One of the Maxims which the Devil, in a late Viſit upon Earth, left to his Diſciples, is, when once you are got up, to kick the Stool from under you. In plain Engliſh, when you have made your Fortune by the good Offices of a Friend, you are adviſed to diſcard him as ſoon as you can.
Whether the Captain acted by this Maxim, I will not poſitively determine; ſo far we may confidently ſay, that his Actions may be fairly derived from this diabolical Principle; and indeed it is difficult to aſſign any other Motive to them: For no ſooner was he poſſeſſed of Miſs Bridget, and reconciled to Allworthy, than he began to ſhew a Coldneſs to his Brother, which encreaſed daily; till at length it grew into Rudeneſs, and became very viſible to every one.
The Doctor remonſtrated to him privately concerning this Behaviour, but could obtain no other Satisfaction than the following plain Declaration: ‘If you diſlike anything in my Brother’s Houſe, Sir, you know you are at Liberty to quit it.’ This ſtrange, cruel, and almoſt unaccountable Ingratitude in the Captain, abſolutely broke the poor Doctor’s Heart: For Ingratitudenever
