The Captain chid her for the Concluſion of her Speech, as an improper Aſſurance in judging of her Maſter’s Actions: For if his Honour, or his Underſtanding, would have ſuffered the Captain to make an Alliance with Mrs. Wilkins, his Pride would by no means have admitted it. And, to ſay the Truth, there is no Conduct leſs politic, than to enter into any Confederacy with your Friend’s Servants, againſt their Maſter. For, by theſe Means, you afterwards become the Slave of theſe very Servants; by whom you are conſtantly liable to be betrayed. And this Conſideration, perhaps, it was which prevented Captain Blifilfrom being more explicite with Mrs. Wilkins; or from encouraging the Abuſe which ſhe had beſtowed on Allworthy.
But though he declared no Satisfaction to Mrs. Wilkins at this Diſcovery, he enjoyed not a little from it in his own Mind, and reſolved to make the beſt Uſe of it he was able.
He kept this Matter a long Time concealed within his own Breaſt, in Hopes that Mr. Allworthy might hear it from ſome otherPerson;
