you I must lose, if your former supposed marriage should be declared valid, and in honour we must never see each other more.”  He then said, “He would go and lay the case immediately before the best council, particularly Mr. Murray, the Solicitor-General.”  But I heard no more of this affair whilst we staid in town, excepting that it was laid before the said council; nor did I receive any more solicitations from him on this head.

About this time my mother being distressed for money, was very uneasy, as well as in a bad state of health; which gave me great concern.  Being one day, therefore, alone, and in tears, Mr. Cranstoun came unexpectedly into the room, and insisted upon knowing the reason of my grief; which at last, after many tender persuasions on his part, I discovered to him.  I told him my mother owed forty pounds, and as she durst not inform my father of it, did not know which way to get it.  To this he replied, “I only wish I had as many hundreds:  I will get it for you, my dear, to-morrow.  Poor woman, how can her husband use her so!” On which, my mother coming in, no more was at that time said.  Mr. Cranstoun stayed but a little while; and when he went away, he told me, “He would see about it.”  After he was gone, I took my mother in my arms, and said, “My dear mamma, you may be easy about this money, for Mr. Cranstoun will get it for you to-morrow.”  At this my mother burst into tears, and cried, “Why will Mr. Blandy expose himself and me so?  How can the poor soul get it?  But he shall have my watch if he ever wants it, and I cannot pay him in money.”  To this I made answer, “As to paying him in money, mamma, that you never can; having never been mistress of such a sum, nor likely ever to be so; but make yourself easy, if we meet, you will never be asked for it.”

The next day she and I went to see her sister, Mrs. Frances Stevens, who then lived with her uncle, Mr. Cary, in Watling Street; where Mr. Cranstoun and his cousin, Mr. Edmonstoun, took their leave of us, we being to set out for Henley the day following.  Mr. Cranstoun brought the money with him, which he delivered into my mother’s own hand; on which, not being able to speak, she squeezed his hand and burst into tears.  He then kissed her, and said, “Remember, ’tis a son, and therefore don’t make yourself uneasy; you can’t lie under any obligation to me.”  Then he took me by the hand, and led me into another room.  Here I was going to return him thanks for his goodness to my mother:  but this he prevented, by kissing me, and saying, “That was all he desired in return.”  Then he gave me five guineas, and desired me to keep them by me; since, in case the council should think a private marriage proper, they should enable me to come up in a post-chaise to London, and meet him there, with all possible expedition.  After a little farther discourse, we parted in a very moving manner.  I paid ten pounds for my mother, out of the forty pounds she had been supplied with by Mr. Cranstoun,