The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Second PartHead, Richard
General
The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Second Part
Head, Richard
Rogues and vagabonds -- England -- Fiction
But at length all the moneys that he brought to Town with him, and all
else that he could get or procure, was spent; (for he had not spared any
thing I desired to content me,) and which was worse, his Mother came to
Town to visit him, and upon examination he could give little account,
how he had spent his time and monyes; wherefore it being concluded that
ill company was the cause, his Mother laid out very diligently to
discover what company he kept: though he abstained from coming so often
to me, as formerly, Yet, he either sent, or came to me every day: that
he might not be absolutly out of favor with his Mother, I furnished him
with what ready mony I had, and he in requital, promised me a
continuance of his love, & a retalliation of my kindness, & which was
more then all, he engaged to marry me (notwithstanding all the
oppositions his mother or friends could make,) if I would stay till he
was of age, and had his estate in his hands; I had this promise from
him, not only by word of mouth, but also by writing; but all these
promises were quickly vacuated and void; for his mother, by her
extraordinary diligence found out his haunts, and discovered his coming
to me; and followed the tract of my actions, and life; that she found
from whence I came, and who I was; and then soon concluded, that I had
been the chief occasion of his mispending his time, and moneys; and now
she mustred up all her wits, to prevent his ruine: which she supposed
would be inevitable, if he continued any longer a correspondency with
me.
To this end she called her Son before her, and examined him in the
presence of all those of his Relations and friends which were then in
Town. She laid the business so plain, and home to him, that he could not
deny the matter, somewhat of the manner he did; for whereas she reported
me an absolute _Prostitute_, he alleged me _virtuous_ and _modest_, as
indeed well he might (for I had, ere since my first acquaintance with
him, been constant to him) but it being proved from whence I came, and
how immodest I had lived, it was sufficient argument to make out what I
was, and that I could not be a fit Wife for him: She was a very discreet
Woman, and one who had known the World, and I suppose was well enough
acquainted with that saying of the _Poet_.
If Modesty and Women once do sever,
Farewel their name, farewel their fame for ever.
And therefore it being evident enough what I had been, she from thence
concluded what I would be: In fine, she so scooled her son, and ordered
the matter, that he was contented to relinquish my company; and because,
she would be sure he should doe so, she never left, till she had got him
in the mind to travel: and so putting him in an equipage befitting his
quality, she sent him for _France_.
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