, who was suspected of witchcraft by
the neighbourhood, hearing of my distress, received me into her house, and
having dressed my wounds, brought me to myself with cordials of her own
preparing. - I was treated with great care and tenderness by this grave matron,
who, after I had recovered some strength, desired to know the particulars of my
last disaster. - This piece of satisfaction I could not refuse to one who had
saved my life, therefore related all my adventures without exaggeration or
reserve. She seemed surprised at the vicissitudes I had undergone, and drew a
happy presage of my future life, from my past sufferings, then launched out into
the praise of adversity with so much ardour and good sense, that I concluded she
was a person who had seen better days, and conceived a longing desire to hear
her story. - She perceived my drift by some words I dropped, and smiling, told
me, there was nothing either entertaining or extraordinary in the course of her
fortune; but however, she would communicate it to me, in consideration of the
confidence I had reposed in her. - »It is of little consequence (said she) to
tell the names of my parents, who are dead many years ago: let it suffice to
assure you, they were wealthy, and had no other child than me, so that I was
looked upon as heiress to a considerable estate, and tiezed with addresses on
that account. Among the number of my admirers, there was a young gentleman of no
fortune, whose sole dependence was on his promotion in the army, in which at
that time he bore a lieutenant's commission. - I conceived an affection for this
amiable officer, which in a short time encreased to a violent passion, and,
without entering into minute circumstances, married him privately. - We had not
enjoyed one another long, in stolen interviews, when he was ordered with his
regiment to Flanders; but before he set out, it was agreed between us, that he
should declare our marriage to my father by letter, and implore his pardon for
the step we had taken without his approbation. - This was done while I was
abroad visiting, and just as I was about to return home, I received a letter
from my father, importing, that since I had acted so undutifully and meanly, as
to marry a beggar, without his privity or consent, to the disgrace of his
family, as well as the disappointment of his hopes, he renounced me to the
miserable fate I had entailed upon myself, and charged me never to
