Poor, poor man!--to be thus involved, and for my
sake too!--But if you'll believe me, said I, I gave no encouragement to
what he proposed, as to marriage; nor would he have proposed it, I
believe, but as the only honourable way he thought was left to save me:
And his principal motive to it at all, was virtue and compassion to one
in distress. What other view could he have? You know I am poor and
friendless. All I beg of you is, to let the poor gentleman have notice
of my master's resentment; and let him fly the country, and not be thrown
into gaol. This will answer my master's end as well; for it will as
effectually hinder him from assisting me, as if he was in a prison.
Ask me, said she, to do any thing that is in my power, consistent with my
duty and trust, and I will do it: for I am sorry for you both. But, to
be sure, I shall keep no correspondence with him, nor let you. I offered
to talk of a duty superior to that she mentioned, which would oblige her
to help distressed innocence, and not permit her to go the lengths
enjoined by lawless tyranny; but she plainly bid me be silent on that
head: for it was in vain to attempt to persuade her to betray her trust:
--All I have to advise you, said she, is to be easy; lay aside all your
contrivances and arts to get away, and make me your friend, by giving me
no reason to suspect you; for I glory in my fidelity to my master: And
you have both practised some strange sly arts, to make such a progress as
he has owned there was between you, so seldom as I thought you saw one
another; and I must be more circumspect than I have been.
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