till he had thrown ſome Cloaths over his Back, and was become incapable of ſhocking the pure Eyes of Mrs. Deborah Wilkins, who, tho’ in the 52d Year of her Age, vowed ſhe had never beheld a Man without his Coat. Sneerers and prophane Wits may perhaps laugh at her firſt Fright, yet my graver Reader, when he conſiders the Time of Night, the Summons from her Bed, and the Situation in which ſhe found her Maſter, will highly juſtify and applaud her Conduct; unleſs the Prudence, which muſt be ſuppoſed to attend Maidens at that Period of Life at which Mrs. Deborah had arrived, ſhould a little leſſen his Admiration.
When Mrs. Deborah returned into the Room, and was acquainted by her Maſter with the finding the little Infant, her Conſternation was rather greater than his had been; nor could ſhe refrain from crying out with great Horror of Accent as well as Look, ‘My good Sir! what’s to be done?’ Mr. Allworthy anſwered, ſhe muſt take care of the Child that Evening, and in the Morning he would give Orders to provide it a Nurſe. ‘Yes, Sir,’ ſays, ſhe, ‘and I hope your Worſhip will ſend out your Warrant to take up the Huſſy its Mother (for ſhe muſt be‘one
