 I would stake my Life on her Fidelity. She then Imparted to me the
great Secret which laboured in her Breast, and which, I believe, was delivered
with more Pains than she afterwards suffered in Child-birth. It was then
contrived, that my Mother and myself only should attend at the Time, and that
Mrs. Wilkins should be sent out of the way, as she accordingly was to the very
furthest Part of Dorsetshire to enquire the Character of a Servant; for the Lady
had turned away her own Maid near three Months before, during all which Time I
officiated about her Person, upon Trial as she said, tho', as she afterwards
declared, I was not sufficiently handy for the Place. This and many other such
Things which she used to say of me, were all thrown out to prevent any Suspicion
which Wilkins might hereafter have when I was to own the Child; for she thought
it could never be believed she would venture to hurt a young Woman with whom she
had intrusted such a Secret. You may be assured, Sir, I was well paid for all
these Affronts, which, together with being informed of the Occasion of them,
very well contented me. Indeed the Lady had a greater Suspicion of Mrs. Wilkins
than of any other Person; not that she had the least Aversion to the
Gentlewoman, but she thought her incapable of keeping a Secret, especially from
you, Sir: For I have often heard Miss Bridget say, that if Mrs. Wilkins had
committed a Murder, she believed she would acquaint you with it. At last the
expected Day came, and Mrs. Wilkins, who had been kept a Week in Readiness, and
put off from Time to Time, upon some Pretence or other, that she might not
return too soon, was dispatched. Then the Child was born in the Presence only of
myself and my Mother, and was by my Mother conveyed to her own House, where it
was privately kept by her till the Evening of your Return, when I, by the
Command of Miss Bridget, conveyed it into the Bed where you found it. And all
Suspicions were afterwards laid asleep by the artful Conduct of your Sister, in
pretending Ill-will to the Boy, and that any Regard she shew'd him was out of
meer Complaisance to you.« Mrs. Waters then made many Protestations of the Truth
of this Story, and concluded by saying, »Thus, Sir, you have at last discovered
your Nephew, for so I am sure you will hereafter think him, and I question not
but
