In this manner I lived for near three months; the sobriety of my behaviour at home giving no suspicion to the people where I lodged, who were not used to be over-curious in prying into the lives of their lodgers, which perhaps would seldom bear a strict scrutiny. I concealed it equally from my sister; sensible, that if she knew it, the desire of bringing me out of such infamy and suffering would drive her to any extremities, to the hazard of all her conjugal happiness. The vexation I had given, and still gave her, was one of my strongest afflictions; therefore I could not, for any consideration, make her a greater sufferer.

One day, when I was reduced so low that I had not sufficient to purchase a supper for myself and child, my landlady came up to my room, and invited us to drink tea and sup with her, it being her birth-day. Never did a royal birth-day give such joy to the vainest lady. I doubt whether the birth of a child ever was more welcome to the person most anxious for an heir, than this good woman's anniversary rejoicing was to me. We readily obeyed her invitation; and I was too well pleased with the entertainment, to criticize the conversation of my company.

A little before supper, a man entered, who said he was just come from the new Hospital, so he called it, and that every thing was now completely finished; but he fancied it would be a long time before it was full.

‘Do not talk of it,’ said my virtuous landlady: ‘I have no patience with the gentlemen who give encouragement to such wicked wretches: Starving is too good for them.’