ear a creature is
driven to of hiding herself! Devilish fellow! He must have been
sportive and wanton in his inventions--yet that cruel, that savage
sportiveness has saved you from the sudden violence to which he has had
recourse in the violation of others, of names and families not
contemptible. For such the villain always gloried to spread his snares.

The vileness of this specious monster has done more, than any other
consideration could do, to bring Mr. Hickman into credit with me. Mr.
Hickman alone knows (from me) of your flight, and the reason of it. Had
I not given him the reason, he might have thought still worse of the vile
attempt. I communicated it to him by showing him your letter from
Hampstead. When he had read it, [and he trembled and reddened, as he
read,] he threw himself at my feet, and besought me to permit him to
attend you, and to give you the protection of his house. The
good-natured man had tears in his eyes, and was repeatedly earnest on this
subject; proposing to take his chariot-and-four, or a set, and in person,
in the face of all the world, give himself the glory of protecting such
an oppressed innocent.

I could not but be pleased with him. And I let him know that I was. I
hardly expected so much spirit from him. But a man's passiveness to a
beloved object of our sex may not, perhaps, argue want of courage on
proper occasions.

I thought I ought, in return, to have some consideration for his safety,
as such an open step would draw upon him the vengeance of the most
villanous enterpriser in the world, who has always a gang of fellows,
such as himself, at his call, ready to support one another in the vilest
outrages. But yet, as Mr. Hickman might have strengthened his hands by
legal recourses, I should not have stood upon it, had I not known your
delicacy, [since such a step must have made a great noise, and given
occasion for scandal, as if some advantage had been gained over you,] and
were there not the greatest probability that all might be more silently,
and more effectually, managed, by Mrs. Townsend's means.

Mrs. Townsend will in person attend you--she hopes, on Wednesday--her
brothers, and some of their people, will scatteringly, and as if they
knew nothing of you, [so we have contrived,] see you safe not only to
London, but to her house at Deptford.

She has a kinswoman, who will take your commands there, if she herself
be obliged to leave you. And there you may stay