He
consented to the match, but would not appoint a day for the ceremony,
which he proposed to defer until all parties should be agreed; and
such a favourable crisis, I feared, would never happen.
"I therefore resolved within myself to gratify my lover's expectation,
by eloping, if possible, that very night; though the execution of
this plan was extremely difficult, because my father was upon the
alarm, and my own maid, who was my bedfellow, altogether in his
interest. Notwithstanding these considerations, I found means to
engage one of the housemaids in my behalf, who bespoke a hackney-coach,
to be kept in waiting all night; and to bed I went with my Abigail,
whom, as I had not closed an eye, I waked about five in the morning,
and sent to pack up some things for our intended journey.
"While she was thus employed, I got up, and huddled on my clothes,
standing upon my pillow, lest my father, who lay in the chamber
below, should hear me afoot, and suspect my design. Having dressed
myself with great despatch and disorder, I flounced downstairs,
stalking as heavily as I could tread, that he might mistake me for
one of the servants; and my confederate opening the door, I sallied
out into the street, though I knew not which way to turn; and, to
my unspeakable mortification, neither coach nor chair appeared.
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