MY APPRENTICESHIP. 211 



her ancle, but, most unfortunately at this time, there was an old aunt of 

 ' her mama's, on a visit with them, who was so kind that she would assist 

 her dear niece and the doctor as she called me, to examine the foot ; 

 I sent the servant girl down stairs to boil some vinegar with some snow 

 water, "and be sure and stir it all the while till it boils." There, 

 thought I, we have got rid of you for five minutes ; but there was the 

 good aunt ; oh, these good aunts ! I said, " Now, Ma'am, I must 

 trouble you to provide as soon as possible a flannal bandage ; might I 

 take the liberty of requesting it as soon as possible?" I felt not a little 

 agitated to get rid of the old lady, that I might converse with my little 

 friend. " Ch," said Miss Von T., (C do, dear aunt, get it as soon as 

 possible." " My dear," replied she, " do you think I did not know 

 that suck a thing would be required, and here it is," said she, putting 

 her hand into her work-bag. Alas ! thought I, you will never be my 

 f{ dear aunt." I now revolved in my mind what I could next want 

 that she in her kindness had not provided. I said, " Have you any 

 other remedies with you, Madam?" "No, Sir, no more." "Then, 

 Ma'am, would you have the goodness to provide us with a little old 

 linen to put over the ancle, for I perceive this bandage is calico, and 

 you know calico is said to irritate the skin." The old lady set off for 

 the linen, and, to my infinite chagrin, met the maid not two yards from 

 the door, returning with the hot vinegar. I said, ff Mary you have 

 soon boiled the vinegar." " Yes, Sir," said she, with a significant nod 

 of the head, which I understood, " I soon made it boil." I had not 

 had a moment to fix any plan with Miss Von T., and before I could 

 devise any scheme to get rid of the maid, I heard the old lady returning. 

 I cannot express the feelings that agitated me at this moment, and those 

 alone who have been in similar circumstances, can have any conception 

 of them. It was plain that this day I was not likely to have any oppor- 

 tunity of communicating with the young lady. After waiting as long as 

 I well could, to take advantage of any occasion that might present itself, 

 I was compelled at last to take my leave. 



After such repeated disappointments, I plainly saw that there was no 

 chance for me but that of sending Miss Von T. a letter, to fix the time 

 and mode of our departure for Gretna ; for Mr. Grubbins told me that 

 the old German had requested him to attend himself in future upon 

 Miss Von Tromp. " Now, or never," was the word, the thing must be 

 clone immediately ; and clown I sat and penned a letter to my fair one, 

 informing her of the plan I had devised. Two days after this time 

 there was going to be a large party at the old German's, and I thought 

 this would be a favourable opportunity for the expedition. We were 

 sending medicine almost daily to the house, both to the old gentleman 

 and his daughter ; I folded my letter and put it under the paper that 

 covered the bottle, nicely sealed, as was our custom. I informed her in 

 this letter, that on the night in question, a carriage that I had engaged 

 would be at the end of the garden, that its remaining there a few 

 minutes would not excite any suspicion, on account of the party, and 

 that if I did not receive any answer, I should have every thing ready. 

 I provided every thing necessary for the flight, packed up some of my 

 clothes in a small portmanteau, and engaged a chaise. For this purpose 

 I went to one of the inns to look after a proper post-boy, one upon 

 whom I could depend. In these affairs every thing depends upon 

 presence of mind and promptitude. I saw a post-boy standing at the 



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