At this moment, the lady crossed the room, and seating herself by my
side, asked, "Would you not like to go and live with me? I have one
waiting maid now, but I wish for another, and if you will go, I will
take you and give you good wages. Your work will not be hard; will you
go?" "Where do you go?" I asked. "To Montreal," she replied. "Then I
shall not go with you," said I. "No money could induce me to return
there again." "Ah!" said she, with a peculiar smile, "I see how it is,
but you need not fear to trust me. I will protect you, and never
suffer you to be taken back to the convent." I saw that I had made
unconsciously another imprudent revelation, and resolved to say no more.
I was about to leave her, but she drew me back saying, "I will give you
some of my clothes, and I can make them fit you so well that no one will
ever recognize you. I shall have plenty of time to alter them if they
require it, for the train that I go in, will not be along for about
three hours; you can help me, and in that time we will get you nicely
fixed."
I could hardly repress a smile when I saw how earnest she was, and I
thought it a great pity that a plan so nicely laid out should be so
suddenly deranged, but I could not listen to her flatteries. I suspected
that she was herself in the employ of the priests, and merely wished to
get me back that she might betray me. She had the appearance of being
very wealthy, was richly clad, wore a gold watch, chain, bracelets,
breastpin, ear rings, and many finger rings, all of the finest gold. But
with all her wealth and kind offers, I dare not trust her. I thought she
looked annoyed when I refused to go with her, but when I rose to go
to the cars, a look of angry impatience stole over, her fine features,
which convinced me that I had escaped a snare.
The cars came at length, and I was soon on my way to St. Albans. I was
very sick, and asked a gentleman near me to raise the windows. He did
so, and inquired how far I was going. I informed him, when he remarked
that he was somewhat acquainted in St. Albans, and asked with whom I
designed to stop. I told him I had no friends or acquaintance in the
place, but I hoped to get employment in some protestant family. He said
he could direct me to some gentlemen who would, he thought, assist me.
One in particular, he mentioned as being a very wealthy man, and kept a
number of servants; perhaps he would employ me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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