y governess, 'if you discover it, the nurse shall
be never the wiser; for she shall be forbid to ask any questions about
you, or to take any notice. If she offers it, she shall lose the money
which you are suppose to give her, and the child shall be taken from
her too.'

I was very well pleased with this. So the next week a countrywoman was
brought from Hertford, or thereabouts, who was to take the child off
our hands entirely for #10 in money. But if I would allow #5 a year
more of her, she would be obliged to bring the child to my governess's
house as often as we desired, or we should come down and look at it,
and see how well she used it.

The woman was very wholesome-looking, a likely woman, a cottager's
wife, but she had very good clothes and linen, and everything well
about her; and with a heavy heart and many a tear, I let her have my
child. I had been down at Hertford, and looked at her and at her
dwelling, which I liked well enough; and I promised her great things if
she would be kind to the child, so she knew at first word that I was
the child's mother. But she seemed to be so much out of the way, and
to have no room to inquire after me, that I thought I was safe enough.
So, in short, I consented to let her have the child, and I gave her
#10; that is to say, I gave it to my governess, who gave it the poor
woman before my face, she agreeing never to return the child back to
me, or to claim anything more for its keeping or bringing up; only that
I promised, if she took a great deal of care of it, I would give her
something more as often as I came to see it; so that I was not bound to
pay the #5, only that I promised my governess I would do it. And thus
my great care was over, after a manner, which though it did not at all
satisfy my mind, yet was the most convenient for me, as my affairs then
stood, of any that could be thought of at that time.

I then began to write to my friend at the bank in a more kindly style,
and particularly about the beginning of July I sent him a letter, that
I proposed to be in town some time in August. He returned me an answer
in the most passionate terms imaginable, and desired me to let him have
timely notice, and he would come and meet me, two day's journey. This
puzzled me scurvily, and I did not know what answer to make of it.
Once I resolved to take the stage-coach to West Chester, on purpose
only to have the satisfaction of coming back, that he might see me
really co