Question

moll flanders

given quote
my true name is so well known in the records or registers at newgate, and in the old bailey, and there are some things of such consequence depending there, relating to my particular conduct, that it is not to be expected i should set my name or the account of my family to this work, perhaps. after my death, it may be better known; at present it would not be proper, nor not though a general pardon should be issued, even without exceptions and reserves of persons or crimes.

it is enough to tell you, that no name of my worst comrades, who are out of the way of doing me harm, having gone out of the world by the steps and the string, i am often supposed to go, i know me by the name of moll flanders, so you may give me leave to speak of myself under that name till i dare own who i have been, as well as who i am.

i have been told that in one of neighbouring nations, whether it be in france or where else i know not, they have an order from the king, that when any criminal is condemned, either to die, or to the galleys, or to be transported, if they leave any children, such are generally provided for by the government; that is, instead of being left to the care of the government, and put into a hospital called the house of orphans, where they are bred up, clothed, fed, taught, and when fit to go out, are placed out to trades or to services, so as to be well able to provide for themselves by an honest, industrious behaviour.

had this been the custom in our country, i had not been left a poor desolate girl without friends, without clothes, without help or helper in the world, as was my fate, and by which i was not only exposed to very great distresses, even before i was capable either of understanding my case or how to avoid it, but brought into a course of life which was not only scandalous in itself, but which in its ordinary course tended to the swift destruction both of soul and body.

but the case was otherwise here. my mother was convicted of felony for a certain petty theft scarce worth naming, viz. having an opportunity of borrowing three pieces of fine holland of a certain draper in cheapside. the circumstances are too long to repeat, and i have heard them related so many times, that i can scarce be certain which is the right account.

however it was, this they all agree in, that my mother pleaded her belly, and being found quick with child, she was respited for about seven months, in which time having brought me into the world, and being about again, she was called down, as they term it, to her former judgment, but obtained the favour of being transported to the plantations, and left me about half a year old, and in bad hands, you may be sure.

this is too near the first hours of my life for me to relate anything of myself but by hearsay. it is enough to mention, that as i was born in such an unhappy place, i had no parish to have my nourishment to my maintenance in my infancy, nor can i give the least account how i was kept alive, other than this, as i have been told, some relation of my mothers took me away for a while as a nurse, but at whose expense, or by whose direction, i know nothing at all of it.

the first account that i can recollect, or could ever learn of myself, was that i had wandered among a crew of those people they call gypsies, or egyptians, but i believe it was but a very little while that i had been among them, for i had not had my skin discoloured or blackened, as they do very young to all the children they carry about with them; nor can i tell how i came among them, or how i got from them.

it was at colchester, as i was told, that those people left me; and i have a notion in my head that i was from thence carried to london, or left somewhere on the road. be that as it may, i was not above half a year old, when i became a beggar, or at least, a poor wandering child, up and down; and in this manner i continued till i was about five years old, when a gentlewoman, who was formerly a great lady, came by chance to ride through the town where i was, and saw me in the street. she had no children of her own, and was so taken with my pretty face, and my agreeable manner, that she stopped her coach and called me to her, and inquired whose child i was, and who took care of me. i told her i was a poor child, and that i lived with no one, but got my living by begging, and that i had no parents, nor father or mother, that i could remember. she seemed much affected with my story, and pitied me very much, and after some inquiries, and speaking to the people of the town, she said she would take me home with her, and be my mother, for so she called me; and in a little time i found myself in a very fine house, and in good clothes, and well fed, and taught to read and write, and to do all kinds of needlework, and that i might be kept from idleness, and to make me useful, she ordered me to make a little purse, or a pin cushion, or anything that i was able, every day, and to keep my time, and to be punctual in all things, and i had a nurse to look after me, and a maid to dress me, and to take care of me, and i was, in short, treated as if i had been her own child, and i called her my lady, as she directed me; and in this comfortable state i lived till i was about eight years old, when, to my great grief, my lady fell very sick, and in a few days died. i then was sent to a boarding school, where i continued till i was fourteen years old, and there i was taught all kinds of accomplishments suitable to my sex, and in particular, i learned to dance very well, and to play on the harpsichord, and to sing, and to do all sorts of fine works, and i was a very pretty girl, and had a great deal of wit and good humour, and was very much beloved by all the ladies in the school, and by the mistress of the school, who was a very good woman, and took great care of me.

when i was fourteen years old, the mistress of the school, who was now become a widow, and had no children of her own, and was very fond of me, proposed to take me home with her, and to keep me for her own, and to give me a good education, and to provide for me in her will. i was very glad of this proposal, and went home with her, and lived with her as her daughter, and was treated with the greatest kindness and respect, and i loved her as my own mother, and she loved me as her own child. i continued with her till i was eighteen years old, and in that time i had learned everything that was proper for a young woman of my condition, and i was very well qualified to get my living in the world, either by my needle, or by my tongue, or by my pen, or by my person, if i had been so inclined. but my lady, as i called her, was a very religious woman, and she had brought me up in the fear of god, and had taught me to be honest and industrious, and to avoid all vice and immorality, and i had a great regard for her, and for her instructions, and i was very desirous to please her, and to live a life that was agreeable to her wishes.

but it was not long after i came to live with her, that i began to feel the effects of my unhappy birth, and of the misfortunes that had befallen me in my infancy. i had a great desire to know something of my parents, and of my family, and i could not be satisfied without some account of them. i inquired of my lady, and of all the people that i knew, but no one could give me any information about them, except that my mother had been transported to the plantations, and that my father was either dead or transported, or had run away, and left my mother to her fate. this was a great affliction to me, and i often wept about it, and wished that i had never been born, or that i had been born in a better condition. but my lady comforted me, and told me that it was the will of god, and that i should submit to it, and that i should be content with my lot, and that i should make the best of it, and that i should not repine at my misfortunes, but should be thankful for the many blessings that i had received. she also told me that i was a very pretty girl, and that i had a great deal of wit and good sense, and that i should be able to get my living in the world, and to make a good figure, if i would be industrious and prudent, and if i would avoid the snares and temptations that are laid in the way of young women. she also advised me to be careful of my reputation, and to preserve my virtue, as the most valuable jewel that i could possess, and that i should never be guilty of any immorality, or of any conduct that would bring disgrace upon myself or upon her. i promised her that i would follow her advice, and that i would do my best to please her, and to live a life that was worthy of her kindness and care.

1. when moll tells the reader that her \true name is so well known to the records or registers at newgate, and in the old bailey,\ she is speaking euphemistically.

what does it mean that moll flanders true name \is so well known in the records or registers at newgate, and in the old bailey\?

a. that moll has been a very popular speaker at different public venues

b. that moll has been arrested and charged with many crimes during her life

c. that moll is a famous celebrity of the stage, known for great performances

d. that moll is an extremely well - known politician running for several offices

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the context: Newgate and the Old Bailey were associated with legal proceedings (trials, criminal records). Option A is incorrect as "popular speaker" doesn't relate to these venues. Option C is wrong as "stage celebrity" is unrelated. Option D is incorrect as "publican running for offices" doesn't connect to Newgate/Old Bailey's legal context. Option B fits: being "well - known in records at Newgate and Old Bailey" implies having a history of arrests/charges, as those places dealt with criminal cases.

Answer:

B. that Moll has been arrested and charged with many crimes during her life