poſed, and provided them with what was juſt ſufficient for their Suftenance.
As this Support was conveyed to them by an unknown Hand, they imagined, and ſo, I doubt not, will the Reader, that Mr. Allworthy himſelf was their ſecret Benefactor; who, though he would not openly encourage Vice, could yet privately relieve the Diſtreſſes of the Vicious themſelves, when theſe became too exquiſite and diſproportionate to their Merit. In which Light, their Wretchedneſs appeared now to Fortune herſelf; for ſhe at length took pity on this miſerable Couple, and conſiderably leſſened the wretched State of Partridge, by putting a final end to that of his Wife, who ſoon after caught the Small-Pox, and died.
The Juſtice which Mr. Allworthy had executed on Partridge, at firſt met with univerſal Approbation; but no ſooner had he felt its Conſequences, than his Neighbours began to relent, and to compaſſionate his Caſe; and preſently after, to blame that as Rigour and Severity, which they before called Juſtice. They now exclaimed againſt puniſhing in cold Blood, and ſang forth the Praiſes of Mercy and Forgiveneſs.
Theſe
