before，foreverynowandthenIsawhiltsofswords，spoons，
　　forks，tankards，andallsuchkindofwarebroughtin，nottobe
　　pawned，buttobesolddownright；andsheboughteverything
　　thatcamewithoutaskinganyquestions，buthadverygood
　　bargains，asIfoundbyherdiscourse。
　　Ifoundalsothatinfollowingthistradeshealwaysmelted
　　downtheplateshebought，thatitmightnotbechallenged；
　　andshecametomeandtoldmeonemorningthatshewas
　　goingtomelt，andifIwould，shewouldputmytankardin，
　　thatitmightnotbeseenbyanybody。
　　Itoldher，withallmy
　　heart；sosheweighedit，andallowedmethefullvalueinsilver
　　again；butIfoundshedidnotdothesametotherestofher
　　customers。
　　Sometimeafterthis，asIwasatwork，andverymelancholy，
　　shebeginstoaskmewhatthematterwas，asshewasusedto
　　do。
　　Itoldhermyheartwasheavy；Ihadlittlework，and
　　nothingtoliveon，andknewnotwhatcoursetotake。
　　She
　　laughed，andtoldmeImustgooutagainandtrymyfortune；
　　itmightbethatImightmeetwithanotherpieceofplate。
　　’Omother！’saysI，’thatisatradeIhavenoskillin，andifI
　　shouldbetakenIamundoneatonce。’
　　Saysshe，’Icouldhelp
　　youtoaschoolmistressthatshallmakeyouasdexterousas
　　herself。’
　　Itrembledat
　　thatproposal，forhithertoIhadhad
　　noconfederates，noranyacquaintanceamongthattribe。
　　But
　　sheconqueredallmymodesty，andallmyfears；andinalittle
　　time，bythehelpofthisconfederate，Igrewasimpudenta
　　thief，andasdexterousaseverMollCutpursewas，though，
　　iffamedoesnotbelieher，nothalfsohandsome。
　　Thecomradeshehelpedmetodealtinthreesortsofcraft，viz。
　　shoplifting，stealingofshop-booksandpocket-books，and
　　takingoffgoldwatchesfromtheladies’sides；andthislastshe
　　didsodexterouslythatnowomaneverarrivedtotheperformance
　　ofthatartsoastodoitlikeher。
　　Ilikedthefirstandthelast
　　ofthesethingsverywell，andIattendedhersometimeinthe
　　practice，justasadeputyattendsamidwife，withoutanypay。
　　Atlengthsheputmetopractice。
　　Shehadshownmeherart，
　　andIhadseveraltimesunhookedawatchfromherownside
　　withgreatdexterity。
　　Atlastsheshowedmeaprize，andthis
　　wasayoungladybigwithchild，whohadacharmingwatch。
　　Thethingwastobedoneasshecameoutofchurch。
　　Shegoes
　　ononesideofthelady，andpretends，justasshecametothe
　　steps，tofall，andfellagainsttheladywithsomuchviolence
　　asputherintoagreatfright，andbothcriedoutterribly。
　　In
　　theverymomentthatshejostledthelady，Ihadholdofthe
　　watch，andholdingittherightway，thestartshegavedrew
　　thehookout，andsheneverfeltit。
　　Imadeoffimmediately，
　　andleftmyschoolmistresstocomeoutofherpretendedfright
　　gradually，andtheladytoo；andpresentlythewatchwasmissed。
　　’Ay，’saysmycomrade，’thenitwasthoseroguesthatthrust
　　medown，Iwarrantye；Iwonderthegentlewomandidnotmiss
　　herwatchbefore，thenwemighthavetakenthem。’
　　Shehumouredthethingsowellthatnobodysuspectedher，
　　andIwasgothomeafullhourbeforeher。
　　Thiswasmyfirst
　　adventureincompany。
　　Thewatchwasindeedaveryfineone，
　　andhadagreatmanytrinketsaboutit，andmygoverness
　　allowedus#20forit，ofwhichIhadhalf。
　　AndthusIwas
　　enteredacompletethief，hardenedtothepitchaboveallthe
　　reflectionsofconscienceormodesty，andtoadegreewhich
　　ImustacknowledgeIneverthoughtpossibleinme。
　　Thusthedevil，whobegan，bythehelpofanirresistiblepoverty，
　　topushmeintothiswickedness，broughtmeontoaheight
　　beyondthecommonrate，evenwhenmynecessitieswerenot
　　sogreat，ortheprospectofmymiserysoterrifying；forIhad
　　nowgotintoalittleveinofwork，andasIwasnotataloss
　　tohandlemyneedle，itwasveryprobable，asacquaintance
　　camein，Imighthavegotmybreadhonestlyenough。
　　Imustsay，thatifsuchaprospectofworkhadpresenteditself
　　atfirst，whenIbegantofeeltheapproachofmymiserable
　　circumstances——Isay，hadsuchaprospectofgettingmybread
　　byworkingpresenteditselfthen，Ihadneverfallenintothis
　　wickedtrade，orintosuchawickedgangasIwasnowembarked
　　with；butpracticehadhardenedme，andIgrewaudaciousto
　　thelastdegree；andthemoresobecauseIhadcarrieditonso
　　long，andhadneverbeentaken；for，inaword，mynewpartner
　　inwickednessandIwentontogethersolong，withoutbeing
　　everdetected，thatwenotonlygrewbold，butwegrewrich，
　　andwehadatonetimeone-and-twentygoldwatchesinour
　　hands。
　　Irememberthatonedaybeingalittlemoreseriousthan
　　ordinary，andfindingIhadsogoodastockbeforehandasI
　　had，forIhadnear#200inmoneyformyshare，itcame
　　stronglyintomymind，nodoubtfromsomekindspirit，ifsuch
　　therebe，thatatfirstpovertyexcitedme，andmydistresses
　　drovemetothesedreadfulshifts；soseeingthosedistresses
　　werenowrelieved，andIcouldalsogetsomethingtowardsa
　　maintenancebyworking，andhadsogoodabanktosupport
　　me，whyshouldInownotleaveoff，astheysay，whileIwas
　　well？thatIcouldnotexpecttogoalwaysfree；andifIwas
　　oncesurprised，andmiscarried，Iwasundone。
　　Thiswasdoubtlessthehappyminute，when，ifIhadhearkened
　　totheblessedhint，fromwhatsoeverhaditcame，Ihadstilla
　　castforaneasylife。
　　Butmyfatewasotherwisedetermined；
　　thebusydevilthatsoindustriouslydrewmeinhadtoofast
　　holdofmetoletmegoback；butaspovertybroughtmeinto
　　themire，soavaricekeptmein，tilltherewasnogoingback。
　　Astothe
　　argumentswhichmyreasondictatedforpersuading
　　metolaydown，avaricesteppedinandsaid，’Goon，goon；
　　youhavehadverygoodluck；goontillyouhavegottenfour
　　orfivehundredpounds，andtheyyoushallleaveoff，andthen
　　youmayliveeasywithoutworkingatall。’
　　ThusI，thatwasonceinthedevil’sclutches，washeldfast
　　thereaswithacharm，andhadnopowertogowithoutthe
　　circle，tillIwasengulfedinlabyrinthsoftroubletoogreatto
　　getoutatall。
　　However，thesethoughtsleftsomeimpressionuponme，and
　　mademeactwithsomemorecautionthanbefore，andmore
　　thanmydirectorsusedforthemselves。
　　Mycomrade，asI
　　calledher，butrathersheshouldhavebeencalledmyteacher，
　　withanotherofherscholars，wasthefirstinthemisfortune；
　　for，happeningtobeuponthehuntforpurchase，theymade
　　anattemptuponalinen-draperinCheapside，butweresnapped
　　byahawk’s-eyedjourneyman，andseizedwithtwopiecesof
　　cambric，whichweretakenalsouponthem。
　　ThiswasenoughtolodgethembothinNewgate，wherethey
　　hadthemisfortunetohavesomeoftheirformersinsbrought
　　toremembrance。
　　Twootherindictmentsbeingbroughtagainst
　　them，andthefactsbeingproveduponthem，theywereboth
　　condemnedtodie。
　　Theybothpleadedtheirbellies，andwere
　　bothvotedquickwithchild；thoughmytutoresswasnomore
　　withchildthanIwas。
　　Iwentfrequentlytoseethem，andcondolewiththem，expecting
　　thatitwouldbemyturnnext；buttheplacegavemesomuch
　　horror，reflectingthatitwastheplaceofmyunhappybirth，
　　andofmymother’smisfortunes，andthatIcouldnotbearit，
　　soIwasforcedtoleaveoffgoingtoseethem。
　　Andoh！couldIhavebuttakenwarningbytheirdisasters，I
　　hadbeenhappystill，forIwasyetfree，andhadnothingbrought
　　againstme；butitcouldnotbe，mymeasurewasnotyetfilled
　　up。
　　Mycomrade，havingthebrandofanoldoffender，wasexecuted；
　　theyoungoffenderwasspared，havingobtainedareprieve，
　　butlaystarvingalongwhileinprison，tillatlastshegother
　　nameintowhattheycallacircuitpardon，andsocameoff。
　　Thisterribleexampleofmycomradefrightedmeheartily，and
　　foragoodwhileImadenoexcursions；butonenight，inthe
　　neighbourhoodofmygoverness’shouse，theycried“Fire。’
　　Mygovernesslookedout，forwewereallup，andcried
　　immediatelythatsuchagentlewoman’shousewasallofalight
　　fireatop，andsoindeeditwas。
　　Hereshegivesmeajob。
　　’Now，
　　child，’saysshe，’thereisarareopportunity，forthefirebeing
　　sonearthatyoumaygotoitbeforethestreetisblockedup
　　withthecrowd。’
　　Shepresentlygavememycue。
　　’Go，child，’
　　saysshe，’tothehouse，andruninandtellthelady，oranybody
　　yousee，thatyoucometohelpthem，andthatyoucamefrom
　　suchagentlewomanthatis，oneofheracquaintancefarther
　　upthestreet。’
　　Shegavemethelikecuetothenexthouse，
　　naminganothernamethatwasalsoanacquaintanceofthe
　　gentlewomanofthehouse。
　　AwayIwent，and，comingtothehouse，Ifoundthemallin
　　confusion，youmaybesure。
　　Iranin，andfindingoneofthe
　　maids，’Lord！sweetheart，’saysI，’howcamethisdismal
　　accident？
　　Whereisyourmistress？
　　Anyhowdoesshedo？
　　Isshesafe？
　　Andwherearethechildren？
　　Icomefrom
　　Madam——tohelpyou。’
　　Awayrunsthemaid。
　　’Madam，
　　madam，’saysshe，screamingasloudasshecouldyell，’here
　　isagentlewomancomefromMadamtohelpus。’
　　The
　　poorwoman，halfoutofherwits，withabundleunderherarm，
　　antwolittlechildren，comestowardme。
　　’Lord！madam，’says
　　I，’letmecarrythepoorchildrentoMadamshedesires
　　youtosendthem；she’lltakecareofthepoorlambs；’and
　　immediatelyItakesoneofthemoutofherhand，andshelifts
　　theotherupintomyarms。
　　’Ay，do，forGod’ssake，’saysshe，
　　’carrythemtoher。
　　Oh！thankherforherkindness。’
　　’Have
　　youanythingelsetosecure，madam？’saysI；’shewilltake
　　careofit。’
　　’Ohdear！ay，’saysshe，’Godblessher，andthank
　　her。Takethisbundleofplateandcarryittohertoo。
　　Oh，she
　　isagoodwoman。
　　OhLord！weareutterlyruined，utterly
　　undone！’
　　Andawaysherunsfrommeoutofherwits，and
　　themaidsafterher；andawaycomesIwiththetwochildren
　　andthebundle。
　　IwasnosoonergotintothestreetbutIsawanotherwoman
　　cometome。
　　’Oh！’saysshe，’mistress，’inapiteoustone，’you