Gentlemen, if you promise not to send me to jail, I'll tell you everything." "Well, then, proceed," said the squire; "I will not send you to jail, provided you tell the truth." "Nor I, my good girl," added Sir Robert, "but upon the same conditions." "Well, then, gentlemen, I was acquainted with Miss Herbert--she is Hirish, but I'm English.

This gentleman gave her a letter to you, Mr.Folliard, to get her as maid to Miss Helen--she told me--oh, my goodness, I shall surely be sent to jail." "Go on, girl," said the baronet somewhat sternly, by which tone of voice he intimated--to her that she was pursuing the right course, and she was quick enough to understand as much.
"Well," she proceeded, "after Miss Herbert had got the letter, she told her sweetheart, who wouldn't by no means allow her to take service, because as why, he wanted to marry her; well, she consented, and they did get married, and both of them left the country because her father wasn't consenting.

As the letter was of no use to her then, I asked her for it, and offered myself in her name to you, sir, and that was the way I came into your family for a short time." The baronet rose up, in well-feigned agitation, and exclaimed, "Unfortunate girl! whoever you may be, you know not the serious mischief and unhappiness that your imposture was nearly entailing upon me." "But did you not say that you bore an illegitimate child to this gentleman ?" asked the squire.
"Oh, la! no, sir; you know I denied that; I never bore an illegitimate child; I bore a love-child, but not to him; and there is no harm in that, sure." "Well, she certainly has exculpated you, Sir Robert." "Gentlemen, will you excuse and pardon me?
and will you promise not to send me to jail ?" "Go about your business," said Sir Robert, "you unfortunate girl, and be guilty of no such impostures in future.

Your conduct has nearly been the means of putting enmity between two families of rank; or rather of alienating one of them from the confidence and good-will of the other.
Go." She then courtesied to each, shedding, at the same time, what seemed to be bitter tears of remorse--and took her departure, each of them looking after her, and then at the other, with surprise and wonder.
"Now, Mr.Folliard," said Sir Robert solemnly, "I have one question to ask you, and it is this: could I possibly, or by any earthly natural means, have been apprised of the honor of your visit to me this day?
I ask you in a serious--yes, and in a solemn spirit; because the happiness of my future life depends on your reply." "Why, no," replied the credulous squire, "hang it, no, man--no, Sir Robert; I'll do you that justice; I never mentioned my intention of coming to call you out, to any individual but one, and that on my way hither; he was unwell, too, after a hard night's drinking; but he said he would shake himself up, and be ready to attend me as soon as the place of meeting should be settled on.

In point of fact, I did not intend to see you to-day, but to send him with the message; but, as I said, he was knocked up for a time, and you know my natural impatience.
No, certainly not, it was in every sense impossible that you could have expected me: yes, if the devil was in it, I will do you that justice." "Well, I have another question to ask, my dear friend, equally important with, if not more so than, the other.