“Without wasting any time in the fruitless indulgence of vexation, I once more set out in search of an abode in which I could hide myself for a few weeks.

“Agreeing to pay an exorbitant price, I hired an apartment, without any reference being required relative to my character:  indeed, a glance at my shape seemed to say, that my motive for concealment was sufficiently obvious.  Thus was I obliged to shroud my head in infamy.

“To avoid all danger of detection—­I use the appropriate word, my child, for I was hunted out like a felon—­I determined to take possession of my new lodgings that very evening.

“I did not inform my landlady where I was going.  I knew that she had a sincere affection for me, and would willingly have run any risk to show her gratitude; yet I was fully convinced, that a few kind words from Johnny would have found the woman in her, and her dear benefactress, as she termed me in an agony of tears, would have been sacrificed, to recompense her tyrant for condescending to treat her like an equal.  He could be kind-hearted, as she expressed it, when he pleased.  And this thawed sternness, contrasted with his habitual brutality, was the more acceptable, and could not be purchased at too dear a rate.

“The sight of the advertisement made me desirous of taking refuge with my uncle, let what would be the consequence; and I repaired in a hackney coach (afraid of meeting some person who might chance to know me, had I walked) to the chambers of my uncle’s friend.

“He received me with great politeness (my uncle had already prepossessed him in my favour), and listened, with interest, to my explanation of the motives which had induced me to fly from home, and skulk in obscurity, with all the timidity of fear that ought only to be the companion of guilt.  He lamented, with rather more gallantry than, in my situation, I thought delicate, that such a woman should be thrown away on a man insensible to the charms of beauty or grace.  He seemed at a loss what to advise me to do, to evade my husband’s search, without hastening to my uncle, whom, he hesitating said, I might not find alive.  He uttered this intelligence with visible regret; requested me, at least, to wait for the arrival of the next packet; offered me what money I wanted, and promised to visit me.

“He kept his word; still no letter arrived to put an end to my painful state of suspense.  I procured some books and music, to beguile the tedious solitary days.

     ’Come, ever smiling Liberty,
     ‘And with thee bring thy jocund train:’ 

I sung—­and sung till, saddened by the strain of joy, I bitterly lamented the fate that deprived me of all social pleasure.  Comparative liberty indeed I had possessed myself of; but the jocund train lagged far behind!”

CHAPTER 13