She recommended again, as upon the spot where the
poor little one owed its being, my tenderness to it, for her sake; and
that was all she had to request of me, she said; but would not forget to
pray for me in all her own dangers, and in every difficulty she was going
to encounter.
I wept at this moving tale. And did not this make a deep impression upon
you, sir? said I. Surely such an affecting lesson as this, on the very
guilty spot too, (I admire the dear lady's pious contrivance!) must have
had a great effect upon you. One would have thought, sir, it was enough
to reclaim you for ever! All your naughty purposes, I make no doubt,
were quite changed?
Why, my dear, said he, I was much moved, you may be sure, when I came to
reflect: But, at first, I was so assured of being a successful tempter,
and spoiling her voyage, that I was vexed, and much out of humour; but
when I came to reflect, as I said, I was quite overcome with this
instance of her prudence, her penitence, and her resolution; and more
admired her than I ever had done. Yet I could not bear she should so
escape me neither; so much overcome me, as it were, in an heroical
bravery; and I hastened away, and got a bill of credit of Lord Davers,
upon his banker in London, for five hundred pounds; and set out for that
place, having called at Oxford, and got what light I could, as to where I
might hear of her there.
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