ist upon
your accepting this first instance of my paternal duty and affection."
With these words he put into her hand a bank note of five hundred
pounds, which she no sooner examined, than with a low courtesy she
replied. "Dear sir, though I have not the least occasion for this
supply, I have too great a veneration for you to refuse this proof of
your generosity and esteem, which I the more freely receive, because I
already look upon Mr. Random's interest as inseparably connected with
mine." He was extremely well pleased with her frank and ingenuous reply,
upon which we saluted, and wished her good night. The letter, at my
request, was dispatched to Sussex by an express, and in the meantime,
Don Rodrigo, to grace my nuptials, hired a ready furnished house, and
set up a very handsome equipage.

Though I passed the greatest part of the day with the darling of my
soul, I found leisure sometimes to be among my former acquaintance,
who were astonished at the magnificence of my appearance. Banter in
particular was confounded at the vicissitudes of my fortune, the causes
of which he endeavoured in vain to discover, until I thought fit to
disclose the whole secret of my last voyage, partly in consideration
of our former intimacy, and partly to prevent unfavourable conjectures,
which he and others, in all probability, would have made in regard to
my circumstances. He professed great satisfaction at this piece of news;
and I had no cause to believe him insincere, when I considered that he
would now look upon himself as acquitted of the debt he owed me, and
at the same time flatter himself with the hopes of borrowing more. I
carried him home to dinner with me, and my father liked his conversation
so much, that, upon hearing his difficulties, he desired me to
accommodate him for the present, and inquire, if he would accept of
a commission in the army, towards the purchase of which he should
willingly lend him money. Accordingly, I gave my friend an opportunity
of being alone with me, when, as I expected, he told me that he was just
on the point of being reconciled to an old rich uncle, whose heir he
was, but wanted a few pieces for immediate expense, which he desired I
would lend him and take my bond for the whole. His demand was limited to
ten guineas; and when I put twenty in his hand, he stared at me for some
moments; then, putting it into his purse, "Ay,--'tis all one--you shall
have the whole in a very short time." When I had