The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless; in Four Volumes Volume 4

Book excerpt: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1768 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAP. XVII. Is less entertaining than some of the former. THE husband of Mrs. Munden being engaged abroad 'rill his usual hour, she had just time to get into bed before he came home, which she was very glad of, as it prevented him from asking any question concerning her sitting up so much beyond her custom; and she was not willing to fay any thing to him of her new guest, 'till she had talked farther with her and also examined into the truth of the affair, which brought her thither. The more she reflected on the account that lady had given of herself, the less reason she found to give credit to some passages in it; -- she could .not think that a prince, such as the Duke De M--, would on a mere suggestion cast a woman out to misery and beggary, whom he had so passionately loved; -- and yet less could she believe, that her brother, a man not fiery by nature, could have acted in the manner she had represented, without a much greater provocation than what she pretended. K 2 Beside*, Besides, the mercer bringing home goods so late at night to a customer, and being locked up with her, seemed so inconsistent with innocence, that she could not help being of opinion, that the cause must be bad indeed, which had no better plea for its defence. It also afforded her a good deal of matter for vexation, that by expressing, in such warm terms, the great liking she took of this lady, when they accidentally met at the mercer's, she had encouraged her to make choice of her house for an asylum in her distress, and by this means rendered herself interested in the concerns of a stranger, who, at the best, it did not well become her to take part with. But her most alarming apprehensions were in relation to her brother: ---- she knew not but if...