The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

My landlady was mighty glad to see me, and my landlord made such a stir

with me, that if I had been a princess I could not have been better

used, and here I might have been welcome a month or two if I had

thought fit.

But my business was of another nature. I was very uneasy (though so

well disguised that it was scarce possible to detect me) lest this

fellow should somehow or other find me out; and though he could not

charge me with this robbery, having persuaded him not to venture, and

having also done nothing in it myself but run away, yet he might have

charged me with other things, and have bought his own life at the

expense of mine.

This filled me with horrible apprehensions. I had no recourse, no

friend, no confidante but my old governess, and I knew no remedy but to

put my life in her hands, and so I did, for I let her know where to

send to me, and had several letters from her while I stayed here. Some

of them almost scared me out my wits but at last she sent me the joyful

news that he was hanged, which was the best news to me that I had heard

a great while.

I had stayed here five weeks, and lived very comfortably indeed (the

secret anxiety of my mind excepted); but when I received this letter I

looked pleasantly again, and told my landlady that I had received a

letter from my spouse in Ireland, that I had the good news of his being

very well, but had the bad news that his business would not permit him

to come away so soon as he expected, and so I was like to go back again

without him.

My landlady complimented me upon the good news however, that I had

heard he was well. 'For I have observed, madam,' says she, 'you hadn't

been so pleasant as you used to be; you have been over head and ears in

care for him, I dare say,' says the good woman; ''tis easy to be seen

there's an alteration in you for the better,' says she. 'Well, I am

sorry the esquire can't come yet,' says my landlord; 'I should have

been heartily glad to have seen him. But I hope, when you have certain

news of his coming, you'll take a step hither again, madam,' says he;

'you shall be very welcome whenever you please to come.' With all these fine compliments we parted, and I came merry enough to

London, and found my governess as well pleased as I was. And now she

told me she would never recommend any partner to me again, for she

always found, she said, that I had the best luck when I ventured by

myself. And so indeed I had, for I was seldom in any danger when I was

by myself, or if I was, I got out of it with more dexterity than when I

was entangled with the dull measures of other people, who had perhaps

less forecast, and were more rash and impatient than I; for though I

had as much courage to venture as any of them, yet I used more caution

before I undertook a thing, and had more presence of mind when I was to

bring myself off.