her with ſuch ardent Affection, that by gratifying her, he commonly conveyed the higheſt Gratification to himſelf. She was really what he frequently called her, his little Darling; and ſhe well deſerved to be ſo: For ſhe returned all his Affection in the moſt ample Manner. She had preſerved the moſt inviolable Duty to him in all Things; and this her Love made not only eaſy, but ſo delightful, that when one of her Companions laughed at her for placing ſo much Merit in ſuch ſcrupulous Obedience, as that young Lady called it, Sophia anſwered, ‘You miſtake me, Madam, if you think I value myſelf upon this Account: For beſides that I am barely diſcharging my Duty, I am likewiſe pleaſing myſelf. I can truly ſay, I have no Delight equal to that of contributing to my Father’s Happineſs; and if I value myſelf, my Dear, it is on having this Power, and not on executing it.’
This was a Satisfaction, however, which poor Sophia was incapable of taſting this Evening. She therefore not only deſired to be excuſed from her Attendance at the Harpſichord, but likewiſe begged that he would ſuffer her to abſent herſelf from Supper. To this Requeſt likewiſe the Squireagreed,
