was some time before he could find any utterance for those sentiments with which his mind overflowed; but, when he began to express his thankfulness, Trent immediately stopt him, and gave a sudden turn to their discourse.
Mrs. Trent had been to visit Mrs. Booth on the masquerade evening, which visit Mrs. Booth had not yet returned. Indeed, this was only the second day since she had received it. Trent therefore now told his friend that he should take it extremely kind if he and his lady would waive all ceremony, and sup at their house the next evening. Booth hesitated a moment, but presently said, 'I am pretty certain my wife is not engaged, and I will undertake for her. I am sure she will not refuse anything Mr. Trent can ask.' And soon after Trent took Booth with him to walk in the Park.
There were few greater lovers of a bottle than Trent; he soon proposed therefore to adjourn to the King's Arms tavern, where Booth, though much against his inclination, accompanied him. But Trent was very importunate, and Booth did not think himself at liberty to refuse such a request to a man from whom he had so lately received such obligations.
When they came to the tavern, however, Booth recollected the omission he had been guilty of the night before. He wrote a short note therefore to his wife, acquainting her that he should not come home to supper; but comforted her with a faithful promise that he would on no account engage himself in gaming.
The first bottle passed in ordinary conversation; but, when they had tapped the second, Booth, on some hints which Trent gave him, very fairly laid open to him his whole circumstances, and declared he almost despaired of mending them. 'My chief relief,' said he, 'was in the interest of Colonel James; but I have given up those hopes.'
'And very wisely too,' said Trent 'I say nothing of the colonel's good will. Very likely he may be your sincere friend; but I do not believe he hath the interest he pretends to. He hath had too many favours in his own family to ask any more yet a while. But I am mistaken if you have not a much more powerful friend than the colonel; one who is both able and willing to serve you. I dined at his table within these two days, and I never heard kinder nor warmer expressions from the mouth of man than he made use of towards you. I make no doubt you know whom I mean.'
'Upon my honour I do not,' answered Booth; 'nor did I guess that I had such a friend in the world as you mention.'
'I am glad then,' cries Trent, 'that I have the pleasure of informing you of it.' He then named the noble peer who hath been already so often mentioned in this history.
Booth turned pale and started at his name. 'I forgive you, my dear Trent,' cries Booth, 'for mentioning his name to me, as you are a stranger to what hath passed between us.'
'Nay, I know nothing that hath passed between you,' answered Trent. 'I am sure, if there is any quarrel between you of two days' standing, all is forgiven on his part.'
'D--n his forgiveness!' said Booth. 'Perhaps I ought to blush at what I have forgiven.'
'You surprize me!' cries Trent. 'Pray what can be the matter?'
'Indeed, my dear Trent,' cries Booth, very gravely, 'he would have injured me in the tenderest part. I know not how to tell it you; but he would have dishonoured me with my wife.'
'Sure, you are not in earnest!' answered Trent; 'but, if you are, you will pardon me for thinking that impossible.'
'Indeed,' cries Booth, 'I have so good an opinion of my wife as to believe it impossible for him to succeed; but that he should intend me the favour you will not, I believe, think an impossibility.'
'Faith! not in the least,' said Trent. 'Mrs. Booth is a very fine woman; and, if I had the honour to be her husband, I should not be angry with any man for liking her.'
'But you would be angry,' said Booth, 'with a man, who should make use of stratagems and contrivances to seduce her virtue; especially if he did this under the colour of entertaining the highest friendship for yourself.'
