Page:Famous history of the whimsical Mr Spectator.pdf/17

( 17 ) ſuſpected his intentions. was pleaſed with his perſon; and having obſerved his growing paſſion for her, hoped by ſo advantageous a match, the might quickly be in a capacity of ſupporting her impoveriſhed relations One day as he called to ſee her, he found her in tears over a letter the had juſt received from her friend, which gave an account juſt her father had lately been ſtripped of every thing yan execution. The lover, who, with ſome difficulty. found out the cauſe of her grief, took this occaſion to make her a propoſal. It is impoſſible to expreſs Amanda's confuſion, when ſhe found his pretenſions were not honourable. She was now deſerted of all her hopes and had no power to ſpeak; but ruſhing from him in the outmoſt diſturbance locked herſelf up in her chamber. He immediately diſpatched a meſſenger to her father with the following letter.

SIR,

I HAVE heard of your misfortune, and have offered уour, if ſhe will live with me, to ſettle on her four hundred pounds a year, and to lay down the ſum for which you are now diſtreſſed. I will be ſo engenuous as to tell you that I do not intend marriage: but if you are wiſe you will uſe your authority with her not be too nice, when the has an opertunity of ſaving you and and your family, and of making herſelf happy.

I am yours, &c.