Mr. Allworthy, whom the leaſt Mention of theſe ſacred Words was ſufficient to ſtagger, heſitated a Moment before he replied, and then told her ſhe had done wrong to enter into ſuch Engagements to a Villain; but ſince ſhe had, he could not inſiſt on her breaking them. He ſaid, it was not from a Motive of vain Curioſity he had enquired, but in order to puniſh the Fellow; at leaſt, that he might not ignorantly confer Favours on the Undeſerving.
As to theſe Points, Jenny ſatisfied him by the moſt ſolemn Aſſurances, that the Man was entirely out of his Reach, and was neither ſubject to his Power, nor in any probability of becoming an Object of his Goodneſs.
The Ingenuity of this Behaviour, had gained Jenny ſo much Credit with this worthy Man, that he eaſily believed what ſhe told him: For as ſhe had diſdained to excuſe herſelf by a Lie, and had hazarded his farther Diſpleaſure in her preſent Situation, rather than ſhe would forfeit her Honour or Integrity, by betraying another, he had but little Apprehenſion that ſhe would be guilty of Falſhood towards himſelf.
He therefore diſmiſſher her with Aſſurances, that he would very ſoon remove herout
