The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

My attorney gave me notice to come to this meeting in good clothes, and

with some state, that the mercer might see I was something more than I

seemed to be that time they had me. Accordingly I came in a new suit

of second mourning, according to what I had said at the justice's. I

set myself out, too, as well as a widow's dress in second mourning

would admit; my governess also furnished me with a good pearl necklace,

that shut in behind with a locket of diamonds, which she had in pawn;

and I had a very good figure; and as I stayed till I was sure they were

come, I came in a coach to the door, with my maid with me.

When I came into the room the mercer was surprised. He stood up and

made his bow, which I took a little notice of, and but a little, and

went and sat down where my own attorney had pointed to me to sit, for

it was his house. After a little while the mercer said, he did not

know me again, and began to make some compliments his way. I told him,

I believed he did not know me at first, and that if he had, I believed

he would not have treated me as he did.

He told me he was very sorry for what had happened, and that it was to

testify the willingness he had to make all possible reparation that he

had appointed this meeting; that he hoped I would not carry things to

extremity, which might be not only too great a loss to him, but might

be the ruin of his business and shop, in which case I might have the

satisfaction of repaying an injury with an injury ten times greater;

but that I would then get nothing, whereas he was willing to do me any

justice that was in his power, without putting himself or me to the

trouble or charge of a suit at law.

I told him I was glad to hear him talk so much more like a man of sense

than he did before; that it was true, acknowledgment in most cases of

affronts was counted reparation sufficient; but this had gone too far

to be made up so; that I was not revengeful, nor did I seek his ruin,

or any man's else, but that all my friends were unanimous not to let me

so far neglect my character as to adjust a thing of this kind without a

sufficient reparation of honour; that to be taken up for a thief was

such an indignity as could not be put up; that my character was above

being treated so by any that knew me, but because in my condition of a

widow I had been for some time careless of myself, and negligent of

myself, I might be taken for such a creature, but that for the

particular usage I had from him afterwards,--and then I repeated all as

before; it was so provoking I had scarce patience to repeat it.