As soon as I was thought to look tolerably well, the infernal woman told me that all my resistance would be in vain; that my ingratitude had quite disgusted her, and she was resolved no longer to shew me any indulgence, but would expose me to the addresses of people too low and brutal to regard my tears, till I was broke of my niceness; and would send my child to the officers of the parish where it belonged, for she should no longer gratify me with its company, when I shewed so little consideration for her.

These menaces were dreadful indeed; and to talk of exposing my little darling to the cruelty of parish-officers and nurses, was too much to bear. Enraged at such a monster, I replied, ‘The law would grant me some redress against such inhumanity.’

‘The law! thou idiot,’ answered she, ‘Dost thou take lawyers for knights-errant, who have nothing to do but to deliver distressed damsels? Know, that money only can obtain justice; those who cannot buy, must go without it; the redress of the law is out of the reach of poverty; content yourself, there is no law for you. But I shall not give myself the trouble of saying any more to you; I give you till tomorrow to chuse; either determine to conquer your squeamishness, or I send your brat away, and deliver you up to the first man who will disregard all your tears and intreaties. Your will shall make no other difference in the case, than in the degree of your lovers, and your brat's fate.’

With these words she left me to consider the alternative. The dear babe understood something of being sent from me, and running to me, hung round my neck, crying he would not go away without me, and begging me not to let that woman take him.

Alas! dear Innocent, I did not mean it: I could much sooner have parted with my life.