by Daniel Defoe
In the Morning my QUAKER-Landlady came and visited us, before we were up, and made us eat Cakes, and drink Chocolate in-Bed; and then left us again, and bid us take a Nap upon it, which I believe we did; in short, she treated us so handsomly, and with such an agreeable Chearfulness, as well as Plenty, as made it appear to me, that QUAKERS may, and that this QUAKER did, understand Good-Manners, as well as any-other People.
I resisted her Offer, however, of treating us for the whole Week; and I oppos’d it so long, that I saw evidently that she took it ill, and wou’d have thought herself slighted, if we had not accepted it; so I said no more, but let her go on, only told her, I wou’d be even with her, and so I was: However, for that Week she treated us, as she said she wou’d, and did it so very fine, and with such a Profusion of all sorts of good things, that the greatest Burthen to her was, how to dispose of things that were left; for she never let any-thing, how dainty, or however large, be so much as seen twice among us.
I had some Servants indeed, which help’d her off a little; that is to say, two Maids, for Amy was now a Woman of Business, not a Servant, and eat always with us; I had also, a Coachman, and a Boy; my QUAKER had a Man-Servant too, but had but one Maid; but she borow’d two more of some of her Friends, for the. Occasion; and had a Man-Cook for dressing the Victuals.
She was only at a loss for Plate, which she gave me a Whisper of; and I made Amy fetch a large strong Box, which I had lodg’d in a safe Hand, in which was all the fine Plate, which I had provided on a worse Occasion, as is mention’d before; and I put it into the QUAKER’S Hand, obliging her not to use it as mine, but as her own, for a Reason I shall mention presently.
I was now my LADY —, and I must own, I was exceedingly pleas’d with it; ’twas so Big, and so Great, to hear myself call’d Her Ladyship, and Your Ladyship, and the like; that I was like the Indian King at Virginia,272 who having a House built for him by the English, and a Lock put upon the Door, wou’d sit whole Days together, with the Key in his Hand, locking and unlocking, and doublelocking the Door, with an unaccountable Pleasure at the Novelty; so I cou’d have sat a whole Day together, to hear Amy talk to me, and call me Your Ladyship at every word; but after a-while the Novelty wore off, and the Pride of it abated; till at last, truly, I wanted the other Title as much as I did that of Ladyship before.
We liv’d this Week in all the Innocent Mirth imaginable; and our good-humour’d QUAKER was so pleasant in her Way, that it was particularly entertaining to us: We had no Musick at-all, or Dancing; only I now and then sung a French Song, to divert my Spouse, who desir’d it, and the Privacy of our Mirth, greatly added to the Pleasure of it: I did not make many Cloaths for my Wedding, having always a great-many rich Cloaths by me, which with a little altering for the Fashion, were perfectly new: The next Day he press’d me to dress, tho’ we had no Company; at last, jesting with him, I told him, I believ’d I was able to dress me so, in one kind of Dress that I had by me, that he wou’d not know his Wife when he saw her, especially if any-body else was by: No! he said, that was impossible; and he long’d to see that Dress; I told him, I wou’d dress me in it, if he wou’d promise me never to desire me to appear in it before Company; he promis’d he wou’d not, but wanted to know why too; as Husands, you know, are inquisitive Creatures, and love to enquire after any-thing they think is kept from them; but I had an Answer ready for him; because, said I, it is not a decent Dress in this Country, and wou’d not look modest; neither indeed, wou’d it, for it was but one Degree off, from appearing in one’s Shift; but was the usual Wear in the Country where they were used: He was satisfy’d with my Answer, and gave me his Promise, never to ask me to be seen in it before Company: I then withdrew, taking only Amy and the QUAKER with me; and Amy dress’d me in my old Turkish Habit which I danc’d in formerly, &c. as before: The QUAKER was charm’d with the Dress, and merrily273 said, That if such a Dress shou’d come to be worn here, she shou’d not know what to do; she shou’d be tempted not to dress in the QUAKERS Way anymore.
When all the Dress was put on, I loaded it with Jewels, and in particular, I plac’d the large Breast-Jewel which he had given me, of a thousand Pistoles, upon the Front of the Tyhaia, or Head-Dress; where it made a most glorious Show indeed; I had my own Diamond-Necklace on, and my Hair was Tout Brilliant, all glittering with Jewels.
His Picture set with Diamonds, I had plac’d stich’d to my Vest, just, as might be suppos’d, upon my Heart, (which is the Compliment in such Cases among the Eastern People) and all being open at the Breast, there was no room for any-thing of a Jewel there: In this Figure, Amy holding the Train of my Robe, I came down to him: He was surpriz’d, and perfectly astonish’d; he knew me, to be sure, because I had prepar’d him, and because there was nobody else there, but the QUAKER and Amy; but he by no means knew Amy; for she had dress’d herself in the Habit of a Turkish Slave, being the Garb of my little Turk, which I had at Naples, as I have said; she had her Neck and Arms bare; was bare-headed, and her Hair breeded274 in a long Tossel275 hanging down her Back; but the Jade cou’d neither hold her Countenance, or her chattering Tongue, so as to be conceal’d long.
Well, he was so charm’d with this Dress, that he wou’d have me sit and dine in it; but it was so thin, and so open before, and the Weather being also sharp, that I was afraid of taking Cold; however, the Fire being enlarg’d, and the Doors kept shut, I sat to oblige him; and he profess’d, he never saw so fine a Dress in his Life: I afterwards told him, that my Husband (so he call’d the Jeweller that was kill’d) bought it for me, at Leghorn, with a young Turkish Slave, which I parted with at Paris; and that it was by the help of that Slave that I learn’d how to dress in it, and how every-thing was to be worn, and many of the Turkish Customs also, with some of their Language; this Story agreeing with the Fact, only changing the Person, was very natural, and so it went off with him; but there was good Reason why I shou’d not receive any Company in this Dress, that is to say, not in England; I need not repeat it; you will hear more of it.
But when I came Abroad, I frequently put it on, and upon two or three Occasions danc’d in it, but always at his Request.
We continued at the QUAKER’S Lodgings for above a Year; for now making as tho’ it was difficult to determine where to settle in England to his Satisfaction, unless in London, which was not to mine; I pretended to make him an Offer, that to oblige him, I began to incline to go and live Abroad with him; that I knew nothing could be more agreeable to him, and that as to me, every Place was alike; that as I had liv’d Abroad without a Husband so many Years, it cou’d be no Burthen to me to live Abroad again, especially with him; then we fell to straining our Courtesies upon one-another; he told me, he was perfectly easie at living in England, and had squar’d all his Affairs accordingly; for that, as he had told me he intended to give over all Business in the World, as well the Care of managing it, as the Concern about it; seeing we were both in Condition, neither to want it, or to have it be worth our while; so I might see it was his Intention, by his getting himself Naturaliz’d, and getting the Patent of Baronet, &c. Well, for-all that, I told him, I accepted his Compliment, but I cou’d not but know that his Native Country, where his Children were breeding up, must be most agreeable to him, and that if I was of such Value to him, I wou’d be there then, to enhanse the rate of his Satisfaction; that where-ever he was, wou’d be a Home to me; and any Place in the World wou’d be England to me, if he was with me; and thus, in short, I brought him to give me leave to oblige him with going to live Abroad; when in truth, I cou’d not have been perfectly easie at living in England, unless I had kept constantly withindoors; lest some time or other, the dissolute Life I had liv’d here, shou’d have come to be known; and all those wicked things have been known too, which I now began to be very much asham’d of.
When we clos’d up our Wedding-Week, in which our QUAKER had been so very handsome to us, I told him how much I though we were oblig’d to her for her generous Carriage276 to us; how she had acted the kindest Part thr
o’ the whole, and how faithful a Friend she had been to me, upon all Occasions; and then letting him know a little of her Family Unhappinesses, I propos’d, that I thought I not only ought to be grateful to her, but really to do something extraordinary for her, towards making her easie in her Affairs; and I added, that I had no hangers-on, that shou’d trouble him; that there was no-body belong’d to me, but what was thorowly provided for; and that if I did something for this honest Woman, that was considerable, it shou’d be the last Gift I wou’d give to any-body in the World, but Amy; and as for her, we was not a-going to turn her adrift, but whenever any-thing offer’d, for her, we wou’d do as we saw Cause; that in the mean time, Amy was not poor; that she had sav’d together between seven and eight Hundred Pounds; by the way, I did not tell him how, and by what wicked Ways she had got it; but that she had it; and that was enough to let him know she wou’d never be in want of us.
My Spouse was exceedingly pleas’d with my Discourse about the QUAKER, made a kind of a Speech to me upon the Subject of Gratitude; told me, it was one of the brightest Parts of a Gentlewoman; that it was so twisted with Honesty, nay, and even with Religion too, that he question’d whether either of them cou’d be found, where Gratitude was not to be found; that in this Act there was not only Gratitude, but Charity; and that to make the Charity still more Christian-like, the Object too had real Merit to attract it; he therefore agreed to the thing with all his Heart, only wou’d have had me let him pay it out of his Effects.
I told him, as for that, I did not design, whatever I had said formerly, that we shou’d have two Pockets; and that tho’ I had talk’d to him of being a Free Woman, and an Independent, and the like, and he had offer’d and promis’d that I shou’d keep all my own Estate in my own Hands; yet, that since I had taken him, I wou’d e’en do as other honest Wives did, where I thought fit to give myself, I shou’d give what I had too; that if I reserv’d any-thing, it shou’d be only in case of Mortality, and that I might give it to his Children afterwards, as my own Gift; and that, in short, if he thought fit to join Stocks, we wou’d see to Morrow Morning, what Strength we cou’d both make up in the World, and bringing it all together, consider before we resolv’d upon the Place of removing, how we shou’d dispose of what we had, as well as of ourselves: This Discourse was too obliging, and he too much a Man of Sence, not to receive it, as it was meant; he only answer’d, We wou’d do in that, as we shou’d both agree; but the thing under our present Care, was to shew not Gratitude only, but Charity and Affection too, to our kind Friend the QUAKER; and the first Word he spoke of, was to settle a thousand Pounds upon her, for her Life, that is to say, sixty Pounds a Year; but in such a manner, as not to be in the Power of any Person to reach, but herself: This was a great thing, and indeed, shew’d the generous Principles of my Husband, and for that reason I mention it; but I thought that a little too much too, and particularly, because I had another thing in View for her, about the Plate; so I told him, I thought if he gave her a Purse with a Hundred Guineas as a Present first, and then made her a Compliment of 40 l. per Annum for her Life, secur’d any such Way as she shou’d desire, it wou’d be very handsome.
He agreed to that; and the same Day, in the Evening, when we were just going to-Bed, he took my QUAKER by the Hand, and with a Kiss, told her, That we had been very kindly treated by her from the beginning of this Affair, and his Wife before, as she, (meaning me) had inform’d him; and that he thought himself bound to let her see, that she had oblig’d Friends who knew how to be grateful; that for his Part of the Obligation, he desir’d she wou’d accept of that, for an Acknowledgment in Part only, (putting the Gold into her Hand) and that his Wife wou’d talk with her about what farther he had to say to her; and upon that, not giving her time hardly to say thank ye, away he went up-Stairs, into our Bed-Chamber, leaving her confus’d, and not knowing what to say.
When he was gone, she began to make very handsome and obliging Representations of her Good-will to us both, but that it was without Expectation of Reward; that I had given her several valuable Presents before, and so indeed I had; for, besides the Piece of Linnen which I had given her at first, I had given her a Suit277 of Damask Table-Linnen, of the Linnen I bought for my Balls, viz. Three Table-cloths, and three Dozen of Napkins; and at another time, I gave her a little Necklace of Gold Beads, and the like; but that is by the way; but she mention’d them, I say; and how she was oblig’d by me, on many other Occasions; that she was not in Condition to show her Gratitude any other way, not being able to make a suitable Return; and that now we took from her all Opportunity to ballance my former Friendship,278 and left her more in Debt than she was before: She spoke this in a very good kind of a Manner, in her own way, but which was very agreeable indeed, and had as much apparent Sincerity, and I verily believe as real, as was possible to be express’d; but I put a Stop to it, and bid her say no more, but accept of what my Spouse had given her, which was but in Part, as she had heard him say; and put it up, says I, and come and sit down here, and give me Leave to say something else to you, on the same Head, which my Spouse and I have settled between ourselves, in your Behalf. What dost Thee mean, says she? and blush’d, and look’d surpriz’d, but did not stir; she was going to speak again, but I interrupted her, and told her, she shou’d make no more Apologies of any kind whatever, for I had better things than all this, to talk to her of; so I went on, and told her, That as she had been so friendly and kind to us on every Occasion; and that her House was the lucky Place where we came together; and that she knew I was from her own Mouth, acquainted in Part, with her Circumstances, we were resolv’d she shou’d be the better for us, as long as she liv’d: Then I told her what we had resolv’d to do for her; and that she had nothing more to do, but to consult with me, how it shou’d be effectually secur’d for her, distinct from any of the Effects which were her Husband’s; and that if her Husband did so supply her, that she cou’d live comfortably, and not want it for Bread, or other Necessaries, she shou’d not make Use of it, but lay up the Income of it, and add it every Year to the Principal, so to encrease the Annual Payment, which in time, and perhaps before she might come to want it, might double itself; that we were very willing whatever she shou’d so lay up, shou’d be to herself, and whoever she thought fit after her; but that the forty Pound a-Year, must return to our Family, after her Life; which we both wish’d might be long and happy.
Let no Reader wonder at my extraordinary Concern for this poor Woman; or at my giving my Bounty to her a Place in this Account; it is not, I assure you, to make a Pageantry of my Charity, or to value myself upon the Greatness of my Soul, that shou’d give in so profuse a Manner as this, which was above my Figure279, if my Wealth had been twice as much as it was; but there was another Spring from whence all flow’d, and ’tis on that Account I speak of it: Was it possible I cou’d think of a poor desolate Woman with four Children, and her Husband gone from her, and perhaps good for little if he had stay’d; I say, was I, that had tasted so deep of the Sorrows of such a kind of Widowhood, able to look on her, and think of her Circumstances, and not be touch’d in an uncommon Manner? No, No, I never look’d on her, and her Family, tho’ she was not left so helpless and friendless as I had been, without remembring my own Condition; when Amy was sent out to pawn or sell my Pair of Stays, to buy a Breast of Mutton, and a Bunch of Turnips; nor cou’d I look on her poor Children, tho’ not poor and perishing, like mine, without Tears; reflecting on the dreadful Condition that mine were reduc’d to, when poor Amy sent them all into their Aunt’s in Spittle-Fields, and run away from them: These were the Original Springs, or Fountain-Head, from whence my Affectionate Thoughts were mov’d to assist this poor Woman.
When a poor Debtor, having lain long in the Compter, or Ludgate, or the Kings-Bench,280 for Debt, afterwards get out, rises again in the World, and grows rich; such an one is a certain Benefactor to the Prisoners there, and perhaps to every Prison he passes by, as long as he lives; for he remembers the dark Days of his own Sorrow; and eve
n those who never had the Experience of such Sorrows to stir up their Minds to Acts of Charity, would have the same charitable good Disposition, did they as sensibly remember what it is, that distinguishes them from others, by a more favourable and merciful Providence.
This, I say, was however, the Spring of my Concern for this honest friendly and grateful QUAKER, and as I had so plentiful a Fortune in the World, I resolv’d she should taste the Fruit of her kind Usage to me, in a manner that she cou’d not expect.
All the while I talk’d to her, I saw the Disorder of her Mind; the sudden Joy was too much for her, and she colour’d, trembled, chang’d, and at last grew pale, and was indeed near fainting; when she hastily rung a little Bell for her Maid, who coming in immediately, she beckon’d to her, for speak she cou’d not, to fill her a Glass of Wine, but she had no Breath to take it in, and was almost choak’d with that which she took in her Mouth; I saw she was ill, and assisted her what I cou’d, and with Spirits and things to smell too, just kept her from Fainting, when she beckon’d to her Maid to withdraw, and immediately burst out in crying, and that reliev’d her; when she recover’d herself a little, she flew to me, and throwing her Arms about my Neck, O! says she, thou hast almost kill’d me; and there she hung, laying her Head in my Neck for half a quarter of an Hour, not able to speak, but sobbing like a Child that had been whipp’d.
