'She means that you are under some circumstances that may render your

lying in difficult to you, and that you are not willing to be exposed.

I need say no more, but to tell you, that if you think fit to

communicate so much of your case to me, if it be so, as is necessary,

for I do not desire to pry into those things, I perhaps may be in a

position to help you and to make you perfectly easy, and remove all

your dull thoughts upon that subject.' Every word this creature said was a cordial to me, and put new life and

new spirit into my heart; my blood began to circulate immediately, and

I was quite another body; I ate my victuals again, and grew better

presently after it. She said a great deal more to the same purpose,

and then, having pressed me to be free with her, and promised in the

solemnest manner to be secret, she stopped a little, as if waiting to

see what impression it made on me, and what I would say.

I was too sensible to the want I was in of such a woman, not to accept

her offer; I told her my case was partly as she guessed, and partly

not, for I was really married, and had a husband, though he was in such

fine circumstances and so remote at that time, as that he could not

appear publicly.

She took me short, and told me that was none of her business; all the

ladies that came under her care were married women to her. 'Every

woman,' she says, 'that is with child has a father for it,' and whether

that father was a husband or no husband, was no business of hers; her

business was to assist me in my present circumstances, whether I had a

husband or no. 'For, madam,' says she, 'to have a husband that cannot

appear, is to have no husband in the sense of the case; and, therefore,

whether you are a wife or a mistress is all one to me.' I found presently, that whether I was a whore or a wife, I was to pass

for a whore here, so I let that go. I told her it was true, as she

said, but that, however, if I must tell her my case, I must tell it her

as it was; so I related it to her as short as I could, and I concluded

it to her thus. 'I trouble you with all this, madam,' said I, 'not

that, as you said before, it is much to the purpose in your affair, but

this is to the purpose, namely, that I am not in any pain about being

seen, or being public or concealed, for 'tis perfectly indifferent to

me; but my difficulty is, that I have no acquaintance in this part of

the nation.' 'I understand you, madam' says she; 'you have no security to bring to

prevent the parish impertinences usual in such cases, and perhaps,'

says she, 'do not know very well how to dispose of the child when it

comes.' 'The last,' says I, 'is not so much my concern as the first.'

'Well, madam,' answered the midwife, 'dare you put yourself into my

hands? I live in such a place; though I do not inquire after you, you

may inquire after me. My name is B----; I live in such a

street'--naming the street--'at the sign of the Cradle. My profession

is a midwife, and I have many ladies that come to my house to lie in.

I have given security to the parish in general terms to secure them

from any charge from whatsoever shall come into the world under my

roof. I have but one question to ask in the whole affair, madam,' says

she, 'and if that be answered you shall be entirely easy for all the

rest.' I presently understood what she meant, and told her, 'Madam, I believe

I understand you. I thank God, though I want friends in this part of

the world, I do not want money, so far as may be necessary, though I do

not abound in that neither': this I added because I would not make her

expect great things. 'Well, madam,' says she, 'that is the thing

indeed, without which nothing can be done in these cases; and yet,'

says she, 'you shall see that I will not impose upon you, or offer

anything that is unkind to you, and if you desire it, you shall know

everything beforehand, that you may suit yourself to the occasion, and

be neither costly or sparing as you see fit.' I told her she seemed to be so perfectly sensible of my condition, that

I had nothing to ask of her but this, that as I had told her that I had

money sufficient, but not a great quantity, she would order it so that

I might be at as little superfluous charge as possible.




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