on. Whatever you have to
propose, whatever you intend by me, let my assent be that of a free
person, mean as I am, and not of a sordid slave, who is to be threatened
and frightened into a compliance with measures, which your conduct to
her seems to imply would be otherwise abhorred by her.--My restraint is
indeed hard upon me: I am very uneasy under it. Shorten it, I beseech
you, or--but I will not dare to say more, than that I am

'Your greatly oppressed unhappy servant.'

After I had taken a copy of this, I folded it up; and Mrs. Jewkes,
coming just as I had done, sat down by me; and said, when she saw me
direct it, I wish you would tell me if you have taken my advice, and
consented to my master's coming down. If it will oblige you, said I,
I will read it to you. That's good, said she; then I'll love you
dearly.--Said I, Then you must not offer to alter one word. I won't,
replied she. So I read it to her, and she praised me much for my wording
it; but said she thought I pushed the matter very close; and it would
better bear talking of, than writing about. She wanted an explanation
or two, as about the proposal to a certain person; but I said, she
must take it as she heard it. Well, well, said she, I make no doubt you
understand one another, and will do so more and more. I sealed up the
letter, and she undertook to convey it.

Sunday.

For my part, I knew it in vain to expect to have leave to go to church
now, and so I did not ask; and I was the more indifferent, because, if I
might have had permission, the sight of the neighbouring gentry, who had
despised my sufferings, would have given me great regret and sorrow; and
it was impossible I should have edified under any doctrine preached by
Mr. Peters: So I applied myself to my private devotions.

Mr. Williams came yesterday, and this day, as usual, and took my letter;
but, having no good opportunity, we avoided one another's conversation,
and kept at a distance: But I was concerned I had not the key; for I
would not have lost a moment in that case, had I been he, and he I. When
I was at my devotion, Mrs. Jewkes came up, and wanted me sadly to sing
her a psalm, as she had often on common days importuned me for a song
upon the spinnet: but I declined it, because my spirits were so low I
could hardly speak, nor cared to be spoken to; but when she was gone, I
remembering the cxxxviith psalm to be a little touching, turned to it,
and t