ity,
with which I was entertained, even at the only friend's house that I had
the least expectation of care and protection from. She was, however, so
just to me, as to manage the turning into money the little matters that
remained to me after the debts and burial charges were allowed for, and,
at my departure, put my whole fortune into my hands; which consisted
of a very slender wardrobe, packed up in a very portable box, and eight
guineas, with seventeen shillings in silver, stowed in a spring-pouch,
which was a greater treasure than I ever had seen together, and which I
could not conceive there was a possibility of running out; and indeed, I
was so entirely taken up with the joy of seeing myself mistress of such
an immence sum, that I gave very little attention to a world of good
advice which was given me with it.

Places, then, being taken for Esther and me in the Chester waggon, I
pass over a very immaterial scene of leave-taking, at which I droped
a few tears betwixt grief and joy; and, for the same reasons of
insignificance, skip over all that happened to me on the road, such as
the waggoner's looking liquorish on me, the schemes laid for me by some
of the passengers, which were defeated by the valiance of my guardian
Esther; who, to do her justice, took a motherly care of me, at the
same time that she taxed me for the protection by making me bear all
travelling charges, which I defrayed with the unmost cheerfulness, and
thought myself much obliged to her into the bargain.

She took indeed great care that we were not overrated, or imposed on, as
well as of managing as frugally as possible; expensiveness was not her
vice.

It was pretty late in a summer evening when we reached the town, in our
slow conveyance, though drawn by six at length. As we passed through
the greatest streets that led to our inn, the noise, of the coaches, the
hurry, the crowds of foot passengers, in short, the new scenery of the
shops and houses, at once pleased and amazed me.

But guess at my mortification and surprise when we came to the inn, and
our things were landed and delivered to us, when my fellow traveller and
protectress, Esther Davis, who had used me with the utmost tenderness
during the journey, and prepared me by no preceedings signs for the
stunning blow I was to receive, when I say, my only dependence and
friend, in this strange place, all of a sudden assumed a strange and
cool air towards me, as if she dreaded my becomin