Burchell, on the contrary, difTuaded her with great
ardou,r, and I ftpod neuter<^ His prefent diftuafions
feemed but tha fecond part of thofe which were re-
ceived with fo ill a grace in the morning. The dif-
pute grew high, while poor Deborah^ inftead of rea-
foning ftronger, talked louder, and at laft was obliged
to take (helter from a defeat in clamour. The con-
clufion of her harangue, however, was highly difpleaf-
ing to us all : ihe knew,, ftie faid, of fbmc who had
their own fecret reafons for what they advifed ; but,
for her part, (he wifhed fuch to ftay away from her
houfc for the future. * Madam,'* cried Burchell,

with looks of great compofure, which tended to in-
flame



THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 57

flame her the more> « as for fecret reafons, you are

* right : I have ftcret reafons, which I forbear to
' mention, becaufe you are not able to anfwer'thofe
« of which I make no fecret : but I find my vifits here
« are become troublefome ; I'll take my leave there-

* fore now, and perhaps come qnce more to take a

* final farewel when lam quitting the country.* Thus
iayingj he took up hb hat, nor could the attempts
of Sophia, whofe looks feemed to upbraid his preci-
pitancy, prevent his going.
