The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

I omitted nothing that was fit to be said by one infinitely obliged, to

let him know that I had a due sense of his kindness; and indeed from

that time I did not appear so much reserved to him as I had done

before, though still within the bounds of the strictest virtue on both

sides; but how free soever our conversation was, I could not arrive to

that sort of freedom which he desired, viz. to tell him I wanted money,

though I was secretly very glad of his offer.

Some weeks passed after this, and still I never asked him for money;

when my landlady, a cunning creature, who had often pressed me to it,

but found that I could not do it, makes a story of her own inventing,

and comes in bluntly to me when we were together. 'Oh, widow!' says

she, 'I have bad news to tell you this morning.' 'What is that?' said

I; 'are the Virginia ships taken by the French?'--for that was my fear.

'No, no,' says she, 'but the man you sent to Bristol yesterday for

money is come back, and says he has brought none.' Now I could by no means like her project; I though it looked too much

like prompting him, which indeed he did not want, and I clearly saw

that I should lose nothing by being backward to ask, so I took her up

short. 'I can't image why he should say so to you,' said I, 'for I

assure you he brought me all the money I sent him for, and here it is,'

said I (pulling out my purse with about twelve guineas in it); and

added, 'I intend you shall have most of it by and by.' He seemed distasted a little at her talking as she did at first, as

well as I, taking it, as I fancied he would, as something forward of

her; but when he saw me give such an answer, he came immediately to

himself again. The next morning we talked of it again, when I found he

was fully satisfied, and, smiling, said he hoped I would not want money

and not tell him of it, and that I had promised him otherwise. I told

him I had been very much dissatisfied at my landlady's talking so

publicly the day before of what she had nothing to do with; but I

supposed she wanted what I owed her, which was about eight guineas,

which I had resolved to give her, and had accordingly given it her the

same night she talked so foolishly.