hink of my old
trade, and to look abroad into the street again; and my first step was
lucky enough.

I had dressed myself up in a very mean habit, for as I had several
shapes to appear in, I was now in an ordinary stuff-gown, a blue apron,
and a straw hat and I placed myself at the door of the Three Cups Inn
in St. John Street. There were several carriers used the inn, and the
stage-coaches for Barnet, for Totteridge, and other towns that way
stood always in the street in the evening, when they prepared to set
out, so that I was ready for anything that offered, for either one or
other. The meaning was this; people come frequently with bundles and
small parcels to those inns, and call for such carriers or coaches as
they want, to carry them into the country; and there generally attend
women, porters' wives or daughters, ready to take in such things for
their respective people that employ them.

It happened very oddly that I was standing at the inn gate, and a woman
that had stood there before, and which was the porter's wife belonging
to the Barnet stage-coach, having observed me, asked if I waited for
any of the coaches. I told her Yes, I waited for my mistress, that was
coming to go to Barnet. She asked me who was my mistress, and I told
her any madam's name that came next me; but as it seemed, I happened
upon a name, a family of which name lived at Hadley, just beyond Barnet.

I said no more to her, or she to me, a good while; but by and by,
somebody calling her at a door a little way off, she desired me that if
anybody called for the Barnet coach, I would step and call her at the
house, which it seems was an alehouse. I said Yes, very readily, and
away she went.

She was no sooner gone but comes a wench and a child, puffing and
sweating, and asks for the Barnet coach. I answered presently, 'Here.'
'Do you belong to the Barnet coach?' says she. 'Yes, sweetheart,' said
I; 'what do ye want?' 'I want room for two passengers,' says she.
'Where are they, sweetheart?' said I. 'Here's this girl, pray let her
go into the coach,' says she, 'and I'll go and fetch my mistress.'
'Make haste, then, sweetheart,' says I, 'for we may be full else.' The
maid had a great bundle under her arm; so she put the child into the
coach, and I said, 'You had best put your bundle into the coach too.'
'No,' says she, 'I am afraid somebody should slip it away from the
child.' 'Give to me, then,' said I, 'and I'll take care of it.'