Ladyſhip ſays, if ſhe was deceived by ſome wicked Man, the poor Wretch is to be pitied. And to be ſure, as your Ladyſhip ſays, the Girl hath always appeared like a good, honeſt, plain Girl, and not vain of her Face, forſooth, as ſome wanton Huſſeys in the Neighbourhood are.’
‘You ſay true, Deborah, ſaid Mrs. Bridget, if the Girl had been one of thoſe vain Trollops, of which we have too many in the Pariſh, I ſhould have condemned my Brother for his Lenity towards her. I ſaw two Farmers Daughters at Church, the other Day, with bare Necks. I proteſt they ſhock’d me. If Wenches will hang out Lures for Fellows, it is no matter what they ſuffer. I deteſt ſuch Creatures; and it would be much better for them, that their Faces had been ſeamed with the Small-Pox; but I muſt confeſs, I never ſaw any of this wanton Behaviour in poor Jenny; ſome artful Villain, I am convinced, hath betrayed, nay perhaps forc’d her; and I pity the poor Wretch with all my Heart.’
Mrs. Deborah approved all theſe Sentiments, and the Dialogue concluded with a general and bitter Invective againſt Beauty, and with many compaſſionate Conſidera-tions
