pompously of her family and connexions, by whom however she has been long
renounced. She has no sympathy nor compassion for the distresses of her
fellow-creatures; but she is perfectly well bred; she bears a repulse the
best of any woman I ever knew; and her temper has never been once ruffled
since her arrival at the King's Bench. She now entreated me to lend her
half-a-guinea, for which she said she had the most pressing occasion, and
promised upon her honour it should be repaid to-morrow; but I lent a deaf
ear to her request, and told her in plain terms that her honour was
already bankrupt."

Sir Launcelot, thrusting his hand mechanically into his pocket, pulled
out a couple of guineas, and desired Felton to accommodate her with that
trifle in his own name; but he declined the proposal, and refused to
touch the money. "God forbid," said he, "that I should attempt to thwart
your charitable intention; but this, my good sir, is no object--she has
many resources. Neither should we number the clamorous beggar among
those who really feel distress; he is generally gorged with bounty
misapplied. The liberal hand of charity should be extended to modest
want that pines in silence, encountering cold, nakedness, and hunger, and
every species of distress. Here you may find the wretch of keen
sensations blasted by accident in the blossom of his fortune, shivering
in the solitary recess of indigence, disdaining to beg, and even ashamed
to let his misery be known. Here you may see the parent who has known
happier times, surrounded by his tender offspring, naked and forlorn,
demanding food, which his circumstances cannot afford.

"That man of decent appearance and melancholy aspect, who lifted his hat
as you passed him in the yard, is a person of unblemished character. He
was a reputable tradesman in the city, and failed through inevitable
losses. A commission of bankruptcy was taken out against him by his sole