, the first word I asked, was, If the lady
was safe?

[Mr. Lovelace here gives a very circumstantial relation of all that
passed between the Lady and Dorcas. But as he could only guess at her
motives for refusing to go off, when Dorcas told her that she had
engaged for her the protection of the dowager-lady, it is thought
proper to omit this relation, and to supply it by some memoranda of
the Lady's. But it is first necessary to account for the occasion on
which those memoranda were made.

The reader may remember, that in the letter written to Miss Howe, on
her escape to Hampstead,* she promises to give her the particulars of
her flight at leisure. She had indeed thoughts of continuing her
account of every thing that had passed between her and Mr. Lovelace
since her last narrative letter. But the uncertainty she was in from
that time, with the execrable treatment she met with on her being
deluded back again, followed by a week's delirium, had hitherto
hindered her from prosecuting her intention. But, nevertheless,
having it still in her view to perform her promise as soon as she had
opportunity, she made minutes of every thing as it passed, in order to
help her memory:--'Which,' as she observes in one place, 'she could
less trust to since her late disorders than before.' In these
minutes, or book of memoranda, she observes, 'That having
apprehensions that Dorcas might be a traitress, she would have got
away while she was gone out to see for a coach; and actually slid down
stairs with that intent. But that, seeing Mrs. Sinclair in the entry,
(whom Dorcas had planted there while she went out,) she speeded up
again unseen.'

* See Vol. V. Letter XXI.

She then went up to the dining-room, and saw the letter of Captain
Tomlinson: on which she observes in her memorandum-book as follows:]

'How am I puzzled now!--He might leave this letter on purpose: none of
the other papers left with it being of any consequence: What is the
alternative?--To stay, and be the wife of the vilest of men--how my
heart resists that!--To attempt to get off, and fail, ruin inevitable!--
Dorcas may betray me!--I doubt she is still his implement!--At his going
out, he whispered her, as I saw, unobserved--in a very familiar manner
too--Never fear, Sir, with a courtesy.

'In her agreeing to connive at my escape, she provided not for her own
safety, if I got away: y