The two ladies, who affected to be ignorant of the rest, seemed highly displeased with this last stroke
of freedom, and began a very discreet and serious dialogue upon virtue: in this my wife, the chaplain,
and I soon joined; and the Squire himself was at last brought to confess a sense of sorrow for his former
excesses. We talked of the pleasures of temperance, and of the sun-shine in the mind unpolluted with
guilt. I was so well pleased, that my little ones were kept up beyond the usual time to be edified by so
much good conversation. Mr. Thornhill even went beyond me, and demanded if I had any objection
to giving prayers. I joyfully embraced the proposal, and in this manner the night was passed in a most
comfortable way, till at last the company began to think of returning. The ladies seemed very unwilling
to part with my daughters; for whom they had conceived a particular affection, and joined in a request
to have the pleasure of their company at home. The Squire seconded the proposal, and my wife added
her entreaties; the girls too looked upon me as if they wished to go. In this perplexity I made two or three
excuses, which my daughters as readily removed; so that at last I was obliged to give a peremptory refusal; for
which we had nothing but sullen looks and short answers the whole day ensuing.