The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay — Volume 2 by Fanny Burney
page 17 of 800 (02%)
page 17 of 800 (02%)
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Most thankfully I now accepted what so fruitlessly I had declined, and I held by his arm, and we walked on together, but neither of us knew whither, nor the right way from the wrong 1 It was really a terrible situation. The chairmen followed us, clamorous for money, and full of abuse. They demanded half a crown - my companion refused to listen to such an imposition : my shaking hand could find no purse, and I begged him to pay them what they asked, that they might leave us. He did ; and when they were gone, I shook less, and was able to pay that one part of the debt I was now contracting. We wandered about, heaven knows where, in a way the most alarming and horrible to myself imaginable: for I never knew where I was.--It was midnight. I concluded the queen waiting for me.--It was wet. My head was full dressed. I was under the care of a total stranger; and I knew not which side to take, wherever we came. Inquiries were vain. The sentinels alone were in sight, and they are so continually changed that they knew no more of Mrs. Haggerdorn than if she had never resided here. At length I spied a door open, and I begged to enter it at a venture, for information. Fortunately a person stood in the passage who instantly spoke to me by my name; I never Page 15 heard that sound with more glee: to me he was a stranger, but I suppose he had seen me in some of the apartments. I begged him |
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