Page:Famous history of the whimsical Mr Spectator.pdf/16

( 16 ) when the ſubſtance was gone. His wife, w was a woman of ſenſe and virtue, behaved herſelf on this occaſion with uncommon decence and never appeared ſo amiable in his eyes as no Inſtead of upbraiding him with the ample fortu ſhe had brought, or the many great offers a had refuſed of his ſake, ſhe redoubled all the inſtances of her affection, while her huſband w concinually pouring out his heart to her in complain's, that he had ruined the beſt woman in the world. He ſometimes came home at a time who ſhe did not expect him, and ſurprized her in tears which ſhe endavoured to conceal and always p on an air of chearfulneſs to receive him. To leſen their expence, their eldeſt daughter, (whom I ſhall call Amenda) was ſent into the country, the houſe of an honeſt farmer, who had marrie a ſervant of the family. Tais young woman w apprehenſive of the ruin which was approaching and had privatly engaged a friend in the neighbourhood to give her an account of what paſſes from time to time in her father's affairs. Amand was in the bloom of her youth and beauty, wae the lord of the manor, who often called in at the farmer's houſe as he followed his country Sports fell paſſionately in love with her. He was a ma of great generoſity, but from a looſe education had contracted a hearty averſion in marriage He therefore entertained a deſign upon Amanda virtue, which at preſent he thought fit to keep private. The innocent creature, who neve