 I
borrowed a small sum of her, and promised, it seems, to pay it before a certain
time; but being disappointed in my expectation of money from the country, the
day elapsed, without my being able to take up my note; upon which she wrote a
peremptory letter, threatning to arrest me, if I did not pay the debt
immediately: Nettled at this precise behaviour, I sent a damned severe answer,
which enraged her so much, that she actually took out a writ against me. -
Whereupon, finding the thing grow serious, I got a friend to advance the money
for me, discharged the debt, went to her house, and abused her for unfriendly
dealing. - She was provoked by my reproaches, and scolded in her turn. The
little deformed urchin joined her mother with such virulence and volubility of
tongue, that I was fain to make my retreat, after having been honoured with a
great many scandalous epithets, which gave me plainly to understand that I had
nothing to hope from the esteem of the one, or the affection of the other. - As
they are both utter strangers to life, it is a thousand to one that the girl
shall be picked up by some scoundrel or other at Bath, if I don't provide for
her otherwise. - You are a well-looking fellow, Random, and can behave as
demurely as a quaker. - Now if you will give me an obligation for five hundred
pounds, to be paid six months after your marriage, I will put you in a method of
carrying her in spite of all opposition.«
    This proposal was too advantageous for me, to be refused: The writing was
immediately drawn and executed; and Banter giving me notice of the time when,
and the stage-coach in which they were to set out, I bespoke a place in the same
convenience; and having hired a horse for Strap, who was charmed with the
project, set out accordingly.
    As we embarked before day, I had not the pleasure for some time of seeing
Miss Snapper (that was the name of my mistress) nor even of perceiving the
number and sex of my fellow-travellers, although I guessed that the coach was
full, by the difficulty I found in seating myself. - The first five minutes
passed in a general silence, when all of a sudden, the coach heeling to one
side, a boisterous voice pronounced, »To the right and left, cover your flanks,
damme!« I easily discovered by the time and matter of this exclamation, that it
was uttered
