Page:Fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders.pdf/15

     of the famous Moll Flanders. 15

and runing after me, cried out, Stop thief, ſtop thief, with all ſhe had ex- poſed to the public; who taking her for a mad woman, I got clear off with my booty; and the was bantered to her dying day, beſides loſing the va- lue of eighty pounds worth of muſlin. But at laſt, happening to ſteal ſome brocaded ſilk from a mercer's ſhop, I was apprehended, and carried before a juſtice and committed to Newgate, the place of my nativity; where it is impoſſible for me to expreſs the hor- ror of my diſconſolate mind. Here all the wretches triumphed over me. What! ſaid they, is Mrs. Flanders come to Newgate! what, Mrs Mary! and afterwards, plain Moll Flanders. They thought the devil had helped me, they ſaid, that I had reigned ſo long, and a deal to that purpoſe; then called for brandy, and drank to me, and put it all to my ſcore; for they told me, that I was juſt now come to the college, as they called it, and ſure I had money in my pocket, tho' they had none; but it was a horrible and diſmal place to me, tho' they ſeemed to make very light of it: