The history of Mary Wood: The house-maid. Or, the danger of false excuses

"MR. Heartwell, the worthy clergyman of a country parish, was sitting in the porch of his little parsonage, when he saw a figure rather flying than running down a hill near his house, the swiftness of whose motion made it hard to discern what she was, much less could he guess who she was. She fled directly towards him, and slung herself at his feet almost breathless with difficulty she pronounced the words, Ö sir, save me! for pity's sake hide me in your housethey will be here in a momenthide me this instant!indeed I am innocent!"then without waiting for his answer file jumped up and rushed by him into the house, the good man ran after her, and catching her hand led her up stairs into his bed-room, and putting her into a closet within it, told her, no one should come there to hurt her. Then hearing a noise he looked out of his window and saw several men and women running almost as fast as the young woman had before, and his maid Bridget (who had seen them sooner from her own window) running to meet them, and to ask what was the matter. He had forgotten to bid her be silent about the young woman, indeed he did not know that she had seen her; but the truth is, she was amusing herself in a very idle manner, with looking at the road out of her garret window, and had seen with great surprise the wild behaviour of the poor girl, which raised her curiosity. This she now hoped to satisfy by stopping the...
This is an edition of a classical book first published in the eighteenth century.