Page:Youth's warning-piece, or, The tragical history of George Barnwell.pdf/5

 Mr Thoroughgood had alſo another apprentice whoſe name was Trueman, with whom George lived in ſuch friendſhip, that neither did any thing without the other’s advice; till an affair happened in which all youth think themſvelves too wiſe to take counſel: ſuch is the frailty of human nature!

Mrs Millwood, a lady of the town, who long had a deſign upon George, took care to meet him in Cheapſide. She made a full ſtop, and gazing at his face, aſked him his name? He bluſhed, and bowing very low, anſwered, George Barnwell.—She begged his gardonpardon [sic] for the freedom ſhe had taken, but told him he was the perſon ſhe had long wiſhed to fee, and to whom ſhe had an affair bf importance to communicatcommunicate [sic], at a proper time and place. He named a tavern, but ſhe talked of honour and reputation, and invited him to her own houſe; he ſwallowed the bait, and promiſed to come, which he did, and was received with ſeeming modeſty.

After ſome talk he wanted to be gone, but ſhe begged him to ſtay ſupper, which he with much entreaty conſented to; and after ſupper the prevailed with him to ſtay all night, and to give her a conſiderable ſum of money which he had about him of his maſter’s. A ſtrange infatuation! when youth once gives way to the aartsarts [sic] of a deſigning