"Yes," says _Father_, "that would answer as ill as the two Housemaids in _Æsop's_ Fables, that killed the Cock for waking their Mistress." "Well," says Mr. _Heavitree_, "it won't be for long, that's one Blessing. Her Time's up on Monday, and I shall stay in Town till then, and take her down with me in the old Coach." "I hope you won't have so many overturns this Time," said my _Mother_. "Why, no," said he smiling, "we can dispense with them now; but I protest that Snow-Journey was the pleasantest I ever had in my Life." "You are going to possess a Treasure, Sir," said my _Father_ energetically. "Indeed I think so, Sir! I was not aware you so well knew her Value." "Always took to her, Mr. _Heavitree_, from the very first; Didn't I, Girls?" "Indeed you did, _Father_." "And when is it to be?" says my _Father_ significantly. "Nay, Sir," said Mr. _Heavitree_ with a little Embarrassment, "I've not got _Gatty_ to name the Day yet, but I hope it will be before long; and as my Sister _Clarissa_ is shortly to be married, which will deprive _Roaring House_ of its present Mistress, perhaps we may arrange to have two Weddings on the same Day." "Was that poor Wayfarer found under the Snow?" said my _Mother_. "Oh no, Ma'am, we conclude she accomplished her Journey in Safety." By-and-by, _Gatty_ joined us again; and we all sate chatting till Twelve o'Clock. Then my _Lady's_ Supper went up, and then we had our own; a pretty substantial one, as watching makes People hungry. After Supper, we, according to Custom, had Prayers; and I thought it not amiss to select for our Evening Portion the twenty-fourth Chapter of St. _Matthew_, which speaks of Famines, Pestilences, and Earthquakes. After this, we again drew round the Fire; for Watching makes people chilly: and Mr. _Heavitree_ began to repeat some Reports he had gathered, of the wretched State our Gaols were in, at that Time, overflowing with the Refuse of our Army and Navy, who, for Want of honest Employment, were perishing miserably amidst the Stench and Horrors of noisome Dungeons. "That they are," says my _Father_; "and as for _Newgate_, it is now in so pestilential a State of Infection from the overcrowding together of dirty, starving Felons, that the Effluvium they have brought into Court on their Trials hath cost us the Lives of a Lord Mayor, an Alderman, two Judges, divers Lawyers, the greater Part of the Jury, and I know not how many of the Bystanders. This Spread of the Gaol Fever among the upper Classes will do more to get the Abuse remedied than the Deaths of Hundreds of Criminals in their Cells; but yet I can't for the Life of me help regretting that so many able-bodied Men, whose Labour might be serviceable to the Community, should be idling at the public Expense in Prison."