O Madam!—­I am ready!  I am now ready!—­You must not leave me here.  And down I sunk, affrighted, into a chair.

This instant, this instant, I will return—­before you can be ready—­ before you can have packed up your things—­we would not be late—­the robbers we have heard of may be out—­don’t let us be late.

And away she hurried before I could say another word.  Her pretended niece went with her, without taking notice to me of her going.

I had no suspicion yet that these women were not indeed the ladies they personated; and I blamed myself for my weak fears.—­It cannot be, thought I, that such ladies will abet treachery against a poor creature they are so fond of.  They must undoubtedly be the persons they appear to be—­what folly to doubt it!  The air, the dress, the dignity of women of quality.  How unworthy of them, and of my charity, concluded I, is this ungenerous shadow of suspicion!

So, recovering my stupefied spirits, as well as they could be recovered, (for I was heavier and heavier! and wondered to Dorcas what ailed me, rubbing my eyes, and taking some of her snuff, pinch after pinch, to very little purpose,) I pursued my employment:  but when that was over, all packed up that I designed to be packed up; and I had nothing to do but to think; and found them tarry so long; I thought I should have gone distracted.  I shut myself into the chamber that had been mine; I kneeled, I prayed; yet knew not what I prayed for:  then ran out again:  it was almost dark night, I said:  where, where, where was Mr. Lovelace?

He came to me, taking no notice at first of my consternation and wildness, [what they had given me made me incoherent and wild:] All goes well, said he, my dear!—­A line from Capt.  Tomlinson!

All indeed did go well for the villanous project of the most cruel and most villanous of men!

I demanded his aunt!—­I demanded his cousin!—­The evening, I said, was closing!—­My head was very, very bad, I remember I said—­and it grew worse and worse.—­

Terror, however, as yet kept up my spirits; and I insisted upon his going himself to hasten them.

He called his servant.  He raved at the sex for their delay:  ’twas well that business of consequence seldom depended upon such parading, unpunctual triflers!

His servant came.

He ordered him to fly to his cousin Leeson’s, and to let Lady Betty and his cousin know how uneasy we both were at their delay:  adding, of his own accord, desire them, if they don’t come instantly, to send their coach, and we will go without them.  Tell them I wonder they’ll serve me so!