frontery, 'so basely to presume to break open
this letter? Don't you know, now, I could hang you all for this? All
that I have to do, is to swear at the next justice's, that you have been
guilty of breaking open the lock of my pocket-book, and so hang you all
up at his door.' This piece of unexpected insolence raised me to such a
pitch, that I could scare govern my passion. 'Ungrateful wretch, begone,
and no longer pollute my dwelling with thy baseness. Begone, and never
let me see thee again: go from my doors, and the only punishment I wish
thee is an allarmed conscience, which will be a sufficient tormentor!'
So saying, I threw him his pocket-book, which he took up with a smile,
and shutting the clasps with the utmost composure, left us, quite
astonished at the serenity of his assurance. My wife was particularly
enraged that nothing could make him angry, or make him seem ashamed of
his villainies. 'My dear,' cried I, willing to calm those passions that
had been raised too high among us, 'we are not to be surprised that bad
men want shame; they only blush at being detected in doing good, but
glory in their vices.

'Guilt and shame, says the allegory, were at first companions, and in
the beginning of their journey inseparably kept together. But their
union was soon found to be disagreeable and inconvenient to both; guilt
gave shame frequent uneasiness, and shame often betrayed the secret
conspiracies of guilt. After long disagreeement, therefore, they at
length consented to part for ever. Guilt boldly walked forward alone,
to overtake fate, that went before in the shape of an executioner:
but shame being naturally timorous, returned back to keep company with
virtue, which, in the beginning of their journey, they had left behind.
Thus, my children, after men have travelled through a few stages in
vice, shame forsakes them, and returns back to wait upon the few virtues
they have still remaining.'

CHAPTER 16

The family use art, which is opposed with, still greater

Whatever might have been Sophia's sensations, the rest of the family
was easily consoled, for Mr Burchell's absence by the company of our
landlord, whose visits now became more frequent and longer. Though he
had been disappointed in procuring my daughters the amusements of the
town, as he designed, he took every opportunity of supplying them with
those little recreations which our retirement would admit of. He usually
came in the morning, and while m