r assist her. I therefore embraced her
proposal, and she being bailed in a few hours, took me home with her in
a coach. As I was by this time conscious of having formerly disgusted
my admirers by my reserved loud haughty behaviour, I now endeavoured to
conquer that disposition, and the sudden change of my fortune giving me
a flow of spirits, I appeared in the most winning and gay manner I could
assume. Having the advantage of a good voice and education, I exerted
my talents to the uttermost, and soon became the favourite with all
company. This success alarmed the pride and jealousy of Mrs. Coupler,
who could not bear the thoughts of being eclipsed: she therefore made a
merit of her envy, and whispered among the customers that I was unsound.
There needed no more to ruin my reputation and blast my prosperity;
everybody shunned me with marks of aversion and disdain, and in a very
short time I was as solitary as ever. Want of gallants was attended with
want of money to satisfy my malicious landlady, who having purposely
given me credit to the amount of eleven pounds, took out a writ against
me and I was arrested in her own house. Though the room was crowded with
people when the bailiff entered, not one of them had compassion enough
to mollify my prosecutrix, far less to pay the debt; they even laughed
at my tears, and one of them bade me be of good cheer, for I should not
want admirers in Newgate.

'At this instant a sea-lieutenant came in, and seeing my plight, began
to inquire into the circumstances of my misfortune. "Harkee, my girl,"
he inquired "how far have you overrun the constable?" I told him that
the debt amounted to eleven pounds, besides the expenses of the writ.
"An that be all," said he, "you shan't go to the bilboes this bout."
And taking out his purse, he paid the money, discharged the bailiff, and
telling me I had got into the wrong port, advised me to seek out a more
convenient harbour, where I could be safely hove down; for which purpose
he made me a present of five guineas more. I was so touched with this
singular piece of generosity, that for some time I had not power to
thank him. However, as soon as I recollected myself, I begged the favour
of him to go with me to the next tavern, where I explained the nature of
my disaster, and convinced him of the falsehood of what was reported to
my prejudice so effectually, that he from that moment attached himself
to me, and we lived in great harmony together, unt