on; that he was often so
busy abroad he could not come home all night; that he always
borrowed the money her mother sent her when he was going out on this
nightly business; and that the last time she had asked _him_ for
money he cursed and swore, and bid her apply to the old farmer and
his rib, who were made of money. This letter Mrs. Bragwell concealed
from her husband.

At length, on some change in public affairs, Mr. Squeeze, who had
made an overcharge of some thousand pounds in one article, lost his
contract; he was found to owe a large debt to government, and his
accounts must be made up immediately. This was impossible; he had
not only spent his large income, without making any provision for
his family, but had contracted heavy debts by gaming and other
vices. His creditors poured in upon him. He wrote to Bragwell to
borrow another sum; but without hinting at the loss of his contract.
These repeated demands made Bragwell so uneasy, that instead of
sending him the money, he resolved to go himself secretly to London,
and judge by his own eyes how things were going on, as his mind
strangely misgave him. He got to Mr. Squeeze's house about eleven at
night, and knocked gently, concluding that they must be gone to bed.
But what was his astonishment to find the hall was full of men; he
pushed through in spite of them, though to his great surprise they
insisted on knowing his name, saying they must carry it to their
lady. This affronted him; he refused, saying, "It is not because I
am ashamed of my name, it will pass for thousands in any market in
the west of England. Is this your London manners, not to let a man
of my credit in without knowing his name indeed!" What was his
amazement to see every room as full of card-tables and of fine
gentlemen and ladies as it would hold. All was so light, and so gay,
and so festive, and so grand, that he reproached himself for his
suspicions, thought nothing too good for them, and resolved secretly
to give Squeeze another five hundred pounds to help to keep up so
much grandeur and happiness. At length seeing a footman he knew, he
asked him where were his master and mistress, for he could not pick
them out among the company; or rather his ideas became so confused
with the splendor of the scene, that he did not know whether they
were there or not. The man said, that his master had just sent for
his lady up stairs, and he believed that he was not well. Mr.
Bragwell said he would go up