LETTER XIV. 151 



himself, and then politely handed it back to her, with 

 her watch and rings. The servant, being frightened 

 nearly out of her wits, begged him to keep all, and let 

 them go. He sternly reproved her, and told her to hold 

 her tongue. Then, bowing to my cousin, said he had 

 one favour to ask more before they parted. " What is 

 it ?" she said. *' Only, madam, that you will give me 

 your word of honour that you will not appear against 

 me, should I be taken." " That," she replied, " I wil- 

 lingly give you, and can only regret that one such as 

 you are, of good manners and address, should be found 

 pursuing so unworthy a course. You have not robbed 

 me of much, and more I would readily have given you, 

 had I possessed it." " Many thanks, madam, for your 

 kind wishes, and may you never know the miseries I 

 have experienced in life." 



The next moment he disappeared into the wood. The 

 servant immediately ran home, notwithstanding her mis- 

 tress's orders to stop, and spread the news to the other 

 servants, that her mistress had been robbed. Upon the 

 governor's return, he was quickly apprized of what had 

 taken place, and immediately requested my kind-hearted 

 cousin to give him all the particulars. This she was 

 very reluctant to do, fearing my father would directly 

 send out to take him. " Well, Mary," he said, " you 

 know I always keep my word, and if you will give me 

 the full particulars of all that^ took place, your hero shall 

 be none the worse for my knowing the secret." All was 

 then told, and the governor remarked, " That fellow I 

 must see, if possible ; but I give you my word he shall 

 never receive injury at my hands for his conduct to you 

 this day." 



