The Fortunate Mistress (Parts 1 and 2)

by Daniel Defoe

itwas lucky this busy creature had passed the road before us, otherwiseshe might easily have found means to have overtaken us, for, as sheobserved, the wench had such an artful way of telling her story, thatshe moved everybody to compassion; and she did not doubt but that if wehad been before, as we were behind, she would have got those who wouldhave assisted her with a coach, &c., to have pursued us, and they mighthave come up with us.

  I was of the honest Quaker's sentiments. I grew pretty easy, called Tom,and gave him half a guinea for his diligence; then I and the Quaker wentinto the parlour to my husband, and soon after supper came in, and Iate moderately, and we spent the remainder of the evening, for the clockhad then tolled nine, very cheerfully; for my Quaker was so rejoiced atmy good fortune, as she called it, that she was very alert, andexceeding good company; and her wit, and she had no small share of it, Ithought was better played off than ever I had heard it before.

  My husband asked me how I should choose to go on board; I desired him tosettle it as he pleased, telling him it was a matter of very greatindifference to me, as he was to go with me. "That may be true, mydear," says he, "but I ask you for a reason or two, which I will laybefore you, viz., if we hire a vessel for ourselves, we may set sailwhen we please, have the liberty of every part of the ship to ourselves,and land at what port, either in Holland or France, we might make choiceof. Besides," added he, "another reason I mention it to you is, that Iknow you do not love much company, which, in going into the packet-boat,it is almost impossible to avoid." "I own, my dear," said I, "yourreasons are very good; I have but one thing to say against them, whichis, that the packet-boat, by its frequent voyages, must of course befurnished with experienced seamen, who know the seas too well even torun any hazard." (At this juncture the terrible voyage I and Amy madefrom France to Harwich came so strong in my mind, that I trembled so asto be taken notice of by my husband.) "Besides," added I, "the landlordmay send the master of one of them to you, and I think it may be best tohire the state cabin, as they call it, to ourselves, by which method weshall avoid company, without we have an inclination to associateourselves with such passengers we may happen to like; and the expensewill be much cheaper than hiring a vessel to go the voyage with usalone, and every whit as safe."

  The Quaker, who had seriously listened to our discourse, gave it as heropinion that the method I had proposed was by far the safest, quickest,and cheapest. "Not," said she, "as I think thou wouldest be against anynecessary expense, though I am certain thou wouldest not fling thy moneyaway."

  Soon after, my husband ordered the landlord to send for one of themasters of the packet-boats, of whom he hired the great cabin, andagreed to sail from thence the next day, if the wind and the tideanswered.

  The settling our method of going over sea had taken up the time till thedinner was ready, which we being informed of, came out of a chamber wehad been in all the morning, to a handsome parlour, where everything wasplaced suitable to our rank; there was a large, old-fashioned service ofplate, and a sideboard genteelly set off. The dinner was excellent, andwell dressed.

  After dinner, we entered into another discourse, which was the hiring ofservants to go with us from Dover to Paris; a thing frequently done bytravellers; and such are to be met with at every stage inn. Our footmenset out this morning on their return to London, and the Quaker and coachwas to go the next day. My new chambermaid, whose name was Isabel, wasto go through the journey, on condition of doing no other business thanwaiting on me. In a while we partly concluded to let the hiring ofmen-servants alone till we came to Calais, for they could be of no useto us on board a ship, the sailor's or cabin boy's place being to attendthe cabin passengers as well as his master.

  To divert ourselves, we took a walk after we had dined, round about thetown, and coming to the garrison, and being somewhat thirsty, all wentinto the sutler's for a glass of wine. A pint was called for andbrought; but the man of the house came in with it raving like a madman,saying, "Don't you think you are a villain, to ask for a pot of ale whenI know you have spent all your money, and are ignorant of the means ofgetting more, without you hear of a place, which I look upon to be veryunlikely?" "Don't be in such a passion, landlord," said my husband."Pray, what is the matter?" "Oh, nothing, sir," says he; "but a youngfellow in the sutling room, whom I find to have been a gentleman'sservant, wants a place; and having spent all his money, would willinglyrun up a score with me, knowing I must get him a master if ever I intendto have my money." "Pray, sir," said my husband, "send the young fellowto me; if I like him, and can agree with him, it is possible I may takehim into my service." The landlord took care we should not speak to himtwice, he went and fetched him in himself, and my husband examined himbefore he spoke, as to his size, mien, and garb. The young man was cleandressed, of a middling stature, a dark complexion, and abouttwenty-seven years old.

  "I hear, young man," says he to him, "that you want a place; it mayperhaps be in my power to serve you. Let me know at once what educationyou have had, if you have any family belonging to you, or if you are fitfor a gentleman's service, can bring any person of reputation to yourcharacter, and are willing to go and live in Holland with me: we willnot differ about your wages."

  The young fellow made a respectful bow to each of us, and addressedhimself to my husband as follows: "Sir," said he, "in me you behold theeldest child of misfortune. I am but young, as you may see; I have nocomers after me, and having lived with several gentlemen, some of whomare on their travels, others settled in divers parts of the world,besides what are dead, makes me unable to produce a character without aweek's notice to write to London, and I should not doubt but by thereturn of the post to let you see some letters as would satisfy you inany doubts about me. My education," continued he, "is but very middling,being taken from school before I had well learnt to read, write, andcast accounts; and as to my parentage, I cannot well give you anyaccount of them: all that I know is, that my father was a brewer, and byhis extravagance ran out a handsome fortune, and afterwards left my poormother almost penniless, with five small children, of which I was thesecond, though not above five years old. My mother knew not what to dowith us, so she sent a poor girl, our maid, whose name I have forgotthis many years, with us all to a relation's, and there left us, and Inever saw or heard of or from them any more. Indeed, I inquired amongthe neighbours, and all that I could learn was that my mother's goodswere seized, that she was obliged to apply to the parish for relief, anddied of grief soon after. For my part," says he, "I was put into thehands of my father's sister, where, by her cruel usage, I was forced torun away at nine years of age; and the numerous scenes of life I havesince gone through are more than would fill a small volume. Pray, sir,"added he, "let it satisfy you that I am thoroughly honest, and should beglad to serve you at any rate; and although I cannot possibly get a goodcharacter from anybody at present, yet I defy the whole world to give mean ill one, either in public or private life."

  If I had had the eyes of Argus I should have seen with them all on thisoccasion. I knew that this was my son, and one that, among all myinquiry, I could never get any account of. The Quaker seeing my colourcome and go, and also tremble, said, "I verily believe thou art notwell; I hope this Kentish air, which was always reckoned aguish, doesnot hurt thee?" "I am taken very sick of a sudden," said I; "so pray letme go to our inn that I may go to my chamber." Isabel being called in,she and the Quaker attended me there, leaving the young fellow with myspouse. When I was got into my chamber I was seized with such a grief asI had never known before; and flinging myself down upon the bed, burstinto a flood of tears, and soon after fainted away. Soon after, I came alittle to myself, and the Quaker begged of me to tell her what was thecause of my sudden indisposition. "Nothing at all," says I, "as I knowof; but a sudden chilliness seized my blood, and that, joined to afainting of the spirits, made me ready to sink."

  Presently after my husband came to see how I did, and finding mesomewhat better, he told me that he had a mind to hire the young man Ihad left him with, for he be
lieved he was honest and fit for ourservice. "My dear," says I, "I did not mind him. I would desire you tobe cautious who we pick up on the road; but as I have the satisfactionof hiring my maids, I shall never trouble myself with the men-servants,that is wholly your province. However," added I (for I was very certainhe was my son, and was resolved to have him in my service, though it wasmy interest to keep my husband off, in order to bring him on), "if youlike the fellow, I am not averse to your hiring one servant in England.We are not obliged to trust him with much before we see his conduct,and if he does not prove as you may expect, you may turn him offwhenever you please." "I