Tho’ I was much tired with my ride, having been so long out of practice, yet I would not venture to allow myself any rest till the night following, by which time I was not half a day's journey from London. I was unwilling to stop when I had got within that distance; but was so excessively weary, that even the earnestness of my inclination could not enable me to go on.

The next day by noon I arrived in London; and going to the house where I had lodged with a beating heart, from my anxious expectation of seeing my child, if it was alive, I was told that Captain Turnham had sent for it to Reading, and discharged the lodging. I did not think it adviseable to stay in a place where I had been so long, and probably might have been discovered. I took another lodging, and wrote directly to Captain Turnham to inform him of all that had happened to me, and of my impatience to see him and my child; yet intimated my fear of coming to Reading, where all my wishes would carry me, lest I might be as unfortunate in another visit, as in the last.

Captain Turnham, on receiving my letter, was so impatient to see me, that, without waiting for permission, he ordered his servant to give out that he was too ill to stir out of his room, and came post to London, where he was received by me with the sincerest joy; but his seemed greatly troubled, by observing me so emaciated and altered, as shocked him excessively.

It was great pleasure to me, to find the Captain really glad of my return: I feared the inconvenience of being incumbered with me might incline him to wish to be quit of one, who could now have none of the charms of novelty.