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 this she would not be prevailed upon to stay, and desired Miss
Forward to send somebody for a chair. 'A chair, Madam!' cried that
gentleman who, of the two, had been most particular in his addresses to
her; 'you cannot, sure, imagine we should suffer you to go home alone at
this late hour.'--'I apprehend no great danger,' said she; 'though I
confess it is a thing I have not been accustomed to.' He replied, that
in his company she should not begin the experiment. On this a coach was
ordered. Miss Betsy made some few scruples at committing herself to the
conduct of a person so little known to her. 'All acquaintance must have
a beginning,' said he; 'the most intimate friends were perfect strangers
at first. You may depend on it I am a man of honour, and cannot be
capable of an ungenerous action.'
Little more was said on the occasion; and being told a coach was at the
door, they took leave of Miss Forward and the other gentleman, and went
down stairs. On stepping into the coach, Miss Betsy directed the man
where to drive; but the gentleman, unheard by her, ordered him to go to
the bagnio in Orange Street. They were no sooner seated, and the windows
drawn up to keep out the cold, than Miss Betsy was alarmed with a
treatment which her want of consideration made her little expect. Since
the gentleman-commoner, no man had ever attempted to take the liberties
which her present companion now did: she struggled--she repelled with
all her might, the insolent pressures of his lips and hands. 'Is this,'
cried she, 'the honour I was to depend upon? Is it thus you prove
yourself incapable of an ungenerous action?'--'Accuse me not,' said he,
'till you have reason. I have been bit once, and have made a vow never
to settle upon any woman while I live again; but you shall fare never
the worse for that, I will make you a handsome present before we part;
and, if you can be constant, will allow you six guineas a week.'
She was so confounded at the first mention of this impudent proposal;
that she had not the power of interrupting him; but, recovering herself
as well as she was able, 'Heavens!' cried she, 'what means all this?
What do you take me for?'--'Take you for!' answered he, laughing;
'pr'ythee, dear girl, no more of these airs: I take you for a pretty
kind, obliging creature, and such I hope to find you, as soon as we come
into a proper place. In the mean time,' continued he, stopping her mouth
with kisses, 'none of this affected coyness.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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