CHAP. XVIII. The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost THE child to virtue. HO' the child could not describe the gentleman's perfon who handed his fifter into the poft chaise, yet my suspicions fell entirely upon our young landlord, whose character for fuch intrigues was but too well known. I therefore directed my fteps towards Thornhill cattle, refolving to upbraid him, and, if poffible, to bring back my daughter: but before I had reached his feat, I was met by one of my parishioners, who said he saw a young lady resembling my daughter in a poft chaife with a gentleman, whom, by the defcription, I could only guefs to be Mr. Burchell, and that they drove very fast. This information, however, did by no means fatisfy me. I therefore went to the young I 2 'Squire's, 'Squire's, and though it was yet early, infifted upon feeing him immediately he foon appeared with the most open familiar air, and feemed perfectly amazed at my daughter's elopement, protesting upon his honour that he was quite a ftranger to it. I now therefore condemned my former sufpicions, and could turn them only on Mr. Burchell, who I recollected had of late feveral private conferences with her: but the appearance of another witness left me no room to doubt of his villainy, who averred, that he and my daughter were actually gone towards the Wells, about thirty miles off, where there was a great deal of company. Being driven to that state of mind in which we are more ready to act precipitately than to reafon right, I never debated with myself, whether these accounts might not have been given by perfons purposely placed in my way, to miflead me, but refolved to pursue my daughter and her fancied deluder thither. I walked along with earneftness, and enquired of feveral by the way; but received no no accounts, till entering the town, I was met by a person on horseback, whom I remembered to have feen at the 'Squire's, and he affured me, that if I followed them to the races, which were but thirty miles farther, I might depend upon overtaking them; for he had feen them dance there the night before, and the whole affembly feemed charmed with my daughter's performance. Early the next day I walked forward to the races, and about four in the afternoon I came upon the courfe. The company made a very brilliant appearance, all earnestly employed in one purfuit, that of pleasure; how different from mine, that of reclaiming a loft child to virtue! I thought I perceived Mr. Burchell at fome distance from me: but, as if he dreaded an interview, upon my approaching him, he mixed among a crowd, and I saw him no more. I now reflected that it would be to no purpose to continue my pursuit farther, and refolved to return home to an innocent family, who wanted my affiftance. But the agitations of my mind, and the fatigues I had undergone, threw me into a I 3 fever, fever, the fymptoms of which I perceived before I came off the courfe. This was another unexpected stroke, as I was more than seventy miles diftant from home: however, I retired to a little ale-house by the road-side, and in this place, the usual retreat of indigence and frugality, I laid me down patiently to wait the iffue of my diforder. I languished here for near three weeks; but at laft my conftitution prevailed, though I was unprovided with money to defray the expences of my entertainment. It is poffible the anxiety from this laft circumstance alone might have brought on a relapfe, had I not been fupplied by a traveller, who ftopt to take a curfory refreshment. This perfon was no other than the philanthropic bookseller in St. Paul's Church-yard, who has written so many little books for children: he called himself their friend; but he was the friend of all mankind. He was no fooner alighted, but he was in hafte to be gone; for he was ever on bufinefs of the utmost importance, and was at that time actually cam |