The next morning, as soon as Mrs. Tent was up, Mr. Mastin told her he was resolved to take me away; which she obstinately refusing to consent to, with all the rage of a mercenary wretch, who fears being deprived of what she esteems the most valuable property she has; he, by threatning to have her brought to punishment, and her house suppressed, and by an offer of some money in case of a quiet acquiescence, at last prevailed, and carried me off.

I was now placed in a very pretty lodging, surrounded with every convenience of life, and introduced into diversions which gave me both pleasure and surprize. Mr. Mastin kept me out of all infamous acquaintance; but got his tradesmen's wives to visit me; and they were so much more genteel than myself, that I could not wish for higher company; and their conversation wore off some of my rusticity, which ceased to please, when it was no longer a proof of my innocence; that great attraction, which very unnaturally charms those most, who are most desirous of destroying it.

I lived in this manner a year and a half, about which time Mr. Mastin fell in love with another woman, perhaps more engaging, but certainly more new than myself. However, he was too good-humoured to tell me this; but complaining our connexion was grown too like matrimony, to which he had a mortal aversion, he fairly acknowleged his resolution to break it off; but as he would not suffer me to be reduced to any distress, because his passion for me was extinguished, he offered to recommend me to his sister, who wanted a servant to attend on her person; for which office I was grown genteel enough.

I had perceived the decay of Mr. Mastin's affection with some uneasiness, tho’ without the bitter pangs which those feel at a lover's inconstancy, who are passionately in love with him.