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
The fright she was in, aided by disdain and rage, now inspired her with
an unusual strength: she broke from him, thrust down the window, and
with one breath called him 'Monster! Villain!' with the next screamed
out to the coachman to stop; and, finding he regarded not her cries,
would have thrown herself out, if not forcibly witheld by the
gentleman, who began now to be a little startled at her resolute
behaviour. 'What is all this for?' said he: 'would you break your neck,
or venture being crushed to pieces by the wheels?'--'Any thing,' cried
she, bursting into tears, 'I will venture; suffer any thing, rather than
be subjected to insults, such as you have dared to treat me with.'
Though the person by whom Miss Betsy was thus dangerously attacked was a
libertine, or, according to the more genteel and modish phrase, a man of
pleasure, yet he wanted neither honour, nor good sense: he had looked on
Miss Betsy as a woman of the town, by seeing her with one who was so,
and her too great freedom in conversation gave him no cause to alter his
opinion; but the manner in which she had endeavoured to rebuff his more
near approaches, greatly staggered him. He knew not what to think, but
remained in silent cogitation for some minutes; and, though he held her
fast clasped round the waist, it was only to prevent her from attempting
the violence she had threatened, not to offer any towards her. 'Is it
possible,' said he, after this pause, 'that you are virtuous?'--'I call
Heaven to witness,' answered she, with a voice faltering through the
excess of terror and indignation, 'that I never have entertained one
thought that was not strictly so! that I detest and scorn those wretched
creatures of the number of whom you imagine me to be one; and that I
would sooner die the worst of deaths, than live with infamy! Yes, Sir,
be assured,' continued she, gathering more courage, 'that whatever
appearances may be this fatal night against me, I am of a family of some
consideration in the world, and am blessed with a fortune, which sets me
above the low temptations of designing men.'
As she had ended these words, they came to the bagnio; and, the coach
immediately stopping, two or three waiters came running to open the
door; on which Miss Betsy, more terrified than ever, shrieked in a most
piteous manner; 'O God!' cried she, 'What's here? Where am I? What will
become of me?' and, at that instant recollecting that no help was near;
that she was in the power of a man whose aim was her eternal ruin; and
that it was by her own indiscretion alone this mischief had fallen on
her; with so overcome with the dread, the shame, the horror, as she then
supposed, of her inevitable fate, that she was very near falling into a
swoon.
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