farther into the country, Fanny was
stopped by a gentleman in a carriage, who accosted her, as she said,
very kindly: and after several questions, which she answered with her
usual unsuspecting innocence, learned her trade, insisted on purchasing
some articles of work which she had at the moment in her basket, and
promised to procure her a constant purchaser, upon much better terms
than she had hitherto obtained, if she would call at the house of a Mrs.
West, about a mile from the suburb towards London. This she promised
to do, and this she did, according to the address he gave her. She was
admitted to a lady more gaily dressed than Fanny had ever seen a lady
before,--the gentleman was also present,--they both loaded her with
compliments, and bought her work at a price which seemed about to
realise all the hopes of the poor girl as to the gravestone for William
Gawtrey,--as if his evil fate pursued that wild man beyond the grave,
and his very tomb was to be purchased by the gold of the polluter! The
lady then appointed her to call again; but, meanwhile, she met Fanny
in the streets, and while she was accosting her, it fortunately chanced
that Miss Semper the milliner passed that way--turned round, looked hard
at the lady, used very angry language to her, seized Fanny's hand, led
her away while the lady slunk off; and told her that the said lady was a
very bad woman, and that Fanny must never speak to her again. Fanny
most cheerfully promised this. And, in fact, the lady, probably afraid,
whether of the mob or the magistrates, never again came near her.

"And," said Fanny, "I gave the money they had both given to me to Miss
Semper, who said she would send it back."

"You did right, Fanny; and as you made one promise to Miss Semper, so
you must make me one--never to stir from home again without me or some
other person. No, no other person--only me. I will give up everything
else to go with you."

"Will you? Oh, yes. I promise! I used to like going alone, but that was
before you came, brother."

And as Fanny kept her promise, it would have been a bold gallant indeed
who would have ventured to molest her by the side of that stately and
strong protector.

CHAPTER VI.

"Timon. Each thing's a thief
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Have unchecked theft.

The sweet degrees that this brief world affords,
To such as may the passive drugs of it
Freely command."--Timon