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finding herſelf in ſuch imminent danger from the falling of ſtones, retired into the door of mine, which was almoſt contiguous to her's, for ſhelter, and when the ſhock increaſed, which filled the door with duſt and rubbiſh, ran up stairs into my apartment, which was then open: be it as it might, this was no time for curioſity. I remember the poor creature aſked me, in the utmoſt agony, if I did not think that the world was at an end; at the ſame time ſhe complained of being choaked, and begged for God's ſake I would procure her a little drink; upon this I went to a cloſet where I kept a large jar with water (which you know is ſometimes a pretty ſcarce commodity in Liſbon) but finding it broken in pieces, I told her ſhe muſt not now think of quenching her thirſt, but ſaving her life, as the houſe was juſt falling on our heads, and if a ſecond ſhock came, would certainly bury us both; I bade her take hold of my arm, and that I would endeavour to bring her into ſome place of ſecurity.
'I ſhall always look upon it as a particular providence, that I happened on this occaſion to be undreſſed, for had I dreſſed myſelf, as I propoſed, when I got out of bed, in order to breakfaſt with a friend, I ſhould, in all probability, have run into the ſtreet at the beginning of the ſhock, as the reſt of the people in the houſe did, and conſequently have had my brains daſhed out, is very one of them had; however, the imminent danger I was in did not hinder me from conſidering that my preſent dreſs, only a gown and ſlippers, would render my getting over the ruins almoſt impracticable: I had, therefore, ſtill preſence of mind enough left to put on a pair of ſhoes and a coat, the firſt that came in my way, which was every thing I ſaved, and in this dreſs I hurried down ſtairs, the woman with me, holding by my arm, and made directly to that end
