Page:Adventures of Roderick Random.pdf/56

This page has been validated.

( 56 )

who had destined him for another; urged a private marriage, to which, in an evil hour, she agreed and became a dupe to his deceit. At length he left her to be married to another; and she. finding herself with child, eloped and went to London. where she hired lodgings under a reigned name and soon, through necessity, was forced into keeping. She soon became more and more familiarized to this (illegible text) of life and took lodgings at Charing-Cross, and engaged porters of taverns to find her employment, until she became so reduced by disease and want, that she was driven to the retreat where I found her. So much candour and good sense made me believe every syllable she uttered. I asked her if she would change her way of life if an opportunity offered? She said she gladly would. but who would venture to take her, in her present situation? At length an expedient occured to her, which was to procure the homely garb of a country wench, go to a distance from the town, and come up again in the waggon, as a fresh country girl. I applauded her resolution, and she was in a few days after hired as a bar-maid at a tavern. Thither my fellow lodger repaired, after taking leave of me with a torrent of tears.

As for myself, I saw no resource but the army or navy, between which I hesitated so long, that I found myself reduced to a

stary-