Thissatisfiedtheparishofficerspresently，andIlayin
　　withasmuchcreditasIcouldhavedoneifIhadreallybeen
　　myLadyCleve，andwasassistedinmytravailbythreeorfour
　　ofthebestcitizens’wivesofBathwholivedintheneighbourhood，
　　which，however，mademealittlethemoreexpensivetohim。
　　Ioftenexpressedmyconcerntohimaboutit，buthebidmenot
　　beconcernedatit。
　　Ashehadfurnishedmeverysufficientlywithmoneyforthe
　　extraordinaryexpensesofmylyingin，Ihadeverythingvery
　　handsomeaboutme，butdidnotaffecttobegayorextravagant
　　neither；besides，knowingmyowncircumstances，andknowing
　　theworldasIhaddone，andthatsuchkindofthingsdonot
　　oftenlastlong，ItookcaretolayupasmuchmoneyasIcould
　　forawetday，asIcalledit；makinghimbelieveitwasallspent
　　upontheextraordinaryappearanceofthingsinmylyingin。
　　Bythismeans，andincludingwhathehadgivenmeasabove，
　　Ihadattheendofmylyinginabouttwohundredguineasby
　　me，includingalsowhatwasleftofmyown。
　　Iwasbroughttobedofafineboyindeed，andacharming
　　childitwas；andwhenheheardofithewrotemeaverykind，
　　obligingletteraboutit，andthentoldme，hethoughtitwould
　　lookbetterformetocomeawayforLondonassoonasIwas
　　upandwell；thathehadprovidedapartmentsformeat
　　Hammersmith，asifIcamethitheronlyfromLondon；andthat
　　afteralittlewhileIshouldgobacktotheBath，andhewould
　　gowithme。
　　Ilikedthisofferverywell，andaccordinglyhiredacoachon
　　purpose，andtakingmychild，andawet-nursetotendand
　　suckleit，andamaid-servantwithme，awayIwentforLondon。
　　HemetmeatReadinginhisownchariot，andtakingmeinto
　　that，lefttheservantandthechildinthehiredcoach，andso
　　hebroughtmetomynewlodgingsatHammersmith；with
　　whichIhadabundanceofreasontobeverywellpleased，for
　　theywereveryhandsomerooms，andIwasverywell
　　accommodated。
　　AndnowIwasindeedintheheightofwhatImightcallmy
　　prosperity，andIwantednothingbuttobeawife，which，
　　however，couldnotbeinthiscase，therewasnoroomforit；
　　andthereforeonalloccasionsIstudiedtosavewhatIcould，
　　asIhavesaidabove，againstatimeofscarcity，knowingwell
　　enoughthatsuchthingsasthesedonotalwayscontinue；that
　　menthatkeepmistressesoftenchangethem，growwearyof
　　them，orjealousofthem，orsomethingorotherhappensto
　　makethemwithdrawtheirbounty；andsometimestheladies
　　thatarethuswellusedarenotcarefulbyaprudentconduct
　　topreservetheesteemoftheirpersons，orthenicearticleof
　　theirfidelity，andthentheyarejustlycastoffwithcontempt。
　　ButIwassecuredinthispoint，forasIhadnoinclination
　　tochange，soIhadnomannerofacquaintanceinthewhole
　　house，andsonotemptationtolookanyfarther。
　　Ikeptno
　　companybutinthefamilywhenIlodged，andwiththe
　　clergyman’sladyatnextdoor；sothatwhenhewasabsentI
　　visitednobody，nordidheeveryfindmeoutofmychamber
　　orparlourwheneverhecamedown；ifIwentanywhereto
　　taketheair，itwasalwayswithhim。
　　Thelivinginthismannerwithhim，andhiswithme，was
　　certainlythemostundesignedthingintheworld；heoften
　　protestedtome，thatwhenhebecamefirstacquaintedwith
　　me，andeventotheverynightwhenwefirstbrokeinupon
　　ourrules，heneverhadtheleastdesignoflyingwithme；that
　　healwayshadasincereaffectionforme，butnottheleastreal
　　inclinationtodowhathehaddone。
　　IassuredhimInever
　　suspectedhim；thatifIhadIshouldnotsoeasilyhaveyielded
　　tothefreedomwhichbroughtiton，butthatitwasallasurprise，
　　andwasowingtotheaccidentofourhavingyieldedtoofarto
　　ourmutualinclinationsthatnight；andindeedIhaveoften
　　observedsince，andleaveitasacautiontothereadersofthis
　　story，thatweoughttobecautiousofgratifyingourinclinations
　　inlooseandlewdfreedoms，lestwefindourresolutionsof
　　virtuefailusinthejunctionwhentheirassistanceshouldbe
　　mostnecessary。
　　Itistrue，andIhaveconfesseditbefore，thatfromthefirst
　　hourIbegantoconversewithhim，Iresolvedtolethimlie
　　withme，ifheofferedit；butitwasbecauseIwantedhishelp
　　andassistance，andIknewnootherwayofsecuringhimthan
　　that。
　　Butwhenwerethatnighttogether，and，asIhavesaid，
　　hadgonesuchalength，Ifoundmyweakness；theinclination
　　wasnottoberesisted，butIwasobligedtoyieldupalleven
　　beforeheaskedit。
　　However，hewassojusttomethatheneverupbraidedme
　　withthat；nordidheeverexpresstheleastdislikeofmy
　　conductonanyotheroccasion，butalwaysprotestedhewas
　　asmuchdelightedwithmycompanyashewasthefirsthour
　　wecametogether:
　　Imean，cametogetherasbedfellows。
　　Itistruethathehadnowife，thatistosay，shewasasno
　　wifetohim，andsoIwasinnodangerthatway，butthejust
　　reflectionsofconscienceoftentimessnatchaman，especially
　　amanofsense，fromthearmsofamistress，asitdidhimat
　　last，thoughonanotheroccasion。
　　Ontheotherhand，thoughIwasnotwithoutsecretreproaches
　　ofmyownconscienceforthelifeIled，andthateveninthe
　　greatestheightofthesatisfactionIevertook，yetI
　　hadthe
　　terribleprospectofpovertyandstarving，whichlayonmeas
　　afrightfulspectre，sothattherewasnolookingbehindme。
　　Butaspovertybroughtmeintoit，sofearofpovertykeptme
　　init，andIfrequentlyresolvedtoleaveitquiteoff，ifIcould
　　butcometolayupmoneyenoughtomaintainme。
　　Butthese
　　werethoughtsofnoweight，andwheneverhecametomethey
　　vanished；forhiscompanywassodelightful，thattherewasno
　　beingmelancholywhenhewasthere；thereflectionswereall
　　thesubjectofthosehourswhenIwasalone。
　　Ilivedsixyearsinthishappybutunhappycondition，inwhich
　　timeIbroughthimthreechildren，butonlythefirstofthem
　　lived；andthoughIremovedtwiceinthosesixyears，yetIcame
　　backthesixthyeartomyfirstlodgingsatHammersmith。
　　HereitwasthatIwasonemorningsurprisedwithakindbut
　　melancholyletterfrommygentleman，intimatingthathewas
　　veryill，andwasafraidheshouldhaveanotherfitofsickness，
　　butthathiswife’srelationsbeinginthehousewithhim，it
　　wouldnotbepracticabletohavemewithhim，which，however，
　　heexpressedhisgreatdissatisfactionin，andthathewishedI
　　couldbeallowedtotendandnursehimasIdidbefore。
　　Iwasverymuchconcernedatthisaccount，andwasvery
　　impatienttoknowhowitwaswithhim。
　　Iwaitedafortnight
　　orthereabouts，andheardnothing，whichsurprisedme，andI
　　begantobeveryuneasyindeed。
　　Ithink，Imaysay，thatfor
　　thenextfortnightIwasneartodistracted。
　　Itwasmyparticular
　　difficultythatIdidnotknowdirectlywhenhewas；forI
　　understoodatfirsthewasinthelodgingsofhiswife’smother；
　　buthavingremovedmyselftoLondon，Isoonfound，bythe
　　helpofthedirectionIhadforwritingmyletterstohim，how
　　toinquireafterhim，andthereIfoundthathewasatahouse
　　inBloomsbury，whitherhehad，alittlebeforehefellsick，
　　removedhiswholefamily；andthathiswifeandwife’smother
　　wereinthesamehouse，thoughthewifewasnotsufferedto
　　knowthatshewasinthesamehousewithherhusband。
　　HereIalsosoonunderstoodthathewasatthelastextremity，
　　whichmademealmostatthelastextremitytoo，tohaveatrue
　　account。
　　OnenightIhadthecuriositytodisguisemyselflike
　　aservant-maid，inaroundcapandstrawhat，andwenttothe
　　door，assentbyaladyofhisneighbourhood，wherehelived
　　before，andgivingmasterandmistress’sservice，IsaidIwas
　　senttoknowhowMr——did，andhowhehadrestedthatnight。
　　IndeliveringthismessageIgottheopportunityIdesired；for，
　　speakingwithoneofthemaids，Iheldalonggossip’stalewith
　　her，andhadalltheparticularsofhisillness，whichIfoundwas
　　apleurisy，attendedwithacoughandafever。
　　Shetoldmealso
　　whowasinthehouse，andhowhiswifewas，who，byher
　　relation，theywereinsomehopesmightrecoverherunderstanding；
　　butastothegentlemanhimself，inshortshetoldmethedoctors
　　saidtherewasverylittlehopesofhim，thatinthemorning
　　theythoughthehadbeendying，andthathewasbutlittlebetter
　　then，fortheydidnotexpectthathecouldliveoverthenext
　　night。
　　Thiswasheavynewsforme，andIbegannowtoseeanend
　　ofmyprosperity，andtoseealsothatitwasverywellIhad
　　playedtogoodhousewife，andsecuredorsavedsomething
　　whilehewasalive，forthatnowIhadnoviewofmyown
　　livingbeforeme。
　　Itlayveryheavyuponmymind，too，thatIhadason，afine
　　lovelyboy，aboutfiveyearsold，andnoprovisionmadeforit，
　　atleastthatIknewof。
　　Withtheseconsiderations，andasad
　　heart，Iwenthomethatevening，andbegantocastwithmyself
　　howIshouldlive，andinwhatmannertobestowmyself，for
　　theresidueofmylife。
　　YoumaybesureIcouldnotrestwithoutinquiringagainvery
　　quicklywhatwasbecomeofhim；andnotventuringtogo
　　myself，Isentseveralshammessengers，tillafterafortnight’s
　　waitinglonger，Ifoundthattherewashopesofhislife，though
　　hewasstillveryill；thenIabatedmysendinganymoretothe
　　house，andinsometimeafterIlearnedintheneighbourhood
　　thathewasabouthouse，andthenthathewasabroadagain。
　　ImadenodoubtthenbutthatIshouldsoonhearofhim，
　　andbegantocomfortmyselfwithmycircumstancesbeing，as
　　Ithought，recovered。Iwaitedaweek，andtwoweeks，and
　　withmuchsurpriseandamazementIwaitedneartwomonths
　　andheardnothing，butthat，beingrecovered，hewasgoneinto
　　thecountryfortheair，andforthebetterrecoveryafterhis
　　distemper。
　　Afterthisitwasyettwomonthsmore，andthenI
　　understoodhewascometohiscityhouseagain，butstillI
　　heardnothingfromhim。
　　Ihadwrittenseverallettersforhim，anddirectedthemas
　　usual，andfoundtwoorthreeofthemhadbeencalledfor，but
　　nottherest。
　　Iwroteagaininamorepressingmannerthan
　　ever，andinoneofthemlethimknow，thatImustbeforced
　　towaitonhimmyself，representingmycircumstances，therent
　　oflodgingstopay，andtheprovisionforthechildwanting，and
　　myowndeplorablecondition，destituteofsubsistenceforhis
　　mostsolemnengagementtotakecareofandprovideforme。
　　Itookacopyofthisletter，andfindingitlayatthehousenear
　　amonthandwasnotcalledfor，Ifoundmeanstohavethecopy
　　ofitputintohisownhandsatacoffee-house，whereIhadby
　　inquiryfoundheusedtogo。
　　Thisletterforcedananswerfromhim，bywhich，thoughI
　　foundIwastobeabandoned，yetIfoundhehadsentaletter
　　tomesometimebefore，desiringmetogodowntotheBath
　　again。
　　ItscontentsIshallcometopresently。
　　Itistruethatsick-bedsarethetimewhensuchcorrespondences
　　asthisarelookedonwithdifferentcountenances，andseen
　　withothereyesthanwesawthemwith，orthantheyappeared
　　withbefore。