CHAPTER XVI.
Our Polly is a sad slut, nor heeds what we have taught her, I wonder any man alive will ever rear a daughter, For when she's drest with care and cost, all tempting, fine, and gay, As men should serve a cucumber, she flings herself away.
Beggar's Opera.
After the death of Mr.Bertram, Mannering had set out upon a short tour, proposing to return to the neighbourhood of Ellangowan before the sale of that property should take place.

He went, accordingly, to Edinburgh and elsewhere, and it was in his return towards the south-western district of Scotland, in which our scene lies, that, at a post-town about a hundred miles from Kippletringan, to which he had requested his friend, Mr.
Mervyn, to address his letters, he received one from that gentleman which contained rather unpleasing intelligence.

We have assumed already the privilege of acting a secretis to this gentleman, and therefore shall present the reader with an extract from this epistle.
'I beg your pardon, my dearest friend, for the pain I have given you in forcing you to open wounds so festering as those your letter referred to.
I have always heard, though erroneously perhaps, that the attentions of Mr.Brown were intended for Miss Mannering.

But, however that were, it could not be supposed that in your situation his boldness should escape notice and chastisement.

Wise men say that we resign to civil society our natural rights of self-defence only on condition that the ordinances of law should protect us.