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rior to the former widow, and who received Mrs. Hamilton’s addreſſes with all the complaiſance ſhe could wiſh.
This Lady, whoſe name was Ruſhford, was the widow of a rich cheeſe-monger, who left her all he had, and only one great grand-child to take care of, whom, at her death, he recommended to be her Heir; but wholly at her own power and diſcretion.
She was now in the ſixty eighth year of her age, and had not, it ſeems, entirely abandoned all thoughts of the pleaſures of this world: for ſhe was no ſooner acquainted with Mrs. Hamilton, but, taking her for a beautiful lad of about eighteen, ſhe caſt the eyes of affection on her, and having pretty well outlived the baſhfulneſs of her youth, made little ſcruple of giving hints of her paſſion of her own accord.
It has been obſerved that women know more of one another than the wiſeſt men (if ever ſuch have been employed in the ſtudy) have with all their art been capable of diſcovering. It is therefore no wonder that theſe hints were quickly perceived and underſtood by the female gallant, who animadverting on the conveniency which the old gentlewoman’s fortune would produce in her preſent ſituation, very gladly embraced the opportunity, and advancing with great warmth of love to the attack, in which ſhe was received almoſt with open arms, by the tottering citadel, which preſently offered to throw open the gates, and ſurrender at diſcretion.
In her amour with the former widow, Mrs. Hamilton had never any other deſign than of gaining the lady’s affection, and then diſcovering herſelf to her, hoping to have had the ſame ſucceſs which Mrs. Johnſon had found with her: but with this old lady, whoſe fortune only ſhe was deſirous to poſſeſs, ſuch views would have afforded very little gratifi-
