SUSAN GRAY. 81

proves, that, had my God left me to myself, I
should have been undone.

It was past two o’clock when I fell asleep,
and I slept till six o’clock, waking only now
and then, as if something had frightened me.

The striking of the clock then waked me;
the fire was almost out, and there was no light
but what came through the crevices of the door
and window-shutter. At first, I could hardly
tell where I was, or why, instead of my bed, 1
was sleeping in a chair; but, when I recollect-
ed what had happened the past night, and how
the Lord God had delivered me from a very
great evil, I fell down upon my knees and
thanked him for his goodness.

I then opened the window-shutters and the
door. It wasa fine bright morning: the grass
in the field, and the flowers in the garden, were
all wet and shining with dew; the little birds
were singing in the woods, and the cock was
strutting about before the door, crowing most
cheerfully. But, although every thing looked
so gay and bright about me, I felt so sad that
I could not help crying. I never thought my-
self so desolate and friendless before; and this
shocking idea came into my head, that my
mistress had staid out on purpose the night
before, to give the Captain time and opportu-
nity to come to the cottage. Could I but be
sure of this, I thought to myself, be the conse-
quence what it might, 1 would leave ber, and
endure any hardship, rather than live with so
bad a woman.

I had just got some sticks to make up the