The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

Away I went, and, coming to the house, I found them all in confusion,

you may be sure. I ran in, and finding one of the maids, 'Lord!

sweetheart,' says I, 'how came this dismal accident? Where is your

mistress? Any how does she do? Is she safe? And where are the

children? I come from Madam ---- to help you.' Away runs the maid.

'Madam, madam,' says she, screaming as loud as she could yell, 'here is

a gentlewoman come from Madam ---- to help us.' The poor woman, half

out of her wits, with a bundle under her arm, an two little children,

comes toward me. 'Lord! madam,' says I, 'let me carry the poor

children to Madam ----,' she desires you to send them; she'll take care

of the poor lambs;' and immediately I takes one of them out of her

hand, and she lifts the other up into my arms. 'Ay, do, for God's

sake,' says she, 'carry them to her. Oh! thank her for her kindness.'

'Have you anything else to secure, madam?' says I; 'she will take care

of it.' 'Oh dear! ay,' says she, 'God bless her, and thank her. Take

this bundle of plate and carry it to her too. Oh, she is a good woman.

Oh Lord! we are utterly ruined, utterly undone!' And away she runs

from me out of her wits, and the maids after her; and away comes I with

the two children and the bundle.

I was no sooner got into the street but I saw another woman come to me.

'Oh!' says she, 'mistress,' in a piteous tone, 'you will let fall the

child. Come, this is a sad time; let me help you'; and immediately

lays hold of my bundle to carry it for me. 'No,' says I; 'if you will

help me, take the child by the hand, and lead it for me but to the

upper end of the street; I'll go with you and satisfy you for your

pains.' She could not avoid going, after what I said; but the creature, in

short, was one of the same business with me, and wanted nothing but the

bundle; however, she went with me to the door, for she could not help

it. When we were come there I whispered her, 'Go, child,' said I, 'I

understand your trade; you may meet with purchase enough.' She understood me and walked off. I thundered at the door with the

children, and as the people were raised before by the noise of the

fire, I was soon let in, and I said, 'Is madam awake? Pray tell her

Mrs. ---- desires the favour of her to take the two children in; poor

lady, she will be undone, their house is all of a flame,' They took

the children in very civilly, pitied the family in distress, and away

came I with my bundle. One of the maids asked me if I was not to

leave the bundle too. I said, 'No, sweetheart, 'tis to go to another

place; it does not belong to them.' I was a great way out of the hurry now, and so I went on, clear of

anybody's inquiry, and brought the bundle of plate, which was very

considerable, straight home, and gave it to my old governess. She told

me she would not look into it, but bade me go out again to look for

more.