I did not believe her so much in earnest, answered he; and I went down
to Marlborough, and heard she was gone from thence to Calne. I went to
Calne, and heard she was gone to Reading, to a relation's there. Thither
I went, and heard she was gone to Oxford. I followed; and there she was;
but I could not see her.
She at last received a letter from me, begging a meeting with her; for
I found her departure with the ladies was resolved on, and that she was
with her friends, only to take leave of them, and receive her agreed
on portion: And she appointed the Saturday following, and that was
Wednesday, to give me a meeting at the old place, at Woodstock.
Then, added he, I thought I was sure of her, and doubted not I should
spoil her intended voyage. I set out on Thursday to Gloucester, on a
party of pleasure; and on Saturday I went to the place appointed, at
Woodstock: But when I came thither, I found a letter instead of my
lady; and when I opened it, it was to beg my pardon for deceiving me;
expressing her concern for her past fault; her affection for me; and
the apprehension she had, that she should be unable to keep her good
resolves, if she met me: that she had set out on the Thursday for her
embarkation; for that she feared nothing else could save her; and had
appointed this meeting on Saturday, at the place of her former guilt,
that I might be suitably impressed upon the occasion, and pity and allow
for her; and that she might get three or four days start of me, and be
quite out of my reach. She recommended again, as upon the spot where the
poor little one owed its being, my tenderness to it, for her sake; and
that was all she had to request of me, she said; but would not forget
to pray for me in all her own dangers, and in every difficulty she was
going to encounter. I wept at this moving tale.
And did not this make a deep impression upon
you, sir? said I. Surely such an affecting lesson as this, on the very
guilty spot too, (I admire the dear lady's pious contrivance!) must have
had a great effect upon you. One would have thought, sir, it was enough
to reclaim you for ever! All your naughty purposes, I make no doubt,
were quite changed?
Why, my dear, said he, I was much moved, you may be sure, when I came to
reflect: But, at first, I was so assured of being a successful tempter,
and spoiling her voyage, that I was vexed, and much out of humour;
but when I came to reflect, as I said, I was quite overcome with this
instance of her prudence, her penitence, and her resolution; and more
admired her than I ever had done. Yet I could not bear she should so
escape me neither; so much overcome me, as it were, in an heroical
bravery; and I hastened away, and got a bill of credit of Lord Davers,
upon his banker in London, for five hundred pounds; and set out for that
place, having called at Oxford, and got what light I could, as to where
I might hear of her there.