means to have overtaken us, for, as she
observed, the wench had such an artful way of telling her story, that
she moved everybody to compassion; and she did not doubt but that if we
had been before, as we were behind, she would have got those who would
have assisted her with a coach, &c., to have pursued us, and they might
have come up with us.

I was of the honest Quaker's sentiments. I grew pretty easy, called Tom,
and gave him half a guinea for his diligence; then I and the Quaker went
into the parlour to my husband, and soon after supper came in, and I
ate moderately, and we spent the remainder of the evening, for the clock
had then tolled nine, very cheerfully; for my Quaker was so rejoiced at
my good fortune, as she called it, that she was very alert, and
exceeding good company; and her wit, and she had no small share of it, I
thought was better played off than ever I had heard it before.

My husband asked me how I should choose to go on board; I desired him to
settle it as he pleased, telling him it was a matter of very great
indifference to me, as he was to go with me. "That may be true, my
dear," says he, "but I ask you for a reason or two, which I will lay
before you, viz., if we hire a vessel for ourselves, we may set sail
when we please, have the liberty of every part of the ship to ourselves,
and land at what port, either in Holland or France, we might make choice
of. Besides," added he, "another reason I mention it to you is, that I
know you do not love much company, which, in going into the packet-boat,
it is almost impossible to avoid." "I own, my dear," said I, "your
reasons are very good; I have but one thing to say against them, which
is, that the packet-boat, by its frequent voyages, must of course be
furnished with experienced seamen, who know the seas too well even to
run any hazard." (At this juncture the terrible voyage I and Amy made
from France to Harwich came so strong in my mind, that I trembled so as
to be taken notice of by my husband.) "Besides," added I, "the landlord
may send the master of one of them to you, and I think it may be best to
hire the state cabin, as they call it, to ourselves, by which method we
shall avoid company, without we have an inclination to associate
ourselves with such passengers we may happen to like; and the expense
will be much cheaper than hiring a vessel to go the voyage with us
alone, and every whit as safe."

The Quaker, who had seriously listened to our