Neither _Betty_ or her Sister were yet of Age, but the Younger far from it, and continued under such _Guardians_, as the _Elder_ recommended, and had chosen for herself. It was natural to think they should chiefly be employed in ordering the Affairs of _Blanch_, and be less attentive to benefit the other. Accordingly, from time to time, they sent _Proxies_, to let Leases, keep her _Courts_, and _force_ Possession, where the Tenants held over. Little, however, was done for _Betty_, though they put her _Sister_ to great Charges; nor did she thrive in the World to any Purpose, 'till she came under the Care of a good _orderly Gentlewoman_, who was also _Guardian_ to _Blanch_, a notable _Manager_, and very affectionate to her _Wards_, understood their Business to a hair, and was never to be imposed on or _over-reached_. Every thing she put her hand to prospered, and every thing against her miscarried. When she first looked into _Betty_'s Affairs, she found them in a manner desperate; her small Revenues had been embezzled by _Agents_, Farms set to _insolvent_ Tenants, _double_ Leases made out, huge _Fines_ taken in Hand and sunk in their own Pockets. She was preyed upon by Vagabonds and _Outlaws_; and, to compleat her Misfortunes, a _Foreign Count_ fell in love with her, an odious Monster and _braggadocio_ Huffer. He swore bitterly no one else should have her, and to support his Claim, brought in his Pocket, a _pretended Licence_ from the _Spiritual Court_, and a Pack of _outlandish Goths_ along with him, to take Possession of her Freehold, and break down her Gates. But her _Sister_ generously came in to her Assistance, repelled Force by Force, and rescued her from a Tyrant Ravisher, built Houses for herself, and Fences for the Tenants, and left some of her own People with her to instruct them in Trades and Husbandry. She was then, it might be thought, in a Way of making herself respected, both by her own and her _Sister_'s Tenants, and not stand in need of any more Supplies from them; and if the _good Woman_, her guardian, had lived to bring Matters to any Kind of Establishment, Things had been better. But she unfortunately died, more, however, to her _Sister_'s Disadvantage than _hers_; for the _Guardian_ had chalked out a Track of Proceeding for _Betty_, which she could hardly miss to follow. The _Elder_, however, was inconsolable for the Loss of her _Guardian_, and resolved, for the future, to manage her Concerns by the Assistance of a _Steward_, a Sort of a Cousin to her _Guardian_ deceased, but no way allied to her, in Worth or Understanding. He minded nothing but Hunting and _Puppet-shews_, Feasts and Revels; and though the uncomeliest of an _ill-favoured Race_, spent his Lady's Money in adorning his own Person, instead of _fencing_ her Grounds. He was laughed at by one half of the Neighbours, and despised and gulled by the other. In a Word, he was every Way unfit for the Charge.