a certain person,
and that in a few days she would be informed of the circumstances of
the whole intrigue, provided she would keep this information secret,
and contrive some excuse for detaining the young lady at home, without
giving her cause to believe she was apprised of her intention. This
billet, subscribed "Your well-wisher, and unknown humble servant,"
had the desired effect upon the careful matron, who, on the ball day,
feigned herself so extremely ill, that Miss could not with any decency
quit her mamma's apartment; and therefore sent her apology to Emili