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obliging.
'You will, by this time, be far on your way to the place I have allotted
for your abode for a few weeks, till I have managed some affairs, that
will make me shew myself to you in a much different light, than you may
possibly apprehend from this rash action: And to convince you, that I
mean no harm, I do assure you, that the house you are going to, shall be
so much at your command, that even I myself will not approach it without
leave from you. So make yourself easy; be discreet and prudent; and a
happier turn shall reward these your troubles, than you may at present
apprehend.
'Meantime I pity the fatigue you will have, if this come to your hand in
the place I have directed: and will write to your father to satisfy him,
that nothing but what is honourable shall be offered to you, by
Your passionate admirer, (so I must style myself,)
'---------------'
Don't think hardly of poor Robin: You have so possessed all my servants
in your favour, that I find they had rather serve you than me; and 'tis
reluctantly the poor fellow undertook this task; and I was forced to
submit to assure him of my honourable intentions to you, which I am fully
resolved to make good, if you compel me not to a contrary conduct.'
I but too well apprehended that the letter was only to pacify me for the
present; but as my danger was not so immediate as I had reason to dread,
and he had promised to forbear coming to me, and to write to you, my dear
parents, to quiet your concern, I was a little more easy than before and
I made shift to eat a little bit of boiled chicken they had got for me,
and drank a glass of my sack, and made each of them do so too.
But after I had so done, I was again a little flustered; for in came the
coachman with the look of a hangman, I thought, and madamed me up
strangely; telling me, he would beg me to get ready to pursue my journey
by five in the morning, or else he should be late in. I was quite
grieved at this; for I began not to dislike my company, considering how
things stood; and was in hopes to get a party among them, and so to put
myself into any worthy protection in the neighbourhood, rather than go
forward.
When he withdrew, I began to tamper with the farmer and his wife. But,
alas! they had had a letter delivered them at the same time I had; so
securely had Lucifer put it into his head to do his work; and they only
shook their heads, and seemed to pity me; and so I was forced to give
over that hope.
However, the good farmer shewed me his letter; which I copied as follows:
for it discovers the deep arts of this wicked master; and how resolved he
seems to be on my ruin, by the pains he took to deprive me of all hopes
of freeing myself from his power.
'FARMER NORTON,
'I send to your house, for one night only, a young gentlewoman, much
against her will, who has deeply embarked in a love affair, which will be
her ruin, as well as the person's to whom she wants to betroth herself.
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