ove_ no sooner got to _London_, but he
posts to his Sister's Lodgings, where he was advis'd not to be seen of
_Bellamora_ till they had work'd farther upon her, which the Landlady
began in this manner; she told her that her Things were miscarried, and
she fear'd, lost; that she had but a little Money her self, and if the
Overseers of the Poor (justly so call'd from their over-looking 'em)
should have the least Suspicion of a strange and unmarried Person, who
was entertain'd in her House big with Child, and so near her Time as
_Bellamora_ was, she should be troubled, if they could not give Security
to the Parish of twenty or thirty Pounds, that they should not suffer by
her, which she could not; or otherwise she must be sent to the House of
Correction, and her Child to a Parish-Nurse. This Discourse, one may
imagine, was very dreadful to a Person of her Youth, Beauty, Education,
Family and Estate: However, she resolutely protested, that she had
rather undergo all this, than be expos'd to the Scorn of her Friends and
Relations in the Country. The other told her then, that she must write
down to her Uncle a Farewell-Letter, as if she were just going aboard
the Pacquet-Boat for _Holland_, that he might not send to enquire for
her in Town, when he should understand she was not at her new-married
Cousin's in the Country; which accordingly she did, keeping her self
close Prisoner to her Chamber; where she was daily visited by
_Fondlove's_ Sister and the Landlady, but by no Soul else, the first
dissembling the Knowledge she had of her Misfortunes. Thus she continued
for above three Weeks, not a Servant being suffer'd to enter her
Chamber, so much as to make her Bed, lest they should take Notice of her
great Belly: but for all this Caution, the Secret had taken Wind, by the
means of an Attendant of the other Lady below, who had over-heard her
speaking of it to her Husband. This soon got out of Doors, and spread
abroad, till it reach'd the long Ears of the Wolves of the Parish, who
next Day design'd to pay her a Visit: But _Fondlove_, by good
Providence, prevented it; who, the Night before, was usher'd into
_Bellamora's_ Chamber by his Sister, his Brother-in-Law, and the
Landlady. At the Sight of him she had like to have swoon'd away: but he
taking her in his Arms, began again, as he was wont to do, with Tears in
his Eyes, to beg that she would marry him ere she was deliver'd; if not
for his, nor her own, yet for the Child's Sake,