Page:Moll Flanders (1906 edition).djvu/335

Rh Soon after this private engagement I began to consider whether it were not more suitable to the manner of life I now led to be a little less public; and, as I told my lord, it would rid me of the importunities of others, and of continual visits from a sort of people who he knew of, and who, by the way, having now got the notion of me which I really deserved, began to talk of the old game, love and gallantry, and to offer at what was rude enough—things as nauseous to me now as if I had been married and as virtuous as other people. The visits of these people began indeed to be uneasy to me, and particularly as they were always very tedious and impertinent; nor could my Lord be pleased with them at all if they had gone on. It would be diverting to set down here in what manner I repulsed these sort of people; how in some I resented it as an affront, and told them that I was sorry they should oblige me to vindicate myself from the scandal of such suggestions by telling them that I could see them no more, and by desiring them not to give themselves the trouble of visiting me, who, though I was not willing to be uncivil, yet thought myself obliged never to receive any visit from any gentleman after he had made such proposals as those to me. But these things would be too tedious to bring in here. It was on this account I proposed to his lordship my taking new lodgings for privacy; besides, I considered that, as I might live very handsomely, and yet not so publicly, so I needed not spend so much money by a great deal; and, if I made £500 a year of this generous person, it was more than I had any occasion to spend by a great deal.

My lord came readily into this proposal, and went further than I expected, for he found out a lodging for me in a very handsome house, where yet he was not known–I suppose he had employed somebody to find it out for him—and where he had a convenient way to come into the garden by a door that opened into the park, a thing very rarely allowed in those times.

By this key he could come in at what time of night or day he pleased; and, as we had also a little door in the lower part of the house which as always left upon a lock, and his was the master-key, so if it was twelve, one, or two o'clock at night, he could come directly into my bedchamber. N.B.—I was not afraid I should be found a-bed with anybody else, for, in a word, I conversed with nobody at all.

It happened pleasantly enough one night, his lordship had stayed late, and I, not expecting him that night, had taken Amy to bed with me, and when my lord came into the chamber we were both fast asleep. I think it was near three o'clock when he came in, and a little merry, but not at all fuddled, or what they call in drink; and he came at once into the room.

Amy was frighted out of her wits, and cried out I said calmly, 'Indeed, my lord, I did not expect you to-night, and we have been a little frighted to-night with fire.' 'Oh!', says he, 'I see you have got a bedfellow with you.' I began to make an apology. 'No, no', says my lord, 'you need no excuse, 'tis not a man bedfellow, I see'; but then, talking merrily enough, he catched his words back: 'But, hark ye', says he, 'now I think on't, how shall I be satisfied it is not a man bedfellow?' 'Oh', says I, 'I dare say your lordship is satisfied, 'tis poor Amy.' 'Yes', says he, '’tis Mrs Amy; but how do I know what Amy is? It may be Mr Amy for aught I know; I hope you'll give me leave to be satisfied.' I told him, Yes, by all means, I would have his lordship satisfied; but I supposed he knew who she was.

Well, he fell foul of poor Amy, and, indeed, I thought once he would