abroad, that he himſelf was the Father of the foundling Child.
This Suppoſition ſo well reconciled his Conduct to the general Opinion, that it met with univerſsal Aſſent; and the Outcry againſt his Lenity ſoon began to take another Turn, and was changed into an Invective againſt his Cruelty to the poor Girl. Very grave and good Women exclaimed againſt Men who begon Children and then diſowned them. Nor were there wanting ſome, who, after the Departure of Jenny, inſinuated, that ſhe was ſpirited away with a Deſign too black to be mentioned, and who gave frequent Hints, that a legal Inquiry ought to be made into the whole Matter, and that ſome People ſhould be forced to produce the Girl.
Theſe Calumnies might have probably produced ill Conſequences (at the leaſt might have occaſioned ſome Trouble,) to a Perſon of a more doubtful and ſuſpicious Character than Mr. Allworthy was bleſſed with; but in his Caſe they had no ſuch Effect; and, being heartily deſpiſed by him, they ſerved only to afford an innocent Amuſement to the good Goſſips of the Neighbourhood.
But
