The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

It happened one day that he came running upstairs, towards the room

where his sisters used to sit and work, as he often used to do; and

calling to them before he came in, as was his way too, I, being there

alone, stepped to the door, and said, 'Sir, the ladies are not here,

they are walked down the garden.' As I stepped forward to say this,

towards the door, he was just got to the door, and clasping me in his

arms, as if it had been by chance, 'Oh, Mrs. Betty,' says he, 'are you

here? That's better still; I want to speak with you more than I do

with them'; and then, having me in his arms, he kissed me three or four

times.

I struggled to get away, and yet did it but faintly neither, and he

held me fast, and still kissed me, till he was almost out of breath,

and then, sitting down, says, 'Dear Betty, I am in love with you.' His words, I must confess, fired my blood; all my spirits flew about my

heart and put me into disorder enough, which he might easily have seen

in my face. He repeated it afterwards several times, that he was in

love with me, and my heart spoke as plain as a voice, that I liked it;

nay, whenever he said, 'I am in love with you,' my blushes plainly

replied, 'Would you were, sir.' However, nothing else passed at that time; it was but a surprise, and

when he was gone I soon recovered myself again. He had stayed longer

with me, but he happened to look out at the window and see his sisters

coming up the garden, so he took his leave, kissed me again, told me he

was very serious, and I should hear more of him very quickly, and away

he went, leaving me infinitely pleased, though surprised; and had there

not been one misfortune in it, I had been in the right, but the mistake

lay here, that Mrs. Betty was in earnest and the gentleman was not.

From this time my head ran upon strange things, and I may truly say I

was not myself; to have such a gentleman talk to me of being in love

with me, and of my being such a charming creature, as he told me I was;

these were things I knew not how to bear, my vanity was elevated to the

last degree. It is true I had my head full of pride, but, knowing

nothing of the wickedness of the times, I had not one thought of my own

safety or of my virtue about me; and had my young master offered it at

first sight, he might have taken any liberty he thought fit with me;

but he did not see his advantage, which was my happiness for that time.