Spitalfields, for the coachman told me so.' Amy fell a-laughlng at her aloud, as was her usual way; but, as Amy told me, it was but on one side of her mouth, for she was so confounded at her discourse, that she was ready to sink into the ground; and so was I too when she told it me.
However, Amy brazened her out of it all; told her, 'Well, since you think you are so high-born as to be my Lady Roxana's daughter, you may go to her and claim your kindred, can't you? I suppose', says Amy, 'you know where to find her?' She said she did not question to find her, for she knew where she was gone to live privately; but, though, she might be removed again, 'For I know how it is', says she, with a kind of a smile or a grin; 'I know how it all is, well enough.'
Amy was so provoked, that she told me, in short, she began to think it would be absolutely necessary to murder her. That expression filled me with horror, all my blood ran chill in my veins, and a fit of trembling seized me, that I could not speak a good while; at last, 'What? is the devil in you, Amy?' said I. 'Nay, nay', says she, 'let it be the devil or not the devil, if I thought she knew one tittle of your history, I would despatch her, if she were my own daughter, a thousand times.' 'And I', says I in a rage, 'as well as I love you, would be the first that should put the halter about your neck, and see you hanged with more satisfaction than ever I saw you in my life; nay', says I, 'you would not live to be hanged, I believe I should cut your throat with my own hand; I am almost ready to do it', said I, 'as 'tis, for your but naming the thing.' With that, I called her cursed devil, and bade her get out of the room.
I think it was the first time that ever I was angry with Amy in all my life; and when all was done, though she was a devilish jade in having such a thought, yet it was all of it the effect of her excess of affection and fidelity to me.
But this thing gave me a terrible shock, for it happened just after I was married, and served to hasten my going over to Holland; for I would not have been seen, so as to be known by the name of Roxana, no, not for ten thousand pounds; it would have been enough to have ruined me to all intents and purposes with my husband, and everybody else too; I might as well have been the 'German princess.'
Well, I set Amy to work; and, give Amy her due, she set all her wits to work to find out which way this girl had her knowledge, but, more particularly, how much knowledge she had—that is to say, what she really knew, and what she did not know, for this was the main thing with me; how she could say she knew who Madam Roxana was, and what notions she had of that affair, was very mysterious to me, for it was certain she could not have a right notion of me, because she would have it be that Amy was her mother.
I scolded heartily at Amy for letting the girl ever know her, that is to say, know her in this affair; for that she knew her could not be hid, be cause she, as I might say, served Amy, or rather under Amy, in my family, as is said before; but she (Amy) talked with her at first by another person, and not by herself; and that secret came out by an accident, as I have said above.
Amy was concerned at it as well as I, but could not help it; and, though it gave us great uneasiness, yet, as there was no remedy, we were bound to make as little noise of it as we could, that it might go no farther. I bade Amy punish the girl for it, and she did so, for she parted with her
