s meant you, let what will be professed; and I
am glad you want no caution on that head.

'Give me leave to say, that I had heard much in your praise; but, I
think, greatly short of what you deserve, both as to person and mind:
My eyes convince me of the one, your letter of the other. For fear
of losing the present lucky opportunity, I am longer than otherwise I
should be. But I will not enlarge, any further than to assure you that I
am, to the best of my power,

'Your faithful friend and servant,
'ARTHUR WILLIAMS.'

'I will come once every morning, and once every evening, after
school-time, to look for your letters. I'll come in, and return without
going into the house, if I see the coast clear: Otherwise, to avoid
suspicion, I'll come in.'

I instantly, in answer to this pleasing letter, wrote as follows:

'REVEREND SIR,

'O how suited to your function, and your character, is your kind letter!
God bless you for it! I now think I am beginning to be happy. I should
be sorry to have you suffer on my account: but I hope it will be made
up to you an hundred-fold, by that God whom you so faithfully serve. I
should be too happy, could I ever have it in my power to contribute in
the least to it. But, alas! to serve me, must be for God's sake only;
for I am poor and lowly in fortune; though in mind, I hope, too high to
do a mean or unworthy deed to gain a kingdom. But I lose time.----

'Any way you think best, I should be pleased with; for I know not the
persons, nor in what manner it is best to apply to them. I am glad
of the hint you so kindly give me of the man at the post-house. I
was thinking of opening a way for myself by letter, when I could have
opportunity; but I see more and more that I am, indeed, strangely
surrounded with dangers; and that there is no dependance to be made on
my master's honour.

'I should think, sir, if either of those ladies would give leave, I
might some way get out by favour of your key: and as it is impossible,
watched as I am, to know when it can be, suppose, sir, you get one made
by it, and put it, the next opportunity, under the sunflower?--I am sure
no time is to be lost, because it is rather my wonder, that she is
not thoughtful about this key, than otherwise; for she forgets not the
minutest thing. But, sir, if I had this key, I could, if these ladies
would not shelter me, run away any where: and if I wa