The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

I sent my gentleman a short letter, therefore, that I had obeyed his

orders in all things but that of going back to the Bath, which I could

not think of for many reasons; that however parting from him was a

wound to me that I could never recover, yet that I was fully satisfied

his reflections were just, and would be very far from desiring to

obstruct his reformation or repentance.

Then I represented my own circumstances to him in the most moving terms

that I was able. I told him that those unhappy distresses which first

moved him to a generous and an honest friendship for me, would, I hope,

move him to a little concern for me now, though the criminal part of

our correspondence, which I believed neither of us intended to fall

into at the time, was broken off; that I desired to repent as sincerely

as he had done, but entreated him to put me in some condition that I

might not be exposed to the temptations which the devil never fails to

excite us to from the frightful prospect of poverty and distress; and

if he had the least apprehensions of my being troublesome to him, I

begged he would put me in a posture to go back to my mother in

Virginia, from when he knew I came, and that would put an end to all

his fears on that account. I concluded, that if he would send me #50

more to facilitate my going away, I would send him back a general

release, and would promise never to disturb him more with any

importunities; unless it was to hear of the well-doing of the child,

whom, if I found my mother living and my circumstances able, I would

send for to come over to me, and take him also effectually off his

hands.

This was indeed all a cheat thus far, viz. that I had no intention to

go to Virginia, as the account of my former affairs there may convince

anybody of; but the business was to get this last #50 of him, if

possible, knowing well enough it would be the last penny I was ever to

expect.

However, the argument I used, namely, of giving him a general release,

and never troubling him any more, prevailed effectually with him, and

he sent me a bill for the money by a person who brought with him a

general release for me to sign, and which I frankly signed, and

received the money; and thus, though full sore against my will, a final

end was put to this affair.

And here I cannot but reflect upon the unhappy consequence of too great

freedoms between persons stated as we were, upon the pretence of

innocent intentions, love of friendship, and the like; for the flesh

has generally so great a share in those friendships, that is great odds

but inclination prevails at last over the most solemn resolutions; and

that vice breaks in at the breaches of decency, which really innocent

friendship ought to preserve with the greatest strictness. But I leave

the readers of these things to their own just reflections, which they

will be more able to make effectual than I, who so soon forgot myself,

and am therefore but a very indifferent monitor.