Life's Progress Through the Passions; Or, The Adventures of NaturaHaywood, Eliza Fowler
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Life's Progress Through the Passions; Or, The Adventures of Natura
Haywood, Eliza Fowler
English fiction -- 18th century
Natura had little need to hesitate if he should accept this
proposal:--he saw there was at least a chance for escaping the dangers
to which he was exposed; and should the woman's plot miscarry, and he
detected of being an accomplice in it, his condition could not, even
then, be worse than it was at present; he therefore embraced her with
a fervor which she seemed very well pleased with, and assured her in
the most solemn manner he would return all the obligations she
conferred on him, by such ways as should be most agreeable to her. She
then told him she had not slept for some time in the same bed with her
husband, and therefore might easily come to him again as soon as the
family were gone to their respective apartments; and having said this,
went out of the room hastily, tho' not without returning his salute,
and telling him he was worthy of greater risques than those she was
about to run.
He was no sooner left alone, than he began to reflect: on the
capriciousness of his destiny, which to preserve him from suffering
for a crime he was innocent of, was about to make him in reality
guilty of one of the very same nature: it is likely, however, he was
not troubled with many scruples on this head; or if any arose in his
mind, they were soon dissipated in the consideration of what he owed
to his own safety, which he yet could not greatly flatter himself with
the hope of, as he was not ignorant how difficult it was for a
delinquent to elude the diligence of those sent in search of him. The
chance of such a thing notwithstanding was not to be neglected; and he
waited with an impatience adequate to the occasion, for the hour in
which he expected his deliverance.
It was little more than eleven o'clock, when she came into the chamber
in the habit of a country fellow, which so intirely disguised her,
that till she spoke, he took her for one of those who attend the
prisoners in the circumstances he then was, and imagined some accident
had prevented the execution of her plot; but he was soon convinced of
his error, by her speaking, and at the same time presenting him with a
coat, wig, and every thing proper to make him pass for such as she
appeared herself:--the reader may suppose he wasted not much time in
equipping himself, or in making any idle compliments; it was scarce
midnight, when they both got safely out of the house, the door of
which she shut softly after her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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