part of
the town, as she afterwards learned of the landlady, though she could not
inform her whither they were gone. That, when she was turned away, John
Clump, one of the footmen, who pretended to have a kindness for her, had
faithfully promised to call upon her, and let her know what passed in the
family; but as he did not keep his word, and she was an utter stranger in
London, without friends or settlement, she had resolved to return to her
mother, and travelled so far on foot since yesterday morning.

Our knight, who had expected the most dismal tidings from her lamentable
preamble, was pleased to find his presaging fears disappointed; though he
was far from being satisfied with the dismission of Dolly, from whose
attachment to his interest, joined to her influence over Mr. Clump, he
had hoped to reap such intelligence as would guide him to the haven of
his desires. After a minute's reflection, he saw it would be expedient
to carry back Mrs. Cowslip, and lodge her at the place where Mr. Clump
had promised to visit her with intelligence; for, in all probability, it
was not for want of inclination that he had not kept his promise.

Dolly did not express any aversion to the scheme of returning to London,
where she hoped once more to rejoin her dear lady, to whom by this time
she was attached by the strongest ties of affection; and her inclination
in this respect was assisted by the consideration of having the company
of the young lawyer, who, it plainly appeared, had made strange havoc in
her heart, though it must be owned, for the honour of this blooming
damsel, that her thoughts had never once deviated from the paths of
innocence and virtue. The more Sir Launcelot surveyed this agreeable
maiden, the more he felt himself disposed to take care of her fortune;
and from this day he began to ruminate on a scheme which was afterwards
consummated in her favour. In the meantime he laid injunctions on Mr.
Clarke to conduct his addresses to Mrs. Cowslip according to the rules of
honour and decorum, as he valued his countenance and friendship. His
next step was to procure a saddle-horse for Dolly, who preferred this to
any other sort of carriage, and thereby gratified the wish of her
admirer, who longed to see her on horseback in her green joseph.

The armour, including the accoutrements of the novice and the squire,
were left in the care of the inn-keeper, and Timothy Crabshaw was so
metamorphosed by a plain livery-frock