I was brightened up at once with these welcome words, and I threw myself

upon my knees at his feet, with a most sincere glad heart; and I said,

May your honour be for ever blessed for your resolution! Now I shall

be happy. And permit me, on my bended knees, to thank you for all the

benefits and favours you have heaped upon me; for the opportunities I

have had of improvement and learning, through my good lady's means, and

yours. I will now forget all your honour has offered me: and I promise

you, that I will never let your name pass my lips, but with reverence

and gratitude: and so God Almighty bless your honour, for ever and ever!

Amen. Then rising from my knees, I went away with another-guise sort of

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heart than I came into his presence with: and so I fell to writing this

letter. And thus all is happily over.

And now, my dearest father and mother, expect to see soon your poor

daughter, with an humble and dutiful mind, returned to you: and don't

fear but I know how to be as happy with you as ever: for I will be in

the loft, as I used to do; and pray let my little bed be got ready; and

I have a small matter of money, which will buy me a suit of clothes,

fitter for my condition than what I have; and I will get Mrs. Mumford

to help me to some needle-work: and fear not that I shall be a burden

to you, if my health continues. I know I shall be blessed, if not for

my own sake, for both your sakes, who have, in all your trials and

misfortunes, preserved so much integrity as makes every body speak

well of you both. But I hope he will let good Mrs. Jervis give me a

character, for fear it should be thought that I was turned away for

dishonesty. And so, my dear parents, may you be blest for me, and I for you! And I

will always pray for my master and Mrs. Jervis. So good night; for it is

late, and I shall be soon called to bed. I hope Mrs. Jervis is not angry with me. She has not called me to

supper: though I could eat nothing if she had. But I make no doubt I

shall sleep purely to-night, and dream that I am with you, in my dear,

dear, happy loft once more. So good night again, my dear father and mother, says

Your poor honest DAUGHTER.

Perhaps I mayn't come this week, because I must get up the linen, and

leave in order every thing belonging to my place. So send me a line, if

you can, to let me know if I shall be welcome, by John, who will call

for it as he returns. But say nothing of my coming away to him, as yet:

for it will be said I blab every thing.




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