chargedyouwithher；praydoyoudoyourduty。’
　　Theconstable
　　toldhim，alittlemoved，butveryhandsomely，’Iknowmy
　　duty，andwhatIam，sir；Idoubtyouhardlyknowwhatyou
　　aredoing。’
　　Theyhadsomeotherhardwords，andinthe
　　meantimethejourneyman，impudentandunmanlytothelast
　　degree，usedmebarbarously，andoneofthem，thesamethat
　　firstseizeduponme，pretendedhewouldsearchme，andbegan
　　tolayhandsonme。
　　Ispitinhisface，calledouttotheconstable，
　　andbadehimtotakenoticeofmyusage。
　　’Andpray，Mr。
　　Constable，’saidI，’askthatvillain’sname，’pointingtothe
　　man。
　　Theconstablereprovedhimdecently，toldhimthathe
　　didnotknowwhathedid，forheknewthathismaster
　　acknowledgedIwasnotthepersonthatwasinhisshop；’and，’
　　saystheconstable，’Iamafraidyourmasterisbringinghimself，
　　andmetoo，intotrouble，ifthisgentlewomancomestoprove
　　whosheis，andwhereshewas，anditappearsthatsheisnot
　　thewomanyoupretendto。’
　　’Damnher，’saysthefellowagain，
　　withaimpudent，hardenedface，’sheisthelady，youmaydepend
　　uponit；I’llswearsheisthesamebodythatwasintheshop，
　　andthatIgavethepiecesofsatinthatislostintoherownhand。
　　YoushallhearmoreofitwhenMr。WilliamandMr。Anthony
　　those
　　wereotherjourneymencomeback；theywillknowher
　　againaswellasI。’
　　Justastheinsolentroguewastalkingthustotheconstable，
　　comesbackMr。WilliamandMr。Anthony，ashecalledthem，
　　andagreatrabblewiththem，bringingalongwiththemthe
　　truewidowthatIwaspretendedtobe；andtheycamesweating
　　andblowingintotheshop，andwithagreatdealoftriumph，
　　draggingthepoorcreatureinthemostbutcherlymannerup
　　towardstheirmaster，whowasinthebackshop，andcried
　　outaloud，’Here’sthewidow，sir；wehavecatcherheratlast。’
　　’Whatdoyemeanbythat？’saysthemaster。
　　’Why，wehave
　　heralready；thereshesits，’sayshe，’andMr——，’sayshe，
　　’canswearthisisshe。’
　　Theotherman，whomtheycalledMr。
　　Anthony，replied，’Mr——maysaywhathewill，andswear
　　whathewill，butthisisthewoman，andthere’stheremnant
　　ofsatinshestole；Itookitoutofherclotheswithmyownhand。’
　　Isatstillnow，andbegantotakeabetterheart，butsmiledand
　　saidnothing；themasterlookedpale；theconstableturned
　　aboutandlookedatme。
　　’Let’emalone，Mr。Constable，’said
　　I；’let’emgoon。’
　　Thecasewasplainandcouldnotbedenied，
　　sotheconstablewaschargedwiththerightthief，andthe
　　mercertoldmeverycivillyhewassorryforthemistake，and
　　hopedIwouldnottakeitill；thattheyhadsomanythingsof
　　thisnatureputuponthemeveryday，thattheycouldnotbe
　　blamedforbeingverysharpindoingthemselvesjustice。
　　’Not
　　takeitill，sir！’saidI；’howcanItakeitwell！
　　Ifyouhad
　　dismissedmewhenyourinsolentfellowseizedonmeitthe
　　street，andbroughtmetoyou，andwhenyouyourself
　　acknowledgedIwasnottheperson，Iwouldhaveputitby，
　　andnottakenitill，becauseofthemanyillthingsIbelieve
　　youhaveputuponyoudaily；butyourtreatmentofmesince
　　hasbeeninsufferable，andespeciallythatofyourservant；I
　　mustandwillhavereparationforthat。’
　　Thenbebegantoparleywithme，saidhewouldmakemeany
　　reasonablesatisfaction，andwouldfainhavehadmetellhim
　　whatitwasIexpected。
　　ItoldhimthatIshouldnotbemy
　　ownjudge，thelawshoulddecideitforme；andasIwastobe
　　carriedbeforeamagistrate，Ishouldlethimheartherewhat
　　Ihadtosay。
　　Hetoldmetherewasnooccasiontogobefore
　　thejusticenow，IwasatlibertytogowhereIpleased；andso，
　　callingtotheconstable，toldhimhemightletmego，forI
　　wasdischarge。
　　Theconstablesaidcalmlytohim，’sir，you
　　askedmejustnowifIknewwhetherIwasaconstableor
　　justice，andbademedomyduty，andchargedmewiththis
　　gentlewomanasaprisoner。
　　Now，sir，Ifindyoudonot
　　understandwhatismyduty，foryouwouldmakemeajustice
　　indeed；butImusttellyouitisnotinmypower。
　　Imaykeep
　　aprisonerwhenIamchargedwithhim，but’tisthelawand
　　themagistratealonethatcandischargethatprisoner；therefore
　　’tisamistake，sir；Imustcarryherbeforeajusticenow，
　　whetheryouthinkwellofitornot。’
　　Themercerwasvery
　　highwiththeconstableatfirst；buttheconstablehappening
　　tobenotahiredofficer，butagood，substantialkindofman
　　Ithinkhewasacorn-handler，andamanofgoodsense，
　　stoodtohisbusiness，wouldnotdischargemewithoutgoing
　　toajusticeofthepeace；andIinsisteduponittoo。
　　Whenthe
　　mercersawthat，’Well，’sayshetotheconstable，’youmay
　　carryherwhereyouplease；Ihavenothingtosaytoher。’
　　’But，sir，’saystheconstable，’youwillgowithus，Ihope，for
　　’tisyouthatchargedmewithher。’
　　’No，notI，’saysthe
　　mercer；’ItellyouIhavenothingtosaytoher。’
　　’Butpray，sir，
　　do，’saystheconstable；’Idesireitofyouforyourownsake，
　　forthejustice
　　candonothingwithoutyou。’
　　’Prithee，fellow，’
　　saysthemercer，’goaboutyourbusiness；ItellyouIhave
　　nothingtosaytothegentlewoman。
　　Ichargeyouintheking’s
　　nametodismissher。’
　　’Sir，’saystheconstable，’Ifindyou
　　don’tknowwhatitistobeconstable；Ibegofyoudon’toblige
　　metoberudetoyou。’
　　’IthinkIneednot；youarerudeenough
　　already，’saysthemercer。
　　’No，sir，’saystheconstable，’Iam
　　notrude；youhavebrokenthepeaceinbringinganhonest
　　womanoutofthestreet，whenshewasaboutherlawful
　　occasion，confiningherinyourshop，andill-usingherhere
　　byyourservants；andnowcanyousayIamrudetoyou？
　　I
　　thinkIamciviltoyouinnotcommandingorchargingyouin
　　theking’snametogowithme，andchargingeverymanIsee
　　thatpassesyourdoortoaidandassistmeincarryingyouby
　　force；thisyoucannotbutknowIhavepowertodo，andyetI
　　forbearit，andoncemoreentreatyoutogowithme。’
　　Well，he
　　wouldnotforallthis，andgavetheconstableilllanguage。
　　However，theconstablekepthistemper，andwouldnotbe
　　provoked；andthenIputinandsaid，’Come，Mr。Constable，
　　lethimalone；Ishallfindwaysenoughtofetchhimbeforea
　　magistrate，Idon’tfearthat；butthere’sthefellow，’saysI，
　　’hewasthemanthatseizedonmeasIwasinnocentlygoing
　　alongthestreet，andyouareawitnessoftheviolencewith
　　mesince；givemeleavetochargeyouwithhim，andcarry
　　himbeforethejustice。’
　　’Yes，madam，’saystheconstable；
　　andturningtothefellow’Come，younggentleman，’sayshe
　　tothejourneyman，’youmustgoalongwithus；Ihopeyou
　　arenotabovetheconstable’spower，thoughyourmasteris。’
　　Thefellowlookedlikeacondemnedthief，andhungback，
　　thenlookedathismaster，asifhecouldhelphim；andhe，like
　　afool，encouragethefellowtoberude，andhetrulyresisted
　　theconstable，andpushedhimbackwithagoodforcewhen
　　hewenttolayholdonhim，atwhichtheconstableknocked
　　himdown，andcalledoutforhelp；andimmediatelytheshop
　　wasfilledwithpeople，andtheconstableseizedthemaster
　　andman，andallhisservants。
　　Thisfirstillconsequenceofthisfraywas，thatthewoman
　　theyhadtaken，whowasreallythethief，madeoff，andgot
　　clearawayinthecrowd；andtwootherthattheyhadstopped
　　also；whethertheywerereallyguiltyornot，thatIcansay
　　nothingto。
　　Bythistimesomeofhisneighbourshavingcomein，and，
　　uponinquiry，seeinghowthingswent，hadendeavouredto
　　bringthehot-brainedmercertohissenses，andhebeganto
　　beconvincedthathewasinthewrong；andsoatlengthwe
　　wentallveryquietlybeforethejustice，withamobofabout
　　fivehundredpeopleatourheels；andallthewayIwentI
　　couldhearthepeopleaskwhatwasthematter，andotherreply
　　andsay，amercerhadstoppedagentlewomaninsteadofa
　　thief，andhadafterwardstakenthethief，andnowthe
　　gentlewomanhadtakenthemercer，andwascarryinghim
　　beforethejustice。
　　Thispleasedthepeoplestrangely，and
　　madethecrowdincrease，andtheycriedoutastheywent，
　　’Whichistherogue？
　　whichisthemercer？’
　　and
　　especially
　　thewomen。
　　Thenwhentheysawhimtheycriedout，’That’s
　　he，that’she’；andeverynowandthencameagooddabof
　　dirtathim；andthuswemarchedagoodwhile，tillthemercer
　　thoughtfittodesiretheconstabletocallacoachtoprotect
　　himselffromtherabble；sowerodetherestoftheway，the
　　constableandI，andthemercerandhisman。
　　Whenwecametothejustice，whichwasanancientgentleman
　　inBloomsbury，theconstablegivingfirstasummaryaccount
　　ofthematter，thejusticebademespeak，andtellwhatIhad
　　tosay。
　　Andfirstheaskedmyname，whichIwasverylothto
　　give，buttherewasnoremedy，soItoldhimmynamewas
　　MaryFlanders，thatIwasawidow，myhusbandbeingasea
　　captain，diedonavoyagetoVirginia；andsomeother
　　circumstancesItoldwhichhecouldnevercontradict，and
　　thatIlodgedatpresentintownwithsuchaperson，naming
　　mygoverness；butthatIwaspreparingtogoovertoAmerica，
　　wheremyhusband’seffectslay，andthatIwasgoingthatday
　　tobuysomeclothestoputmyselfintosecondmourning，but
　　hadnotyetbeeninanyshop，whenthatfellow，pointingto
　　themercer’sjourneyman，camerushinguponmewithsuch
　　furyasverymuchfrightedme，andcarriedmebacktohis
　　master’sshop，where，thoughhismasteracknowledgedIwas
　　nottheperson，yethewouldnotdismissme，butchargeda