’But it must have been in this little interval, that she escaped; for soon after his return, they made fast the street-door and hatch, the mother and the two nymphs taking a little turn into the garden; Dorcas going up stairs, and Will. (to avoid being seen by his lady, or his voice heard) down into the kitchen.

’About half an hour after, Dorcas, who had planted herself where she could see her lady’s door open, had the curiosity to go look through the keyhole, having a misgiving, as she said, that the lady might offer some violence to herself, in the mood she had been in all day; and finding the key in the door, which was not very usual, she tapped at it three or four times, and having no answer, opened it, with Madam, Madam, did you call?  —­Supposing her in her closet.

’Having no answer, she stept forward, and was astonished to find she was not there.  She hastily ran into the dining-room, then into my apartments; searched every closet; dreading all the time to behold some sad catastrophe.

’Not finding her any where, she ran down to the old creature, and her nymphs, with a Have you seen my lady?—­Then she’s gone!—­She’s no where above!

’They were sure she could not be gone out.

’The whole house was in an uproar in an instant; some running up-stairs, some down, from the upper rooms to the lower; and all screaming, How should they look me in the face!

’Will. cried out, he was a dead man:  he blamed them; they him; and every one was an accuser, and an excuser, at the same time.

’When they had searched the whole house, and every closet in it, ten times over, to no purpose, they took it into their heads to send to all the porters, chairmen, and hackney-coachmen, that had been near the house for two hours past, to inquire if any of them saw such a young lady; describing her.

’This brought them some light:  the only dawning for hope, that I can have, and which keeps me from absolute despair.  One of the chairmen gave them this account:  That he saw such a one come out of the house a little before four (in a great hurry, and as if frighted) with a little parcel tied up in a handkerchief, in her hand:  that he took notice to his fellow, who plied her without her answering, that she was a fine young lady:  that he’d warrant, she had either a husband, or very cross parents; for that her eyes seemed swelled with crying.  Upon which, a third fellow replied, that it might be a doe escaped from mother Damnable’s park.  This Mrs. Sinclair told me with a curse, and a wish that she had a better reputation; so handsomely as she lived, and so justly as she paid every body for what she bought; her house visited by the best and civilest of gentlemen; and no noise or brawls ever heard or known in it.

’From these appearances, the fellow who gave this information, had the curiosity to follow her, unperceived.  She often looked back.  Every body who passed her, turned to look after her; passing their verdict upon her tears, her hurry, and her charming person; till coming to a stand of coaches, a coachman plied her; was accepted; alighted; opened the coach-door in a hurry, seeing her hurry; and in it she stumbled for haste; and, as the fellow believed, hurt her shin with the stumble.’