t a brother of mine would so meanly run away with my late dear
mother's waiting-maid, and keep her a prisoner from all her friends, and
to the disgrace of your own? But I thought, when you would not let the
wench come to me on my mother's death, that you meant no good.--I blush
for you, I'll assure you. The girl was an innocent, good girl; but I
suppose that's over with her now, or soon will. What can you mean by
this, let me ask you? Either you will have her for a kept mistress, or
for a wife. If the former, there are enough to be had without ruining
a poor wench that my mother loved, and who really was a very good girl:
and of this you may be ashamed. As to the other, I dare say you don't
think of it; but if you should, you would be utterly inexcusable.
Consider, brother, that ours is no upstart family; but is as ancient
as the best in the kingdom! and, for several hundreds of years, it has
never been known, that the heirs of it have disgraced themselves by
unequal matches: And you know you have been sought to by some of the
best families in the nation, for your alliance. It might be well enough,
if you were descended of a family of yesterday, or but a remove or two
from the dirt you seem so fond of. But, let me tell you, that I, and all
mine, will renounce you for ever, if you can descend so meanly; and I
shall be ashamed to be called your sister. A handsome man, as you are,
in your person; so happy in the gifts of your mind, that every body
courts your company; and possessed of such a noble and clear estate; and
very rich in money besides, left you by the best of fathers and mothers,
with such ancient blood in your veins, untainted! for you to throw away
yourself thus, is intolerable; and it would be very wicked in you to
ruin the wench too. So that I beg you will restore her to her parents,
and give her 100L. or so, to make her happy in some honest fellow of her
own degree; and that will be doing something, and will also oblige and
pacify

'Your much grieved sister.'

'If I have written too sharply, consider it is my love to you, and
the shame you are bringing upon yourself; and I wish this may have the
effect upon you, intended by your very loving sister.'

This is a sad letter, my dear father and mother; and one may see how
poor people are despised by the proud and the rich! and yet we were
all on a foot originally: And many of these gentry, that brag of their
ancient b