Page:Wanton Tom, or, The merry history of Tom Stitch the tailor.pdf/17

17 kind entertainment The gave him in her bed. O heavens, ſaid ſhe, was it you! I beg you on my knees never to reveal it; for if you do, I am undone; for I thought you your fellow-prentice, to whom I am married. No, ſaid he, I'll be even with you now.

The more he threatened to tell, the more ſhe perſuaded him to keep it ſecret. offering him any thing he would desire. Since you are ſo willing to have it concealed, ſaid, be, I will take ſome pity on you, though you would not for me; Bring me down half-a-year's wages. She yielding to give him the money, but not to lie with him, as he had further requeſted to her. When the found the could not prevail, ſhe yielded to lie with him; but ſhortly after ſhe proved with child, and left her ſervice, desiring him never to reveal it, which he promiſed never to do.

In a month after ſhe was gone, his miſtreſs fell sick and died, and be out of his time within a fortnight thereafter. His maſter being ſtill incensed against him, turned him out of doors that very day his time expired; ſo that Tom could not tell whether to go, nor what to do. Now his best friend, and loving miſtreſs was dead being aſhamed to go near' any of his rela-