eat, I could not in my
heart forbear rejoicing for his safety; though his death would have
ended my afflictions. Ungenerous master! if you knew this, you surely
would not be so much my persecutor! But, for my late good lady's sake,
I must wish him well; and O what an angel would he be in my eyes yet, if
he would cease his attempts, and reform!

Well, I hear by Mrs. Jewkes, that John Arnold is turned away, being
detected in writing to Mr. Williams; and that Mr. Longman, and Mr.
Jonathan the butler, have incurred his displeasure, for offering to
speak in my behalf. Mrs. Jervis too is in danger; for all these three,
probably, went together to beg in my favour; for now it is known where I
am.

Mrs. Jewkes has, with the news about my master, received a letter:
but she says the contents are too bad for me to know. They must be bad
indeed, if they be worse than what I have already known.

Just now the horrid creature tells me, as a secret, that she has reason
to think he has found out a way to satisfy my scruples: It is, by
marrying me to this dreadful Colbrand, and buying me of him on the
wedding day, for a sum of money!--Was ever the like heard?--She says
it will be my duty to obey my husband; and that Mr. Williams will be
forced, as a punishment, to marry us; and that, when my master has paid
for me, and I am surrendered up, the Swiss is to go home again, with the
money, to his former wife and children; for, she says, it is the custom
of those people to have a wife in every nation.

But this, to be sure, is horrid romancing! Yet, abominable as it is,
it may possibly serve to introduce some plot now hatching!--With
what strange perplexities is my poor mind agitated! Perchance, some
sham-marriage may be designed, on purpose to ruin me; But can a husband
sell his wife against her own consent?--And will such a bargain stand
good in law?

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, the 32d, 33d, and 34th days of my
imprisonment.

Nothing offers these days but squabblings between Mrs. Jewkes and me.
She grows worse and worse to me. I vexed her yesterday, because
she talked nastily; and told her she talked more like a vile London
prostitute, than a gentleman's housekeeper; and she thinks she cannot
use me bad enough for it. Bless me! she curses and storms at me like a
trooper, and can hardly keep her hands off me. You may believe she
must talk sadly, to make me say such harsh words: indeed it cannot be
repeated; as she is a disgrace to