m, and was merry about the boy, that is to
say, as merry as the consternation I was still in would let me be.

However, I began to be thoroughly convinced by this time that the girl
did not know me, which was an infinite satisfaction to me, or, at least,
that though she had some notion of me, yet that she did not think
anything about my being who I was, and which, perhaps, she would have
been as glad to have known as I would have been surprised if she had;
indeed, it was evident that, had she suspected anything of the truth,
she would not have been able to have concealed it.

Thus this meeting went off, and, you may be sure, I was resolved, if
once I got off of it, she should never see me again to revive her fancy;
but I was mistaken there too, as you shall hear. After we had been on
board, the captain's lady carried us home to her house, which was but
just on shore, and treated us there again very handsomely, and made us
promise that we would come again and see her before we went to concert
our affairs for the voyage and the like, for she assured us that both
she and her sister went the voyage at that time for our company, and I
thought to myself, "Then you'll never go the voyage at all;" for I saw
from that moment that it would be no way convenient for my ladyship to
go with them, for that frequent conversation might bring me to her mind,
and she would certainly claim her kindred to me in a few days, as indeed
would have been the case.

It is hardly possible for me to conceive what would have been our part
in this affair had my woman Amy gone with me on board this ship; it had
certainly blown up the whole affair, and I must for ever after have been
this girl's vassal, that is to say, have let her into the secret, and
trusted to her keeping it too, or have been exposed and undone. The very
thought filled me with horror.

But I was not so unhappy neither, as it fell out, for Amy was not with
us, and that was my deliverance indeed; yet we had another chance to get
over still. As I resolved to put off the voyage, so I resolved to put
off the visit, you may be sure, going upon this principle, namely, that
I was fixed in it that the girl had seen her last of me, and should
never see me more.

However, to bring myself well off, and, withal, to see, if I could, a
little farther into the matter, I sent my friend the Quaker to the
captain's lady to make the visit promised, and to make my excuse that I
could not possibly wa