Parts 5-7 - Moll’s Later Adventures In and Out of Marriage

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Part Five: A Sinful Affair

After a tumultuous journey, Moll returned to England sans a significant portion of her cargo. Uncertain of how to move forward, she decided to spend some time in the resort town of Bath. In Bath's highly social environment, she met many people who lived fast lives but soon found herself spending too much money, which she described as "bleeding to death." During the off-season, she managed to find cheaper lodgings with a respectable woman and reduced her expenses by letting go of her maid. As a result, she led a comfortable, albeit somewhat dull and solitary, life.

While in Bath, Moll encountered a man she once knew. Her landlady informed her that the man was married, but his wife suffered from an incurable mental illness. Despite being a respectable and honest man, the gentleman was seeking an agreeable companion due to his wife's condition and had expressed a desire for someone like Moll. The gentleman showed a lot of interest in Moll, and they soon became close friends. They freely visited each other's rooms at all times of the day and night—sometimes wearing minimal clothing—but the gentleman never tried to initiate anything beyond a friendly kiss.

Even after the man began to provide Moll with substantial financial support, their relationship remained extremely proper and progressed no further. As time passed, they became more comfortable with each other and decided to take a vacation in the countryside. However, when they arrived at their destination, the only available room had two beds; despite their unconventional intimacy, the pair had yet to consummate their affair. Indeed, the man was so confident in his ability to control himself that he declared he could sleep next to Moll all night without making any inappropriate advances. To Moll's surprise, he kept his promise and slept in his own bed without any issues.

Afterward, Moll and the man frequently shared a bed, and Moll always wondered how he restrained his desire. One night, after drinking more wine than usual, Moll told him that she would not mind if they took their intimacy further; one drunken decision spiraled into subsequent transgressions, and Moll transitioned from friend and confidant to lover. With their moral boundaries weakened, their resolve dissolved entirely, and they began an affair. 

Shortly after they started their sexual relationship, Moll became pregnant. She worried that the man would abandon her to deal with the pregnancy on her own; however, her lover cared for her throughout her pregnancy, and she soon delivered a healthy baby boy without any complications. Moll lacked strong maternal feelings for the child, so she placed her baby in the care of a servant and proceeded to enjoy what she considered to be the best time of her life. Although Moll was aware that her position as the man’s mistress was less secure than if she had been his wife, she still cherished his company and patronage. 

Six happy years passed. One day, the man visited his wife’s relatives but was struck ill by the journey. After he failed to return as planned, Moll grew anxious; one of his servants arrived with news of his illness, explaining that he was not expected to survive. Devastated, Moll attempted to gather information about his condition by sending anonymous messages to the house. After a few weeks, she found out that the man's health had miraculously improved. Despite writing to him several times in the following months, she never received a reply. Eventually, she discovered that he had sent her a letter in Bath, explaining that his near-death experience had convinced...

(This entire section contains 1841 words.)

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him to end their immoral relationship.

Part Six: Jemy

The man from Bath expressed regret for his misdeeds and sent Moll a significant amount of money to help secure her future, but Moll still felt uneasy, comparing her situation to that of a valuable object left vulnerable on the side of a road. To alleviate her anxiety, Moll decided to stay with a woman from Lancashire whom she had met before. This woman, like many of Moll's acquaintances, believed Moll was very wealthy. Based on this misunderstanding, the Lancashire woman offered to introduce Moll to her brother, who she claimed was also extremely rich.

Moll had several meetings with a thoughtful banker in London before she relocated to the north. During their interactions, the banker assured her that he would manage her investments and accounts efficiently. Additionally, he expressed his admiration for Moll, despite being married. Although he did disclose that his wife was unfaithful and had left him for a rogue, he revealed his intentions to divorce her. Moll responded by stating that divorce was a viable option for husbands married to promiscuous partners. The banker proposed they marry once his divorce was finalized.

Moll was very interested in the banker's proposal but did not want to commit to it immediately. She was excited to meet the Lancashire woman's brother and wanted to keep her options open. So, she asked for more time to consider the banker's offer, telling him that she had to travel north but would keep in touch. While she did not lie to the banker, she led him to believe that she would marry him as soon as she returned, which was not necessarily the case.

In Lancashire, Moll was pursued by Jemy, a man who appeared to be wealthy, for six months. Jemy's opulent lifestyle and apparent large fortune caused Moll to forget about the banker who had courted her earlier, and she ultimately married Jemy. She was impressed by Jemy's grand estate and magnificent clothing, but about two months into their marriage, they both realized that they had been deceived. Jemy was surprised to discover that Moll did not have the fortune that his sister had claimed, while Moll was even more shocked to learn that Jemy's estate was entirely made up to win her hand.

Even though they both acknowledged that their financial difficulties would lead to a separation, neither of them showed any resentment towards the other for the lies they had told. In fact, Jemy only showed love and tenderness towards Moll, and Moll professed that she loved Jemy more than any other man she had ever met. Instead of immediately parting ways, the couple spent a joyful month together. However, Jemy eventually decided to go to Ireland to seek his fortune, without fully explaining why, but promised to send for Moll when he became financially successful.

Moll was once again by herself, but this time she was genuinely heartbroken. However, instead of falling into a depression, Moll recalled the proposition the banker had made to her months earlier. Fortunately, during the time she spent with Jemy, the banker was busy trying to finalize his divorce. As Moll had not informed him about her marriage to Jemy, the banker still considered her to be a virtuous choice compared to his unfaithful wife. He wrote to Moll, urging her to return to London as soon as possible so that they could marry without delay.

Part Seven: The Governess and the Banker

After saying goodbye to Jemy, Moll relocated to London to reprise her relationship with the banker. However, her plans were disrupted when she found out that she was pregnant once again. Thankfully, the banker's divorce was still in progress, so Moll had some time to decide what to do about her pregnancy. As her pregnancy progressed, Moll's landlady introduced her to a midwife who had experience with childbirth as well as the challenges that women like Moll face when they are alone.

Moll referred to the midwife as the "governess" and it appeared that the midwife had gained her knowledge and skills by helping prostitutes and other marginalized women. Initially, Moll was hesitant to admit that she needed the midwife's help, but after learning about the midwife's reasonable rates, she realized it was a good deal. Despite her concerns about the midwife's connections to the lower class, Moll eventually decided to trust her and was impressed by the midwife's hospitality, skill, and wisdom. As a result, Moll felt confident that she had made the right choice by entrusting herself to the midwife's care.

Shortly after giving birth to another healthy baby boy, Moll was informed by the banker that he was now free to marry due to his wife's suicide. Though she was eager to keep her promise to marry him, Moll was concerned about the well-being of her new child. After much discussion with the governess, whom she now referred to as "Mother," Moll decided to pay a country woman ten pounds to take the baby off her hands. Reflecting on this decision, Moll launches into a lengthy discourse about the responsibilities of motherhood, seemingly forgetting that she had already broken that trust before.

After giving away her child, Moll planned a meeting with the banker, careful not to reveal any information about her past location. A few months later, they met and the banker suggested they stop at an inn for Moll to rest. However, once they arrived, the banker immediately proposed they marry that same day. His affectionate words made Moll feel guilty, and she criticized herself for her usual justifications, feeling remorseful. After reflecting on her actions and engaging in intense self-examination, Moll promised to regret her wrongdoings and become a responsible wife; as a result, she married the banker on the same night in a discreet ceremony held at the inn.

The morning after, Moll noticed Jemy and two other people riding up to an inn across the road. She was surprised to see them and tried to hide her distress from the banker. Moll suggested they find another place to stay, but the banker did not understand the reason for her request. Later that day, a commotion erupted in the street as news spread that three highway robbers had attacked two coaches and some travelers nearby. Jemy and his companions were suspected to be involved, but Moll told the investigating constable that one of the men was a person of high social standing and great honesty and that all three had left by another route. The constable believed her and decided to look for a different group of men. A few days later, the banker and Moll left for London, once the banker was convinced that the roads were safe to travel.

Although the sight of Jemy had unsettled Moll, she was content as the banker’s wife. She shared his calm way of life and appreciated his attentive care, feeling as though she had finally found a secure haven after a tumultuous journey. They enjoyed five peaceful years, but unfortunately, the banker made a foolish business decision that resulted in significant financial loss. Moll tried to reassure him that their fortunes could be restored, but he could not let go of his despair. As a result, he sank into depression and gradually deteriorated. With the death of her husband, Moll was once again left alone in the world.

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Parts 3-4 - Moll’s Early Adventures in Marriage

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Parts 8-10 - Adventures in Crime

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