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166
The Vicar of Wakefield.

deserved my resentment. I partly saw your delusion then, and as it was out of my power to restrain, I could only pity it!"

"It was ever my conjecture," cried I, "that your mind was noble; but now I find it so. But tell me, my dear child, how hast thou been relieved, or who the ruffians were who carried thee away?"

"Indeed, Sir," replied she, "as to the villain who brought me off, I am yet ig­norant. For as my mamma and I were walking out, he came behind us, and almost before I could call for help, for­ced me into the post-chaise, and in an in­stant the horses drove away. I met se­veral on the road, to whom I cried out for assistance; but they disregarded my entreaties. In the mean time the ruffian himself used every art to hinder me from crying out: he flattered and threatened"by