The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

It was now very early in the morning, and not light, and I knew not

well what course to take; for I made no doubt but I should be pursued

in the morning, and perhaps be taken with the things about me; so I

resolved upon taking new measures. I went publicly to an inn in the

town with my trunk, as I called it, and having taken the substance out,

I did not think the lumber of it worth my concern; however, I gave it

the landlady of the house with a charge to take great care of it, and

lay it up safe till I should come again, and away I walked in to the

street.

When I was got into the town a great way from the inn, I met with an

ancient woman who had just opened her door, and I fell into chat with

her, and asked her a great many wild questions of things all remote to

my purpose and design; but in my discourse I found by her how the town

was situated, that I was in a street that went out towards Hadley, but

that such a street went towards the water-side, such a street towards

Colchester, and so the London road lay there.

I had soon my ends of this old woman, for I only wanted to know which

was the London road, and away I walked as fast as I could; not that I

intended to go on foot, either to London or to Colchester, but I wanted

to get quietly away from Ipswich.

I walked about two or three miles, and then I met a plain countryman,

who was busy about some husbandry work, I did not know what, and I

asked him a great many questions first, not much to the purpose, but at

last told him I was going for London, and the coach was full, and I

could not get a passage, and asked him if he could tell me where to

hire a horse that would carry double, and an honest man to ride before

me to Colchester, that so I might get a place there in the coaches.

The honest clown looked earnestly at me, and said nothing for above

half a minute, when, scratching his poll, 'A horse, say you and to

Colchester, to carry double? why yes, mistress, alack-a-day, you may

have horses enough for money.' 'Well, friend,' says I, 'that I take

for granted; I don't expect it without money.' 'Why, but, mistress,'

says he, 'how much are you willing to give?' 'Nay,' says I again,

'friend, I don't know what your rates are in the country here, for I am

a stranger; but if you can get one for me, get it as cheap as you can,

and I'll give you somewhat for your pains.' 'Why, that's honestly said too,' says the countryman. 'Not so honest,

neither,' said I to myself, 'if thou knewest all.' 'Why, mistress,'

says he, 'I have a horse that will carry double, and I don't much care

if I go myself with you,' and the like. 'Will you?' says I; 'well, I

believe you are an honest man; if you will, I shall be glad of it; I'll

pay you in reason.' 'Why, look ye, mistress,' says he, 'I won't be out

of reason with you, then; if I carry you to Colchester, it will be

worth five shillings for myself and my horse, for I shall hardly come

back to-night.' In short, I hired the honest man and his horse; but when we came to a

town upon the road (I do not remember the name of it, but it stands

upon a river), I pretended myself very ill, and I could go no farther

that night but if he would stay there with me, because I was a

stranger, I would pay him for himself and his horse with all my heart.