about four in the afternoon
I now therefore condemned my former suspicions , and could turn them only on Mr Burchell , who I recollected had of late several private conferences with her : but the appearance of another witness left me no room to doubt of his villainy , who averred , that he and my daughter were actually gone towards the wells , about thirty miles off , where there was a great deal of company . Being driven to that state of mind in which we are more ready to act precipitately than to reason right , I never debated with myself , whether these accounts might not have been given by persons purposely placed in my way , to mislead me , but resolved to pursue my daughter and her fancied deluder thither . I walked along with earnestness , and enquired of several by the way ; but received no accounts , till entering the town , I was met by a person on horseback , whom I remembered to have seen at the ` Squire 's , and he assured me that if I followed them to the races , which were but thirty miles farther , I might depend upon overtaking them ; for he had seen them dance there the night before , and the whole assembly seemed charmed with my daughter 's performance . Early the next day I walked forward to the races , and about four in the afternoon I came upon the course . The company made a very brilliant appearance , all earnestly employed in one pursuit , that of pleasure ; how different from mine , that of reclaiming a lost child to virtue ! I thought I perceived Mr Burchell at some distance from me ; but , as if he dreaded an interview , upon my approaching him , he mixed among a crowd , and I saw him no more . I now reflected that it would be to no purpose to continue my pursuit farther , and resolved to return home to an innocent family , who wanted my assistance .