to cross, which is about half a mile,
and then is a common, and near that a private horse-road, where I hope
to find an opportunity for escaping, as soon as Mr. Williams can get me
a horse, and has made all ready for me: for he has got me the key, which
he put under the mould, just by the door, as he found an opportunity to
hint to me.

He just now has signified, that the gentleman is dead, whose living he
has had hope of; and he came pretendedly to tell Mrs. Jewkes of it; and
so could speak this to her before me. She wished him joy. See what the
world is! One man's death is another man's joy. Thus we thrust out
one another!--My hard case makes me serious. He found means to slide
a letter into my hands, and is gone away: He looked at me with such
respect and solemness at parting, that Mrs. Jewkes said, Why, madam,
I believe our young parson is half in love with you.--Ah! Mrs. Jewkes,
said I, he knows better. Said she, (I believe to sound me,) Why, I can't
see you can either of you do better; and I have lately been so touched
for you, seeing how heavily you apprehend dishonour from my master, that
I think it is pity you should not have Mr. Williams.

I knew this must be a fetch of hers; because, instead of being troubled
for me, as she pretended, she watched me closer, and him too: and so I
said, There is not the man living that I desire to marry. If I can
but keep myself honest, it is all my desire: And to be a comfort and
assistance to my poor parents, if it should be my happy lot to be so, is
the very top of my ambition. Well, but, said she, I have been thinking
very seriously, that Mr. Williams would make you a good husband; and as
he will owe all his fortune to my master, he will be very glad, to be
sure, to be obliged to him for a wife of his choosing: especially, said
she, such a pretty one, and one so ingenious, and genteelly educated.

This gave me a doubt, whether she knew of my master's intimation of that
sort formerly; and I asked her, if she had reason to surmise that that
was in view? No, she said; it was only her own thought; but it was very
likely that my master had either that in view, or something better for
me. But, if I approved of it, she would propose such a thing to
her master directly; and gave a detestable hint, that I might take
resolutions upon it, of bringing such an affair to effect. I told her I
abhorred her vile insinuation; and as to Mr. Williams, I thought him a
civil good sort of man;