But how, sir, said I, did you part? I would have sailed with her,
answered he, and been landed at the first port in England or Ireland,
I cared not which, they should put in at; but she was too full of
apprehensions to admit it; And the rough fellow of a master, captain
they called him, (but, in my mind, I could have thrown him overboard,)
would not stay a moment, the wind and tide being quite fair; and was
very urgent with me to go a-shore, or to go the voyage; and being
impetuous in my temper, (spoiled, you know, my dear, by my mother,) and
not used to control, I thought it very strange that wind or tide, or any
thing else, should be preferred to me and my money: But so it was; I was
forced to go; and so took leave of the ladies, and the other passengers;
wished them a good voyage; gave five guineas among the ship's crew, to
be good to the ladies, and took such a leave as you may better imagine
than I express. She recommended once more to me, the dear guest, as
she called her, the ladies being present; and thanked me for all these
instances of my regard, which, she said, would leave a strong impression
on her mind; and, at parting, she threw her arms about my neck, and
we took such a leave, as affected every one present, men, as well as
ladies. So, with a truly heavy heart, I went down the ship's side to my boat;
and stood up in it, looking at her, as long as I could see her, and she
at me, with her handkerchief at her eyes; and then I gazed at the ship,
till, and after I had landed, as long as I could discern the least
appearance of it; for she was under sail, in a manner, when I left her;
and so I returned highly disturbed to my inn.
I went to bed, but rested not; returned to London the next morning; and
set out that afternoon again for the country. And so much, my dear, for
poor Sally Godfrey.--She sends, I understand, by all opportunities,
with the knowledge of her husband, to learn how her child, by her first
husband, does; and has the satisfaction to know she is happily provided
for. And, about half a year ago, her spouse sent a little negro boy, of
about ten years old, as a present, to wait upon her. But he was taken
ill of the small-pox, and died in a month after he was landed.