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Bellaston, not above five guineas remained; and that very morning hehad been dunned by a tradesman for twice that sum. His honourablemistress was in the hands of her father, and he had scarce any hopesever to get her out of them again. To be subsisted at her expense,from that little fortune she had independent of her father, went muchagainst the delicacy both of his pride and his love. This lady'sfortune would have been exceeding convenient to him, and he could haveno objection to her in any respect. On the contrary, he liked her aswell as he did any woman except Sophia. But to abandon Sophia, andmarry another, that was impossible; he could not think of it upon anyaccount, Yet why should he not, since it was plain she could not behis? Would it not be kinder to her, than to continue her longerengaged in a hopeless passion for him? Ought he not to do so infriendship to her? This notion prevailed some moments, and he hadalmost determined to be false to her from a high point of honour: butthat refinement was not able to stand very long against the voice ofnature, which cried in his heart that such friendship was treason tolove. At last he called for pen, ink, and paper, and writ as followsto Mrs Hunt:--"MADAM,"It would be but a poor return to the favour you have done me tosacrifice any gallantry to the possession of you, and I wouldcertainly do it, though I were not disengaged, as at present I am,from any affair of that kind. But I should not be the honest man youthink me, if I did not tell you that my affections are engaged toanother, who is a woman of virtue, and one that I never can leave,though it is probable I shall never possess her. God forbid that, inreturn of your kindness to me, I should do you such an injury as togive you my hand when I cannot give my heart. No; I had much ratherstarve than be guilty of that. Even though my mistress were marriedto another, I would not marry you unless my heart had entirelyeffaced all impressions of her. Be assured that your secret was notmore safe in your own breast, than in that of your most obliged, andgrateful humble servant,"T. JONES."When our heroe had finished and sent this letter, he went to hisscrutore, took out Miss Western's muff, kissed it several times, andthen strutted some turns about his room, with more satisfaction ofmind than ever any Irishman felt in carrying off a fortune of fiftythousand pounds.Chapter xii.A discovery made by Partridge.While Jones was exulting in the consciousness of his integrity,Partridge came capering into the room, as was his custom when hebrought, or fancied he brought, any good tidings. He had beendespatched that morning by his master, with orders to endeavour, bythe servants of Lady Bellaston, or by any other means, to discoverwhither Sophia had been conveyed; and he now returned, and with ajoyful countenance told our heroe that he had found the lost bird. "I