The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

At last my old governess came to me, with her usual assurance. 'Come,

my dear,' says she, 'I have found out a way how you shall be at a

certainty that your child shall be used well, and yet the people that

take care of it shall never know you, or who the mother of the child

is.' 'Oh mother,' says I, 'if you can do so, you will engage me to you for

ever.' 'Well,' says she, 'are you willing to be a some small annual

expense, more than what we usually give to the people we contract

with?' 'Ay,' says I, 'with all my heart, provided I may be concealed.'

'As to that,' says the governess, 'you shall be secure, for the nurse

shall never so much as dare to inquire about you, and you shall once or

twice a year go with me and see your child, and see how 'tis used, and

be satisfied that it is in good hands, nobody knowing who you are.' 'Why,' said I, 'do you think, mother, that when I come to see my child,

I shall be able to conceal my being the mother of it? Do you think

that possible?' 'Well, well,' says my governess, 'if you discover it, the nurse shall

be never the wiser; for she shall be forbid to ask any questions about

you, or to take any notice. If she offers it, she shall lose the money

which you are suppose to give her, and the child shall be taken from

her too.' I was very well pleased with this. So the next week a countrywoman was

brought from Hertford, or thereabouts, who was to take the child off

our hands entirely for #10 in money. But if I would allow #5 a year

more of her, she would be obliged to bring the child to my governess's

house as often as we desired, or we should come down and look at it,

and see how well she used it.

The woman was very wholesome-looking, a likely woman, a cottager's

wife, but she had very good clothes and linen, and everything well

about her; and with a heavy heart and many a tear, I let her have my

child. I had been down at Hertford, and looked at her and at her

dwelling, which I liked well enough; and I promised her great things if

she would be kind to the child, so she knew at first word that I was

the child's mother. But she seemed to be so much out of the way, and

to have no room to inquire after me, that I thought I was safe enough.

So, in short, I consented to let her have the child, and I gave her

#10; that is to say, I gave it to my governess, who gave it the poor

woman before my face, she agreeing never to return the child back to

me, or to claim anything more for its keeping or bringing up; only that

I promised, if she took a great deal of care of it, I would give her

something more as often as I came to see it; so that I was not bound to

pay the #5, only that I promised my governess I would do it. And thus

my great care was over, after a manner, which though it did not at all

satisfy my mind, yet was the most convenient for me, as my affairs then

stood, of any that could be thought of at that time.