to Miss Howe,
ordering him to inquire if there were not one for her there.

'He only pretended to go, and brought word there was none; and put her
letter in his pocket for me.

'She then ordered him to carry another (which she gave him) to the Horn
Tavern to me.--All this done without any seeming hurry: yet she appeared
to be very solemn; and put her handkerchief frequently to her eyes.

'Will. pretended to come to me with this letter. But thou the dog had
the sagacity to mistrust something on her sending him out a second time;
(and to me, whom she had refused to see;) which he thought extraordinary;
and mentioned his mistrusts to Sally, Polly, and Dorcas; yet they made
light of his suspicions; Dorcas assuring them all, that her lady seemed
more stupid with her grief, than active; and that she really believed she
was a little turned in her head, and knew not what she did. But all of
them depended upon her inexperience, her open temper, and upon her not
making the least motion towards going out, or to have a coach or chair
called, as sometimes she had done; and still more upon the preparations
she had made for a week's siege, as I may call it.

'Will. went out, pretending to bring the letter to me; but quickly
returned; his heart still misgiving him, on recollecting my frequent
cautions, that he was not to judge for himself, when he had positive
orders; but if any doubt occurred, from circumstances I could not
foresee, literally to follow them, as the only way to avoid blame.

'But it must have been in this little interval, that she escaped; for
soon after his return, they made fast the street-door and hatch, the
mother and the two nymphs taking a little turn into the garden; Dorcas
going up stairs, and Will. (to avoid being seen by his lady, or his voice
heard) down into the kitchen.

'About half an hour after, Dorcas, who had planted herself where she
could see her lady's door open, had the curiosity to go look through the
keyhole, having a misgiving, as she said, that the lady might offer some
violence to herself, in the mood she had been in all day; and finding the
key in the door, which was not very usual, she tapped at it three or four
times, and having no answer, opened it, with Madam, Madam, did you call?
--Supposing her in her closet.

'Having no answer, she stept forward, and was astonished to find she was
not there. She hastily ran into the dining-room, then into my
apartments; searched every closet