The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

I found she was an eminent lady in her way; and, in short, I agreed to

put myself into her hands, and promised her. She then talked of other

things, looked about into my accommodations where I was, found fault

with my wanting attendance and conveniences, and that I should not be

used so at her house. I told her I was shy of speaking, for the woman

of the house looked stranger, or at least I thought so, since I had

been ill, because I was with child; and I was afraid she would put some

affront or other upon me, supposing that I had been able to give but a

slight account of myself.

'Oh dear,' said she, 'her ladyship is no stranger to these things; she

has tried to entertain ladies in your condition several times, but she

could not secure the parish; and besides, she is not such a nice lady

as you take her to be; however, since you are a-going, you shall not

meddle with her, but I'll see you are a little better looked after

while you are here than I think you are, and it shall not cost you the

more neither.' I did not understand her at all; however, I thanked her, and so we

parted. The next morning she sent me a chicken roasted and hot, and a

pint bottle of sherry, and ordered the maid to tell me that she was to

wait on me every day as long as I stayed there.

This was surprisingly good and kind, and I accepted it very willingly.

At night she sent to me again, to know if I wanted anything, and how I

did, and to order the maid to come to her in the morning with my

dinner. The maid had orders to make me some chocolate in the morning

before she came away, and did so, and at noon she brought me the

sweetbread of a breast of veal, whole, and a dish of soup for my

dinner; and after this manner she nursed me up at a distance, so that I

was mightily well pleased, and quickly well, for indeed my dejections

before were the principal part of my illness.

I expected, as is usually the case among such people, that the servant

she sent me would have been some imprudent brazen wench of Drury Lane

breeding, and I was very uneasy at having her with me upon that

account; so I would not let her lie in that house the first night by

any means, but had my eyes about me as narrowly as if she had been a

public thief.