These good-natured creatures, therefore,
had recourse to a scheme which conspired with a piece of bad news
I soon after received, to give them all the satisfaction they desired:
this plan was to debauch the faith of my companion and confidant,
who betrayed the trust I reposed in him, by imparting to them the
particulars of my small amours, which they published with such
exaggerations that I suffered very much in the opinion of everybody,
and was utterly discarded by the dear creatures whose names had
been called in question.
While I was busy in tracing out the author of this treachery, that
I might not only be revenged on him, but also vindicate my character
to my friends, I one day perceived the looks of my landlady much
altered, when I went home to my dinner, and inquiring into the
cause, she screwed up her mouth, and fixed her eyes on the ground,
told me her husband had received a letter from Mr. Bowling, with
one inclosed for me. She was very sorry for what had happened, both
for my sake and his own--people should be more cautious of their
conduct--she was always afraid his brutal behaviour would bring
him into some misfortune or other. As for her part, she should be
very ready to befriend me; but she had a small family of her own
to maintain.
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