The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

It happened to be a chance coach that I had taken up, which, having

been hired on purpose to carry some gentlemen to West Chester who were

going for Ireland, was now returning, and did not tie itself to exact

times or places as the stages did; so that, having been obliged to lie

still on Sunday, he had time to get himself ready to come out, which

otherwise he could not have done.

However, his warning was so short, that he could not reach to

Stony-Stratford time enough to be with me at night, but he met me at a

place called Brickhill the next morning, as we were just coming in to

tow.

I confess I was very glad to see him, for I had thought myself a little

disappointed over-night, seeing I had gone so far to contrive my coming

on purpose. He pleased me doubly too by the figure he came in, for he

brought a very handsome (gentleman's) coach and four horses, with a

servant to attend him.

He took me out of the stage-coach immediately, which stopped at an inn

in Brickhill; and putting into the same inn, he set up his own coach,

and bespoke his dinner. I asked him what he meant by that, for I was

for going forward with the journey. He said, No, I had need of a

little rest upon the road, and that was a very good sort of a house,

though it was but a little town; so we would go no farther that night,

whatever came of it.

I did not press him much, for since he had come so to meet me, and put

himself to so much expense, it was but reasonable I should oblige him a

little too; so I was easy as to that point.

After dinner we walked to see the town, to see the church, and to view

the fields, and the country, as is usual for strangers to do; and our

landlord was our guide in going to see the church. I observed my

gentleman inquired pretty much about the parson, and I took the hint

immediately that he certainly would propose to be married; and though

it was a sudden thought, it followed presently, that, in short, I would

not refuse him; for, to be plain, with my circumstances I was in no

condition now to say No; I had no reason now to run any more such

hazards.

But while these thoughts ran round in my head, which was the work but

of a few moments, I observed my landlord took him aside and whispered

to him, though not very softly neither, for so much I overheard: 'Sir,

if you shall have occasion----' the rest I could not hear, but it seems

it was to this purpose: 'Sir, if you shall have occasion for a

minister, I have a friend a little way off that will serve you, and be

as private as you please.' My gentleman answered loud enough for me to

hear, 'Very well, I believe I shall.' I was no sooner come back to the inn but he fell upon me with

irresistible words, that since he had had the good fortune to meet me,

and everything concurred, it would be hastening his felicity if I would

put an end to the matter just there. 'What do you mean?' says I,

colouring a little. 'What, in an inn, and upon the road! Bless us

all,' said I, as if I had been surprised, 'how can you talk so?' 'Oh,

I can talk so very well,' says he, 'I came a-purpose to talk so, and

I'll show you that I did'; and with that he pulls out a great bundle of

papers. 'You fright me,' said I; 'what are all these?' 'Don't be

frighted, my dear,' said he, and kissed me. This was the first time

that he had been so free to call me 'my dear'; then he repeated it,

'Don't be frighted; you shall see what it is all'; then he laid them

all abroad. There was first the deed or sentence of divorce from his

wife, and the full evidence of her playing the whore; then there were

the certificates of the minister and churchwardens of the parish where

she lived, proving that she was buried, and intimating the manner of

her death; the copy of the coroner's warrant for a jury to sit upon

her, and the verdict of the jury, who brought it in Non compos mentis.

All this was indeed to the purpose, and to give me satisfaction,

though, by the way, I was not so scrupulous, had he known all, but that

I might have taken him without it. However, I looked them all over as

well as I could, and told him that this was all very clear indeed, but

that he need not have given himself the trouble to have brought them

out with him, for it was time enough. Well, he said, it might be time

enough for me, but no time but the present time was time enough for him.