; dreading all the time to behold some
sad catastrophe.

'Not finding her any where, she ran down to the old creature, and her
nymphs, with a Have you seen my lady?--Then she's gone!--She's no where
above!

'They were sure she could not be gone out.

'The whole house was in an uproar in an instant; some running up-stairs,
some down, from the upper rooms to the lower; and all screaming, How
should they look me in the face!

'Will. cried out, he was a dead man: he blamed them; they him; and every
one was an accuser, and an excuser, at the same time.

'When they had searched the whole house, and every closet in it, ten
times over, to no purpose, they took it into their heads to send to all
the porters, chairmen, and hackney-coachmen, that had been near the house
for two hours past, to inquire if any of them saw such a young lady;
describing her.

'This brought them some light: the only dawning for hope, that I can
have, and which keeps me from absolute despair. One of the chairmen gave
them this account: That he saw such a one come out of the house a little
before four (in a great hurry, and as if frighted) with a little parcel
tied up in a handkerchief, in her hand: that he took notice to his
fellow, who plied her without her answering, that she was a fine young
lady: that he'd warrant, she had either a husband, or very cross parents;
for that her eyes seemed swelled with crying. Upon which, a third fellow
replied, that it might be a doe escaped from mother Damnable's park.
This Mrs. Sinclair told me with a curse, and a wish that she had a better
reputation; so handsomely as she lived, and so justly as she paid every
body for what she bought; her house visited by the best and civilest of
gentlemen; and no noise or brawls ever heard or known in it.

'From these appearances, the fellow who gave this information, had the
curiosity to follow her, unperceived. She often looked back. Every body
who passed her, turned to look after her; passing their verdict upon her
tears, her hurry, and her charming person; till coming to a stand of
coaches, a coachman plied her; was accepted; alighted; opened the
coach-door in a hurry, seeing her hurry; and in it she stumbled for
haste; and, as the fellow believed, hurt her shin with the stumble.'

The devil take me, Belford, if my generous heart is not moved for her,
notwithstanding her wicked deceit, to think what must be her reflections
and apprehensions at the time:--A mind s