Iwalkedfrequentlyout
　　intothevillagesroundthetown，toseeifnothingwouldfall
　　inmywaythere；andgoingbyahousenearStepney，Isawon
　　thewindow-boardtworings，oneasmalldiamondring，and
　　theotheragoldring，tobesurelaidtherebysomethoughtless
　　lady，thathadmoremoneythenforecast，perhapsonlytill
　　shewashedherhands。
　　IwalkedseveraltimesbythewindowtoobserveifIcould
　　seewhethertherewasanybodyintheroomorno，andIcould
　　seenobody，butstillIwasnotsure。
　　Itcamepresentlyintomy
　　thoughtstorapattheglass，asifIwantedtospeakwith
　　somebody，andifanybodywastheretheywouldbesureto
　　cometothewindow，andthenIwouldtellthemtoremove
　　thoserings，forthatIhadseentwosuspiciousfellowstake
　　noticeofthem。
　　Thiswasareadythought。
　　Irappedonceor
　　twiceandnobodycame，when，seeingthecoastclear，Ithrust
　　hardagainstthesquareoftheglass，andbrokeitwithvery
　　littlenoise，andtook
　　outthetworings，andwalkedawaywith
　　themverysafe。
　　Thediamondringwasworthabout#3，and
　　theotherabout9s。
　　Iwasnowatalossforamarketformygoods，andespecially
　　formytwopiecesofsilk。
　　Iwasverylothtodisposeofthem
　　foratrifle，asthepoorunhappythievesingeneraldo，who，
　　aftertheyhaveventuredtheirlivesforperhapsathingofvalue，
　　arefaintosellitforasongwhentheyhavedone；butIwas
　　resolvedIwouldnotdothus，whatevershiftImade，unlessI
　　wasdriventothelastextremity。
　　However，Ididnotwellknow
　　whatcoursetotake。
　　AtlastIresolvedtogotomyoldgoverness，
　　andacquaintmyselfwithheragain。
　　Ihadpunctuallysupplied
　　the#5ayeartoherformylittleboyaslongasIwasable，but
　　atlastwasobligedtoputastoptoit。
　　However，Ihadwritten
　　alettertoher，whereinIhadtoldherthatmycircumstances
　　werereducedverylow；thatIhadlostmyhusband，andthatI
　　wasnotabletodoitanylonger，andsobeggedthatthepoor
　　childmightnotsuffertoomuchforitsmother’smisfortunes。
　　Inowmadeheravisit，andIfoundthatshedrovesomething
　　oftheoldtradestill，butthatshewasnotinsuchflourishing
　　circumstancesasbefore；forshehadbeensuedbyacertain
　　gentlemanwhohadhadhisdaughterstolenfromhim，andwho，
　　itseems，shehadhelpedtoconveyaway；anditwasvery
　　narrowlythatsheescapedthegallows。
　　Theexpensealsohad
　　ravagedher，andshewasbecomeverypoor；herhousewas
　　butmeanlyfurnished，andshewasnotinsuchreputeforher
　　practiceasbefore；however，shestooduponherlegs，asthey
　　say，andashewasastirring，bustlingwoman，andhadsome
　　stockleft，shewasturnedpawnbroker，andlivedprettywell。
　　Shereceivedmeverycivilly，andwithherusualobliging
　　mannertoldmeshewouldnothavethelessrespectformefor
　　mybeingreduced；thatshehadtakencaremyboywasvery
　　welllookedafter，thoughIcouldnotpayforhim，andthatthe
　　womanthathadhimwaseasy，sothatIneedednottotrouble
　　myselfabouthimtillImightbebetterabletodoiteffectually。
　　ItoldherthatIhadnotmuchmoneyleft，butthatIhadsome
　　thingsthatweremoney’sworth，ifshecouldtellmehowI
　　mightturnthemintomoney。
　　SheaskedmewhatitwasIhad。
　　Ipulledoutthestringofgoldbeads，andtoldheritwasone
　　ofmyhusband’spresentstome；thenIshowedherthetwo
　　parcelsofsilk，whichItoldherIhadfromIreland，andbrought
　　uptotownwithme；andthelittlediamondring。
　　Astothe
　　smallparcelofplateandspoons，Ihadfoundmeanstodispose
　　ofthemmyselfbefore；andasforthechildbed-linenIhad，she
　　offeredmetotakeitherself，believingittohavebeenmyown。
　　Shetoldmethatshewasturnedpawnbroker，andthatshe
　　wouldsellthosethingsformeaspawntoher；andsoshesent
　　presentlyforproperagentsthatboughtthem，beinginher
　　hands，withoutanyscruple，andgavegoodpricestoo。
　　Inowbegantothinkthisnecessarywomanmighthelpmea
　　littleinmylowconditiontosomebusiness，forIwouldgladly
　　haveturnedmyhandtoanyhonestemploymentifIcouldhave
　　gotit。
　　Buthereshewasdeficient；honestbusinessdidnot
　　comewithinherreach。
　　IfIhadbeenyounger，perhapsshe
　　mighthavehelpedmetoaspark，butmythoughtswereoff
　　thatkindoflivelihood，asbeingquiteoutofthewayafterfifty，
　　whichwasmycase，andsoItoldher。
　　Sheinvitedmeatlasttocome，andbeatherhousetillIcould
　　findsomethingtodo，anditshouldcostmeverylittle，andthis
　　Igladlyacceptedof。
　　Andnowlivingalittleeasier，Ientered
　　intosomemeasurestohavemylittlesonbymylasthusband
　　takenoff；andthisshemadeeasytoo，reservingapayment
　　onlyof#5ayear，ifIcouldpayit。
　　Thiswassuchahelptome，
　　thatforagoodwhileIleftoffthewickedtradethatIhadso
　　newlytakenup；andgladlyIwouldhavegotmybreadbythe
　　helpofmyneedleifIcouldhavegotwork，butthatwasvery
　　hardtodoforonethathadnomannerofacquaintanceinthe
　　world。
　　However，atlastIgotsomequiltingworkforladies’beds，
　　petticoats，andthelike；andthisIlikedverywell，andworked
　　veryhard，andwiththisIbegantolive；butthediligentdevil，
　　whoresolvedIshouldcontinueinhisservice，continually
　　promptedmetogooutandtakeawalk，thatistosay，tosee
　　ifanythingwouldofferintheoldway。
　　OneeveningIblindlyobeyedhissummons，andfetchedalong
　　circuitthroughthestreets，butmetwithnopurchase，andcame
　　homeverywearyandempty；butnotcontentwiththat，Iwent
　　outthenexteveningtoo，whengoingbyanalehouseIsawthe
　　doorofalittleroomopen，nexttheverystreet，andonthetable
　　asilvertankard，thingsmuchinuseinpublic-housesatthat
　　time。
　　Itseemssomecompanyhadbeendrinkingthere，andthe
　　carelessboyshadforgottotakeitaway。
　　Iwentintotheboxfrankly，andsettingthesilvertankardon
　　thecornerofthebench，Isatdownbeforeit，andknockedwith
　　myfoot；aboycamepresently，andIbadehimfetchmeapint
　　ofwarmale，foritwascoldweather；theboyran，andIheard
　　himgodownthecellartodrawtheale。
　　Whiletheboywas
　　gone，anotherboycameintotheroom，andcried，’D’yecall？’
　　Ispokewithamelancholyair，andsaid，’No，child；theboyis
　　goneforapintofaleforme。’
　　WhileIsathere，Iheardthewomaninthebarsay，’Arethey
　　allgoneinthefive？’whichwastheboxIsatin，andtheboy
　　said，’Yes。’
　　’Whofetchedthetankardaway？’saysthewoman。
　　’Idid，’saysanotherboy；’that’sit，’pointing，itseems，to
　　anothertankard，whichhehadfetchedfromanotherboxby
　　mistake；orelseitmustbe，thattherogueforgotthathehad
　　notbroughtitin，whichcertainlyhehadnot。
　　Iheardallthis，muchtomysatisfaction，forIfoundplainly
　　thatthetankardwasnotmissed，andyettheyconcludeditwas
　　fetchedaway；soIdrankmyale，calledtopay，andasIwent
　　awayIsaid，’Takecareofyourplate，child，’meaningasilver
　　pintmug，whichhebroughtmedrinkin。
　　Theboysaid，’Yes，
　　madam，verywelcome，’andawayIcame。
　　Icamehometomygoverness，andnowIthoughtitwasa
　　timetotryher，thatifImightbeputtothenecessityofbeing
　　exposed，shemightoffermesomeassistance。
　　WhenIhad
　　beenathomesometime，andhadanopportunityoftalkingto
　　her，ItoldherIhadasecretofthegreatestconsequenceinthe
　　worldtocommittoher，ifshehadrespectenoughformeto
　　keepitasecret。
　　Shetoldmeshehadkeptoneofmysecrets
　　faithfully；whyshouldIdoubtherkeepinganother？
　　Itoldher
　　thestrangestthingintheworldhadbefallenme，andthatit
　　hadmadeathiefofme，evenwithoutanydesign，andsotold
　　herthewholestoryofthetankard。
　　’Andhaveyoubroughtit
　　awaywithyou，mydear？’saysshe。
　　’TobesureIhave，’says
　　I，andshowedither。
　　’ButwhatshallIdonow，’saysI；’must
　　notcarryitagain？’
　　’Carryitagain！’saysshe。
　　’Ay，ifyouaremindedtobesent
　　toNewgateforstealingit。’
　　’Why，’saysI，’theycan’tbeso
　　basetostopme，whenIcarryittothemagain？’
　　’Youdon’t
　　knowthosesortofpeople，child，’saysshe；’they’llnotonly
　　carryyoutoNewgate，buthangyoutoo，withoutanyregard
　　tothehonestyofreturningit；orbringinanaccountofallthe
　　othertankardstheyhavelost，foryoutopayfor。’
　　’Whatmust
　　Ido，then？’saysI。
　　’Nay，’saysshe，’asyouhaveplayedthe
　　cunningpartandstoleit，youmuste’enkeepit；there’sno
　　goingbacknow。
　　Besides，child，’saysshe，’don’tyouwantit
　　morethantheydo？
　　Iwishyoucouldlightofsuchabargain
　　onceaweek。’
　　Thisgavemeanewnotionofmygoverness，andthatsince
　　shewasturnedpawnbroker，shehadasortofpeopleabout
　　herthatwerenoneofthehonestonesthatIhadmetwith
　　therebefore。
　　IhadnotbeenlongtherebutIdiscovereditmoreplainlythan