A Dialogue Between the Landlady and Susan the Chamber-maid, Proper to be Read by All Inn-keepers and Their Servants, With the Arrival, and the Affable Behaviour, of a Beautiful Young Lady; Which May Teach Persons of Condition How They May Acquire the Love of the Whole World
The landlady goes to find Susan to ask what the heck just happened.
Susan explains about Mr. Fitzpatrick trying to find his wife.
But she absolutely swears that Tom jumped out of Mrs. Waters's bed.
The landlady tells her to shut up.
If that were true, why would Mrs. Waters have shouted for help?
And anyway, the landlady does not want that kind of rumor about her inn to get out!
The narrator tells us that Mr. Fitzpatrick's wife ran away from him not only because he spent all of her money, but also because of his cruelty and jealousy.
Meanwhile, an owl outside Partridge's window wakes him, and he can't go back to sleep from fear of the devil.
So he goes down to the kitchen and falls into conversation with the landlady and Mr. Fitzpatrick's post-boy (a servant who is keeping the horses).
As they are chatting, two ladies arrive at the inn.
One of them is very richly dressed.
The landlady sees a chance to make some money, and offers the lady food, drink, a room—whatever she wants.
The lady insists that anything is fine; whatever simple room she has available will be enough for her needs.
She apologizes for blocking the kitchen fireplace and hopes that she hasn't made them too uncomfortable by interrupting their evening.
The landlady escorts this very kind, very rich young lady to her room for the night.
When she gets back to the kitchen, she and Partridge keep complimenting the young lady.