The False Heiress
Alarmed at the prospect of bailiffs and debtors’ prison after her benefactor’s death and the near exhaustion of his bounty, the lady accepts a fellow sister’s scheme to take lodgings in an unfamiliar part of town and pass herself off as an heiress, hoping to entrap a husband able to maintain her or at least shield her from prison by assuming her debts. Her companion contributes her wardrobe and acts as her maid, sharing in the profits. They hire a genteel apartment in Park Street, and the lady makes her first appearance in a blue riding habit trimmed with silver. The ruse works: her fame as a rich heiress fresh from the country spreads through the neighbourhood within a day or two and attracts a swarm of suitors—though she soon finds them all to be indigent adventurers hoping to prey on her supposed fortune.
The Return of Horatio
After maintaining the appearance of wealth long enough to attract a more suitable admirer, the lady at last secures a man who would have satisfied her wishes, and the two fix a day for their nuptials. In the interim, her suitor begs leave to introduce an intimate friend; the lady cannot refuse, and the next night she is horrified to recognize in that friend her old keeper Horatio. He, too, starts at the sight of her, but has the presence of mind to step forward, salute her, and whisper an assurance that he will not expose her. Despite his promise, she cannot recover her composure enough to entertain the two men, and withdraws to her chamber on the pretext of a severe headache, leaving her adorer to take his leave in the tenderest manner and depart with his friend.
The original text of this work is in the public domain. This page focuses on a guided summary article, reading notes, selected quotes, and visual learning materials for educational purposes.