as my safety
in this exigence, when I was, as it were, keeping no guard for myself;
for, finding Amy not come up, and that she did not know how soon this
wild thing might put her designed ramble in practice, she sent a
messenger to the captain's wife's house, where she lodged, to tell her
that she wanted to speak with her. She was at the heels of the
messenger, and came eager for some news; and hoped, she said, the lady
(meaning me) had been come to town.

The Quaker, with as much caution as she was mistress of, not to tell a
downright lie, made her believe she expected to hear of me very quickly;
and frequently, by the by, speaking of being abroad to take the air,
talked of the country about Bury, how pleasant it was, how wholesome,
and how fine an air; how the downs about Newmarket were exceeding fine,
and what a vast deal of company there was, now the court was there; till
at last, the girl began to conclude that my ladyship was gone thither;
for, she said, she knew I loved to see a great deal of company.

"Nay," says my friend, "thou takest me wrong; I did not suggest," says
she, "that the person thou inquirest after is gone thither, neither do I
believe she is, I assure thee." Well, the girl smiled, and let her know
that she believed it for all that; so, to clench it fast, "Verily," says
she, with great seriousness, "thou dost not do well, for thou suspectest
everything and believest nothing. I speak solemnly to thee that I do not
believe they are gone that way; so if thou givest thyself the trouble to
go that way, and art disappointed, do not say that I have deceived
thee." She knew well enough that if this did abate her suspicion it
would not remove it, and that it would do little more than amuse her;
but by this she kept her in suspense till Amy came up, and that was
enough.

When Amy came up, she was quite confounded to hear the relation which
the Quaker gave her, and found means to acquaint me of it; only letting
me know, to my great satisfaction, that she would not come to Tunbridge
first, but that she would certainly go to Newmarket or Bury first.

However, it gave me very great uneasiness; for as she resolved to ramble
in search after me over the whole country, I was safe nowhere, no, not
in Holland itself. So indeed I did not know what to do with her; and
thus I had a bitter in all my sweet, for I was continually perplexed
with this hussy, and thought she haunted me like an evil spirit.

In the meanti