When he settled the annuity of L50 a year therefore on Mrs. Miller, he
told her, "it was in consideration of always having her first-floor
when he was in town (which he scarce ever intended to be), but that
she might let it at any other time, for that he would always send
her a month's warning." He was now, however, hurried to town so
suddenly, that he had no opportunity of giving such notice; and this
hurry probably prevented him, when he wrote for his lodgings,
adding, if they were then empty; for he would most certainly have been
well satisfied to have relinquished them, on a less sufficient
excuse than what Mrs. Miller could now have made.
But there are a sort of persons, who, as Prior excellently well
remarks, direct their conduct by something
Beyond the fix'd and settled rules
Of vice and virtue in the schools,
Beyond the letter of the law.
To these it is so far from being sufficient that their defence would
acquit them at the Old Bailey, that they are not even contented,
though conscience, the severest of all judges, should discharge
them. Nothing short of the fair and honourable will satisfy the
delicacy of their minds; and if any of their actions fall short of
this mark, they mope and pine, are as uneasy and restless as a
murderer, who is afraid of a ghost, or of the hangman.
Mrs. Miller was one of these. She could not conceal her uneasiness
at this letter; with the of which she had no sooner acquainted the
company, and given some hints of her distress, than Jones, her good
angel, presently relieved her anxiety.
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