ItmightbeexpectedthatIshouldgivesomeaccountofthe
　　natureofthewickedpracticesofthiswoman，inwhosehands
　　Iwasnowfallen；butitwouldbetoomuchencouragementto
　　thevice，tolettheworldseewhateasymeasureswerehere
　　takentoridthewomen’sunwelcomeburthenofachild
　　clandestinelygotten。
　　Thisgravematronhadseveralsortsof
　　practice，andthiswasoneparticular，thatifachildwasborn，
　　thoughnotinherhouseforshehadoccasiontobecalledto
　　manyprivatelabours，shehadpeopleathand，whoforapiece
　　ofmoneywouldtakethechildofftheirhands，andofffrom
　　thehandsoftheparishtoo；andthosechildren，asshesaid，
　　werehonestlyprovidedforandtakencareof。
　　Whatshould
　　becomeofthemall，consideringsomany，asbyheraccount
　　shewasconcernedwith，Icannotconceive。
　　Ihadmanytimesdiscoursesuponthatsubjectwithher；but
　　shewasfullofthisargument，thatshesavethelifeofmanyan
　　innocentlamb，asshecalledthem，whichwouldotherwise
　　perhapshavebeenmurdered；andofmanywomenwho，made
　　desperatebythemisfortune，wouldotherwisebetemptedto
　　destroytheirchildren，andbringthemselvestothegallows。
　　grantedherthatthiswastrue，andaverycommendablething，
　　providedthepoorchildrenfellintogoodhandsafterwards，
　　andwerenotabused，starved，andneglectedbythenurses
　　thatbredthemup。
　　Sheanswered，thatshealwaystookcare
　　ofthat，andhadnonursesinherbusinessbutwhatwerevery
　　good，honestpeople，andsuchasmightbedependedupon。
　　Icouldsaynothingtothecontrary，andsowasobligedtosay，
　　’Madam，Idonotquestionyoudoyourparthonestly，butwhat
　　thosepeopledoafterwardsisthemainquestion’；andshe
　　stoppedmymouthagainwithsayingthatshetooktheutmost
　　careaboutit。
　　TheonlythingIfoundinallherconversationonthesesubjects
　　thatgavemeanydistaste，was，thatonetimeindiscouraging
　　aboutmybeingfargonewithchild，andthetimeIexpected
　　tocome，shesaidsomethingthatlookedasifshecouldhelp
　　meoffwithmyburthensooner，ifIwaswilling；or，inEnglish，
　　thatshecouldgivemesomethingtomakememiscarry，ifI
　　hadadesiretoputanendtomytroublesthatway；butIsoon
　　letherseethatIabhorredthethoughtsofit；and，todoher
　　justice，sheputitoffsocleverly，thatIcouldnotsayshereally
　　intendedit，orwhethersheonlymentionedthepracticeasa
　　horriblething；forshecouchedherwordssowell，andtookmy
　　meaningsoquickly，thatshegavehernegativebeforeIcould
　　explainmyself。
　　Tobringthispartintoasnarrowacompassaspossible，Iquitted
　　mylodgingatSt。Jones’sandwenttomynewgoverness，for
　　sotheycalledherinthehouse，andthereIwasindeedtreated
　　withsomuchcourtesy，socarefullylookedto，sohandsomely
　　provided，andeverythingsowell，thatIwassurprisedatit，and
　　couldnotatfirstseewhatadvantagemygovernessmadeofit；
　　butIfoundafterwardsthatsheprofessedtomakenoprofitof
　　lodgers’diet，norindeedcouldshegetmuchbyit，butthat
　　herprofitlayintheotherarticlesofhermanagement，andshe
　　madeenoughthatway，Iassureyou；for’tisscarcecredible
　　whatpracticeshehad，aswellabroadasathome，andyetall
　　upontheprivateaccount，or，inplainEnglish，thewhoring
　　account。
　　WhileIwasinherhouse，whichwasnearfourmonths，she
　　hadnolessthantwelveladiesofpleasurebroughttobedwithin
　　thedoors，andIthinkshehadtwo-and-thirty，orthereabouts，
　　underherconductwithoutdoors，whereofone，asniceasshe
　　waswithme，waslodgedwithmyoldlandladyatSt。Jones’s。
　　Thiswasastrangetestimonyofthegrowingviceoftheage，
　　andsuchaone，thatasbadasIhadbeenmyself，itshocked
　　myverysenses。
　　IbegantonauseatetheplaceIwasinand，
　　aboutall，thewickedpractice；andyetImustsaythatInever
　　saw，ordoIbelievetherewastobeseen，theleastindecency
　　inthehousethewholetimeIwasthere。
　　Notamanwaseverseentocomeupstairs，excepttovisitthe
　　lying-inladieswithintheirmonth，northenwithouttheoldlady
　　withthem，whomadeitapieceofhonourofhermanagement
　　thatnomanshouldtouchawoman，no，nothisownwife，within
　　themonth；norwouldshepermitanymantolieinthehouse
　　uponanypretencewhatever，no，notthoughshewassureit
　　waswithhisownwife；andhergeneralsayingforitwas，that
　　shecarednothowmanychildrenwereborninherhouse，but
　　shewouldhavenonegotthereifshecouldhelpit。
　　Itmightperhapsbecarriedfurtherthanwasneedful，butitwas
　　anerroroftherighthandifitwasanerror，forbythisshekept
　　upthereputation，suchasitwas，ofherbusiness，andobtained
　　thischaracter，thatthoughshedidtakecareofthewomenwhen
　　theyweredebauched，yetshewasnotinstrumentaltotheirbeing
　　debauchedatall；andyetitwasawickedtradeshedrovetoo。
　　WhileIwasthere，andbeforeIwasbroughttobed，Ireceived
　　aletterfrommytrusteeatthebank，fullofkind，obligingthings，
　　andearnestlypressingmetoreturntoLondon。
　　Itwasneara
　　fortnightoldwhenitcametome，becauseithadbeenfirstsent
　　intoLancashire，andthenreturnedtome。
　　Heconcludeswith
　　tellingmethathehadobtainedadecree，Ithinkhecalledit，
　　againsthiswife，andthathewouldbereadytomakegoodhis
　　engagementtome，ifIwouldacceptofhim，addingagreat
　　manyprotestationsofkindnessandaffection，suchashewould
　　havebeenfarfromofferingifhehadknownthecircumstances
　　Ihadbeenin，andwhichasitwasIhadbeenveryfarfrom
　　deserving。
　　Ireturnedananswertohisletter，anddateditatLiverpool，
　　butsentitbymessenger，allegingthatitcameincovertoa
　　friendintown。
　　Igavehimjoyofhisdeliverance，butraised
　　somescruplesatthelawfulnessofhismarryingagain，andtold
　　himIsupposedhewouldconsiderveryseriouslyuponthat
　　pointbeforeheresolvedonit，theconsequencebeingtoogreat
　　foramanofhisjudgmenttoventurerashlyuponathingofthat
　　nature；soconcluded，wishinghimverywellinwhateverhe
　　resolved，withoutlettinghimintoanythingofmyownmind，
　　orgivinganyanswertohisproposalofmycomingtoLondon
　　tohim，butmentionedatadistancemyintentiontoreturnthe
　　latterendoftheyear，thisbeingdatedinApril。
　　IwasbroughttobedaboutthemiddleofMayandhadanother
　　braveboy，andmyselfinasgoodconditionasusualonsuch
　　occasions。
　　Mygovernessdidherpartasamidwifewiththe
　　greatestartanddexterityimaginable，andfarbeyondallthat
　　everIhadhadanyexperienceofbefore。
　　Hercareofmeinmytravail，andafterinmylyingin，was
　　such，thatifshehadbeenmyownmotheritcouldnothave
　　beenbetter。
　　Letnonebeencouragedintheirloosepractices
　　fromthisdexterouslady’smanagement，forsheisgonetoher
　　place，andIdaresayhasleftnothingbehindherthatcanor
　　willcomeuponit。
　　IthinkIhadbeenbroughttobedabouttwenty-twodayswhen
　　Ireceivedanotherletterfrommyfriendatthebank，withthe
　　surprisingnewsthathehadobtainedafinalsentenceofdivorce
　　againsthiswife，andhadservedherwithitonsuchaday，and
　　thathehadsuchananswertogivetoallmyscruplesabouthis
　　marryingagain，asIcouldnotexpect，andashehadnodesire
　　of；forthathiswife，whohadbeenundersomeremorsebefore
　　forherusageofhim，assoonasshehadtheaccountthathe
　　hadgainedhispoint，hadveryunhappilydestroyedherselfthat
　　sameevening。
　　Heexpressedhimselfveryhandsomelyastohisbeingconcerned
　　atherdisaster，butclearedhimselfofhavinganyhandinit，
　　andthathehadonlydonehimselfjusticeinacaseinwhichhe
　　wasnotoriouslyinjuredandabused。
　　However，hesaidthat
　　hewasextremelyafflictedatit，andhadnoviewofany
　　satisfactionleftinhisworld，butonlyinthehopethatIwould
　　comeandrelievehimbymycompany；andthenhepressedme
　　violentlyindeedtogivehimsomehopesthatIwouldatleast
　　comeuptotownandlethimseeme，whenhewouldfurther
　　enterintodiscourseaboutit。
　　Iwasexceedinglysurprisedatthenews，andbegannow
　　seriouslytoreflectonmypresentcircumstances，andthe
　　inexpressiblemisfortuneitwastometohaveachilduponmy
　　hands，andwhattodoinitIknewnot。
　　AtlastIopenedmy
　　caseatadistancetomygoverness。
　　Iappearedmelancholy
　　anduneasyforseveraldays，andshelayatmecontinuallyto
　　knowwhattroubleme。
　　IcouldnotformylifetellherthatI
　　hadanofferofmarriage，afterIhadsooftentoldherthatI
　　hadahusband，sothatIreallyknewnotwhattosaytoher。
　　ownedIhadsomethingwhichverymuchtroubledme，butat
　　thesametimetoldherIcouldnotspeakofittoanyonealive。
　　Shecontinuedimportuningmeseveraldays，butitwas
　　impossible，Itoldher，formetocommitthesecrettoanybody。
　　This，insteadofbeingananswertoher，increasedher
　　importunities；sheurgedherhavingbeentrustedwiththe
　　greatestsecretsofthisnature，thatitwasherbusinessto
　　concealeverything，andthattodiscoverthingsofthatnature
　　wouldbeherruin。
　　SheaskedmeifeverIhadfoundhertattling
　　tomeofotherpeople’saffairs，andhowcouldIsuspecther？
　　Shetoldme，tounfoldmyselftoherwastellingittonobody；
　　thatshewassilentasdeath；thatitmustbeaverystrangecase
　　indeedthatshecouldnothelpmeoutof；buttoconcealitwas
　　todeprivemyselfofallpossiblehelp，ormeansofhelp，andto
　　depriveheroftheopportunityofservingme。
　　Inshort，shehad
　　suchabewitchingeloquence，andsogreatapowerofpersuasion
　　thattherewasnoconcealinganythingfromher。
　　SoIresolvedtounbosommyselftoher。
　　Itoldherthehistory
　　ofmyLancashiremarriage，andhowbothofushadbeen
　　disappointed；howwecametogether，andhowweparted；how
　　heabsolutelydischargedme，asfaraslayinhim，freelibertyto
　　marryagain，protestingthatifheknewithewouldneverclaim
　　me，ordisturborexposeme；thatIthoughtIwasfree，butwas
　　dreadfullyafraidtoventure，forfearoftheconsequencesthat
　　mightfollowincaseofadiscovery。
　　ThenItoldherwhatagoodofferIhad；showedhermyfriend’s
　　twolastletters，invitingmetocometoLondon，andlethersee
　　withwhataffectionandearnestnesstheywerewritten，but
　　blottedoutthename，andalsothestoryaboutthedisasterof
　　hiswife，onlythatshewasdead。
　　Shefella-laughingatmyscruplesaboutmarrying，andtold
　　metheotherwasnomarriage，butacheatonbothsides；and
　　that，aswewerepartedbymutualconsent，thenatureofthe
　　contractwasdestroyed，andtheobligationwasmutually
　　discharged。
　　Shehadargumentsforthisatthetipofhertongue；
　　and，inshort，reasonedmeoutofmyreason；notbutthatit
　　wastoobythehelpofmyowninclination。
　　Butthencamethegreatandmaindifficulty，andthatwasthe
　　child；this，shetoldmeinsomanywords，mustberemoved，
　　andthatsoasthatitshouldneverbepossibleforanyoneto
　　discoverit。