The History of Miss Betsy ThoughtlessHaywood, Eliza Fowler
General
The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless
Haywood, Eliza Fowler
Abused wives -- Fiction; Bildungsromans; Didactic fiction; England -- Fiction; Married women -- Fiction
After the civilities common to people who thus meet by accident, Mr.
Saving asked the ladies leave for himself and friends to join company;
which being readily granted, they all walked up the Mall together; but
the place being pretty full, were obliged to divide themselves, and walk
in couples, or as it happened. During this promenade, Mr. Saving found
an opportunity of saying to Miss Betsy, unheard by any of the others,
'Madam, I have something to acquaint you with, of great consequence to
yourself: it is improper for me either to come or write to you at Mr.
Goodman's, therefore wish you would appoint some place where I might
speak with you.'
Miss Betsy was very much startled at his mentioning such a thing, and
replied, 'No, Mr. Saving, I do not make a practice of consenting to
assignations with men; nor have yet forgot that which I consented to
with you.'--'I am very well able to clear myself of any fault on that
score,' said he: 'but, Madam, to ease you of those apprehensions, which
might, perhaps, make you think yourself obliged to keep me at a
distance, it is proper to acquaint you, that I am married, and that it
is only through a friendly regard for your honour and peace, that I
would warn you against the perfidy of a pretended friend.' Perceiving
she started at these words, and repeated them two or three times over,
'Yes, Madam,' resumed he; 'and if you will permit me to speak with you
in a proper place, will bring with me an unquestionable proof of the
truth of what I say.'
One of the ladies happening to turn back to say something to Miss Betsy,
prevented him from adding farther; but what he had already spoke, made
a very deep impression on her mind. She could not conceive who the false
friend should be that he had mentioned, unless it were Miss Flora; but
though she had seen many instances of her insincerity, was not able to
form any conjecture what she could have been guilty of to her, that Mr.
Saving, who had been so long absent, could possibly be made acquainted
with.
Thinking, however, that she ought not to deny herself the satisfaction
of the eclaircissement he offered, especially as it was now to be given,
not by a lover, but a friend, she sought and found a moment before they
left the Mall, of saying to him without the notice of the company. 'Sir,
I have considered on the hint you gave me; whatever concerns my honour,
or my peace, must certainly merit my attention: I have an acquaintance
in St. James's palace, whom I will visit as soon as dinner is over; if
you walk a turn or two in the gallery leading to the Chapel Royal, you
will see me pass that way between four and five o'clock.' To this Mr.
Saving replied, that he would not fail to attend her there.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account