The young woman said, she could not rest a moment, after she heard from an acquaintance, who called upon her, that her landlord was very cruel to her; and that she expected every day to have her goods seized for rent. That she, therefore, went directly to her mistress, and told her, that a relation in the country wanted her very much, and begged to be discharged.
She would not tell her the whole story for fear she should oppose her intentions; and as to asking leave to go out for a time, she could not expect to return to her place, when she had disposed of all her cloaths.
Her mistress appeared displeased; but paid her her wages, which was about a guinea: that she then sold some of her cloaths, and pawned the rest to raise the remainder, and as much as would pay her passage from _London_; however, as to her cloaths, she said, she had not a doubt but she could get them again; for the woman who took them was a very good sort of woman, and indeed could hardly be persuaded to receive them of her.
And do you think, Mrs. _Jenny_, said the Lady, your mistress could not be prevailed on to take you again? Surely, if she knew the whole truth, she would think herself happy in such a servant.
It is not probable she should have got another in so short a time. You shall return as soon as you can; and I will send a letter by you to the lady you have left, to inform her from what generous motives you left her so abruptly. I will take my leave of you both now; and in an hour’s time the letter shall be ready.
The young woman called at the time mentioned for the letter; and after many expressions of gratitude for the kindness shown to her cousin and herself, returned to _London_, carried it to her late mistress, and in a few days, Miss _Lydia_ had the pleasure of knowing, that her Mamma had received a letter from the lady, to thank her for restoring so valuable a servant to her, and to inform her, that as her own maid was going to be married, she meant to take her to wait upon herself; and should ever esteem a person capable of such noble conduct, rather as a friend than a servant.
Miss _Lydia_, when her Mamma first began to write down an account of her behaviour throughout the day, was so much alarmed, lest the story should not be to her credit, that she never went to sleep, without endeavouring to recollect how she had passed the day, and whether she had been good or not. When her conscience told her of any fault, her concern for it naturally led her to consider how she might have avoided that fault, and how she ought to have behaved. In the morning, likewise, when she awoke, the journal was the first thing that came into her mind; and she used to think what business she had to do that day, and what faults she was in the most danger of committing; particularly if she had done any thing wrong the day before, she always considered how she should conduct herself so as not to have the same sad story told of her again.