I found she was an eminent lady in her way; and, in short, I agreed to
put myself into her hands, and promised her. She then talked of other
things, looked about into my accommodations where I was, found fault
with my wanting attendance and conveniences, and that I should not be
used so at her house. I told her I was shy of speaking, for the woman
of the house looked stranger, or at least I thought so, since I had
been ill, because I was with child; and I was afraid she would put some
affront or other upon me, supposing that I had been able to give but a
slight account of myself.
'Oh dear,' said she, 'her ladyship is no stranger to these things; she
has tried to entertain ladies in your condition several times, but she
could not secure the parish; and besides, she is not such a nice lady
as you take her to be; however, since you are a-going, you shall not
meddle with her, but I'll see you are a little better looked after
while you are here than I think you are, and it shall not cost you the
more neither.' I did not understand her at all; however, I thanked her, and so we
parted. The next morning she sent me a chicken roasted and hot, and a
pint bottle of sherry, and ordered the maid to tell me that she was to
wait on me every day as long as I stayed there.
This was surprisingly good and kind, and I accepted it very willingly.
At night she sent to me again, to know if I wanted anything, and how I
did, and to order the maid to come to her in the morning with my
dinner. The maid had orders to make me some chocolate in the morning
before she came away, and did so, and at noon she brought me the
sweetbread of a breast of veal, whole, and a dish of soup for my
dinner; and after this manner she nursed me up at a distance, so that I
was mightily well pleased, and quickly well, for indeed my dejections
before were the principal part of my illness.
I expected, as is usually the case among such people, that the servant
she sent me would have been some imprudent brazen wench of Drury Lane
breeding, and I was very uneasy at having her with me upon that
account; so I would not let her lie in that house the first night by
any means, but had my eyes about me as narrowly as if she had been a
public thief.