ded him and was bountiful to him;
and the same may be said, bad as she is, for this same odious Mrs.
Jewkes. But what inducement has my master for taking so much pains to do
the devil's work for him?--If he loves me, as 'tis falsely called, must
he therefore lay traps for me, to ruin me and make me as bad as himself?
I cannot imagine what good the undoing of such a poor creature as I can
procure him.--To be sure, I am a very worthless body. People, indeed,
say I am handsome; but if I was so, should not a gentleman prefer an
honest servant to a guilty harlot? And must he be more earnest to seduce
me, because I dread of all things to be seduced, and would rather lose
my life than my honesty?
Well, these are strange things to me! I cannot account for them, for
my share; but sure nobody will say, that these fine gentlemen have any
tempter but their own wicked wills!--his naughty master could run
away from me, when he apprehended his servants might discover his vile
attempts upon me in that sad closet affair; but is it not strange that
he should not be afraid of the all-seeing eye, from which even that
base plotting heart of his, in its most secret motions, could not be
hid?--But what avail me these sorrowful reflections? He is and will be
wicked, and designs me a victim to his lawless attempts, if the God in
whom I trust, and to whom I hourly pray, prevent it not.
Tuesday and Wednesday.
I have been hindered by this wicked woman's watching me so close, from
writing on Tuesday; and so I will put both these days together. I have
been a little turn with her for an airing, in the chariot, and walked
several times in the garden; but have always her at my heels.
Mr. Williams came to see us, and took a walk with us once; and while her
back was just turned, (encouraged by the hint he had before given me,)
I said, Sir, I see two tiles upon that parsley-bed; might not one cover
them with mould, with a note between them, on occasion?--A good hint,
said he; let that sunflower by the back-door of the garden be the place;
I have a key to the door; for it is my nearest way to the town.
So I was forced to begin. O what inventions will necessity push us upon!
I hugged myself at the thought; and she coming to us, he said, as if he
was continuing a discourse we were in: No, not extraordinary pleasant.
What's that? what's that? said Mrs. Jewkes.--Only, said he, the town,
I'm saying, is not very pleasant. No, indeed, said she, it is n
|