She was so earnest, that I mistrusted she did this to pump me; and I knew
how, now, to account for her kindness to Mr. Williams in her visit to
him; which was only to get out of him what she could. Why, Mrs. Jewkes,
said I, is all this fishing about for something, where there is nothing,
if there be an end of your watchments, as you call them? Nothing, said
she, but womanish curiosity, I'll assure you; for one is naturally led to
find out matters, where there is such privacy intended. Well, said I,
pray let me know what he has said; and then I'll give you an answer to
your curiosity. I don't care, said she, whether you do or not for I have
as much as I wanted from him; and I despair of getting out of you any
thing you ha'n't a mind I should know, my little cunning dear.--Well,
said I, let him have said what he would, I care not: for I am sure he can
say no harm of me; and so let us change the talk.
I was the easier, indeed, because, for all her pumps, she gave no hints
of the key and the door, etc. which, had he communicated to her, she
would not have forborne giving me a touch of.--And so we gave up one
another, as despairing to gain our ends of each other. But I am sure he
must have said more than he should.--And I am the more apprehensive all
is not right, because she has now been actually, these two hours, shut up
a writing; though she pretended she had given me up all her stores of
papers, etc.
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