'REVEREND SIR, 'O how suited to your function, and your character, is your kind letter!
God bless you for it! I now think I am beginning to be happy. I should
be sorry to have you suffer on my account: but I hope it will be made
up to you an hundred-fold, by that God whom you so faithfully serve. I
should be too happy, could I ever have it in my power to contribute in
the least to it. But, alas! to serve me, must be for God's sake only;
for I am poor and lowly in fortune; though in mind, I hope, too high to
do a mean or unworthy deed to gain a kingdom. But I lose time.---'Any way you think best, I should be pleased with; for I know not the
persons, nor in what manner it is best to apply to them. I am glad
of the hint you so kindly give me of the man at the post-house. I
was thinking of opening a way for myself by letter, when I could have
opportunity; but I see more and more that I am, indeed, strangely
surrounded with dangers; and that there is no dependance to be made on
my master's honour. 'I should think, sir, if either of those ladies would give leave, I
might some way get out by favour of your key: and as it is impossible,
watched as I am, to know when it can be, suppose, sir, you get one made
by it, and put it, the next opportunity, under the sunflower?--I am sure
no time is to be lost, because it is rather my wonder, that she is
not thoughtful about this key, than otherwise; for she forgets not the
minutest thing. But, sir, if I had this key, I could, if these ladies
would not shelter me, run away any where: and if I was once out of the
house, they could have no pretence to force me again; for I have done no
harm, and hope to make my story good to any compassionate body; and by
this way you need not to be known. Torture should not wring it from me,
I assure you. 'One thing more, good sir. Have you no correspondence with my master's
Bedfordshire family? By that means, may be, I could be informed of
his intention of coming hither, and when I enclose you a letter of a
deceitful wretch; for I can trust you with any thing; poor John Arnold.
Its contents will tell why I enclose it. Perhaps by his means, something
may be discovered; for he seems willing to atone for his treachery to
me, by the intimation of future service. I leave the hint to you to
improve upon, and am, 'Reverend Sir,
'Your for ever obliged, and thankful servant.'