scrupulous to know whether what she
bought was honestly come by, provided she could get it for a sixth
part of what it was worth. But if the owner presumed to ask for its
real value, then she had sudden qualms of conscience, instantly
suspected the things were stolen, and gave herself airs of honesty,
which often took in poor silly people, and gave her a sort of half
reputation among the needy and ignorant, whose friend she
hypocritically pretended to be.

To this artful woman Betty carried the cook's pilferings; and as
Mrs. Sponge would give no great price for these in money, the cook
was willing to receive payment for her eatables in Mrs. Sponge's
drinkables; for she dealt in all kinds of spirits. I shall only just
remark here, that one receiver, like Mrs. Sponge, makes many
pilferers, who are tempted to commit these petty thieveries, by
knowing how easy it is to dispose of them at such iniquitous houses.

Betty was faithful to both her employers, which is extraordinary,
considering the greatness of the temptation and her utter ignorance
of good and evil. One day she ventured to ask Mrs. Sponge, if she
could not assist her to get into a more settled way of life. She
told her that when she rose in the morning she never knew where she
should lie at night, nor was she ever sure of a meal beforehand.
Mrs. Sponge asked her what she thought herself fit for. Betty, with
fear and trembling, said there was one trade for which she thought
herself qualified, but she had not the ambition to look so high--it
was far above her humble views--that was, to have a barrow, and sell
fruit, as several other of Mrs. Sponge's customers did, whom she had
often looked up to with envy, little expecting herself ever to
attain so independent a station.

Mrs. Sponge was an artful woman. Bad as she was, she was always
aiming at something of a character; this was a great help to her
trade. While she watched keenly to make every thing turn to her own
profit, she had a false fawning way of seeming to do all she did out
of pity and kindness to the distressed; and she seldom committed an
extortion, but she tried to make the persons she cheated believe
themselves highly obliged to her kindness. By thus pretending to be
their friend, she gained their confidence; and she grew rich
herself, while they thought she was only showing favor to them.
Various were the arts she had of getting rich; and the money she got
by grinding the poor, she spent in the