I was at a perfect loss how to act or what to do.

At length came Amy's letter, with the last account which she had at
Rouen from the Dutch skipper, which, confirming the other, left me out
of doubt that this was my man; but still no human invention could bring
me to the speech of him in such a manner as would suit with my
resolutions. For, after all, how did I know what his circumstances were?
whether married or single? And if he had a wife, I knew he was so honest
a man he would not so much as converse with me, or so much as know me if
he met me in the street.

In the next place, as he entirely neglected me, which, in short, is the
worst way of slighting a woman, and had given no answer to my letters, I
did not know but he might be the same man still; so I resolved that I
could do nothing in it unless some fairer opportunity presented, which
might make my way clearer to me; for I was determined he should have no
room to put any more slights upon me.

In these thoughts I passed away near three months; till at last, being
impatient, I resolved to send for Amy to come over, and tell her how
things stood, and that I would do nothing till she came. Amy, in answer,
sent me word she would come away with all speed, but begged of me that I
would enter into no engagement with him, or anybody, till she arrived;
but still keeping me in the dark as to the thing itself which she had to
say; at which I was heartily vexed, for many reasons.

But while all these things were transacting, and letters and answers
passed between Amy and I a little slower than usual, at which I was not
so well pleased as I used to be with Amy's despatch--I say, in this time
the following scene opened.

It was one afternoon, about four o'clock, my friendly Quaker and I
sitting in her chamber upstairs, and very cheerful, chatting together
(for she was the best company in the world), when somebody ringing
hastily at the door, and no servant just then in the way, she ran down
herself to the door, when a gentleman appears, with a footman attending,
and making some apologies, which she did not thoroughly understand, he
speaking but broken English, he asked to speak with me, by the very same
name that I went by in her house, which, by the way, was not the name
that he had known me by.

She, with very civil language, in her way, brought him into a very
handsome parlour below stairs, and said she would go and see whether the
person who lodged in her house ow