98 THE HISTORY OF

help fancying, when I looked at myself in the
glass, that such finery did not become a poor
servant.

It was four o’clock, and my Lady West not
being come, my mistress bade me go to the top
of the garden, from whence I could see the
road through which the coach must pass for
nearly a mile. But I could see nothing on the
road but a few asses eating thistles in the
hedges: so I sat down upon the green bank,
to wait till the coach should appear.

I remember very well what passed in my
mind while I continued to sit there alone. The
evening was then very fine, although there were
some very dark and angry clouds resting upon
the tops of the Clee Hills, which are full in view
of my mistress’s garden.

The bells of the town were ringing most
pleasantly, and the flowers filled the air with
their sweet smell.

My mistress had told me while we were at
dinner, that she had seen the Captain with his
soldiers march out of town early in the morn-
ing, that they had taken their leave of Ludlow,
never more to return; and that it was very
true, as Charlotte Owen had said, that they
were going to fight in some far distant country
beyond the sea.

I thought, with pleasure, that my great trials,
as I hoped, were at an end, that I should never
more be liable to be tempted to turn aside from
my duty by this gentleman: yet, at the same
time, I thought it was a very sad thing that he
should go to the wars, and be in danger of hav-