Prevod
Ko se je sir Henry Frankland, carinski upravitelj bostonskega pristanišča, leta 1742 odpravil v Marblehead, da bi raziskal tihotapljenje, ki je tam potekalo precej predrzno, je prenočil v gostilni Fountain Inn. Ko je vstopil, ga je pogledalo šestnajstletno bosonogo dekle, ki je ribalo tla. Mladenič je bil čeden, lepo oblečen in uglajenega nastopa, Agnes Surriage, dekla za vsa opravila, pa je imela lepo postavo, prikupen obraz in skromno vedenje. Sir Henry ji je vrgel kovanec in ji naročil, naj si z njim kupi čevlje, nato pa odšel v svojo sobo. Toda Agnesina podoba se mu je nenehno vračala pred oči. Poiskal je njeno družbo in ugotovil, da je kljub pomanjkanju šolske izobrazbe bistrega duha. Kmalu po tem obisku je od njenih staršev — preprostih ljudi — dobil privolitev, da to divjo cvetlico odpelje v mesto in jo tam neguje.
Omogočil ji je izobrazbo, kakršno sta dopuščala čas in kraj, jo lepo oblačil in bil do nje prijazen, ona pa mu je skrb vračala tako, da mu je brez zadržkov podarila svoje srce. Razpleta nista ne predvidela ne nameravala, vendar sta zaživela kakor mož in žena, ne da bi se poročila. Kolonialna družba je bila zgrožena, toda baronet je dekle iskreno ljubil in nihče ga ni mogel pregovoriti, naj se loči od nje. Ko je moral obiskati Anglijo, je Agnes vzel s seboj in jo predstavljal kot lady Frankland, vendar so njegovi sorodniki izvedeli za naravo njune zveze in je niso hoteli sprejeti. Misel na trajno zvezo z dekletom se mladeniču še ni porodila. Aristokrat se vendar ni mogel poročiti z dekletom iz ljudstva. Plemič je smel dekletu za svojo zabavo uničiti čast, toda popraviti storjeno krivico je bilo pod njegovim dostojanstvom.
Leta 1755 so sira Henryja poklicali na Portugalsko in Agnes je odšla z njim. V nekem pogledu sta prispela ob nepravem času, čeprav se je pozneje izkazalo, da se je v nesreči skrival blagoslov; med njunim bivanjem v Lizboni je namreč mesto prizadel potres, ki ga je spremenil v razvaline in terjal šestdeset tisoč življenj. Sir Henry je bil tedaj v svoji kočiji in pod seboj ga je pokopal zid, ki se je zrušil, Agnes pa je ob prvem preplahu prihitela iz svojega bivališča in se pognala po tresočih se ulicah iskat ljubega. Nazadnje ga je našla in namesto da bi jokala ali omedlela, se je lotila odstranjevanja kamenja in tramov, ki so ležali na njem. Če bi bila nežno bitje, po rodu enaka svojemu ljubemu, kakršne je bil Frankland vajen voditi v ples na dvornih plesih, tega ne bi zmogla; toda dnevi služenja v gostilni so ji dali moč, ki sta jo upanje in ljubezen še okrepila. V eni uri ga je osvobodila, ga odnesla na varno in negovala iskro življenja v njem, dokler ni ozdravel. Plemič je dobil dovolj dokazov o Agnesini ljubezni in pogumu. Naposled je spoznal, da je človekova vrednost pomembnejša od njegovega rodu. Podaril ji je svoje ime, kakor ji je bil že prej podaril srce, in njuno zakonsko življenje je bilo srečno.
Izvirnik
When, in 1742, Sir Henry Frankland, collector of the port of Boston, went to Marblehead to inquire into the smuggling that was pretty boldly carried on, he put up at the Fountain Inn. As he entered that hostelry a barefooted girl, of sixteen, who was scrubbing the floor, looked at him. The young man was handsome, well dressed, gallant in bearing, while Agnes Surriage, maid of all work, was of good figure, beautiful face, and modest demeanor. Sir Henry tossed out a coin, bidding her to buy shoes with it, and passed to his room. But the image of Agnes rose constantly before him. He sought her company, found her of ready intelligence for one unschooled, and shortly after this visit he obtained the consent of her parents--humble folk--to take this wild flower to the city and cultivate it.
He gave her such an education as the time and place afforded, dressed her well, and behaved with kindness toward her, while she repaid this care with the frank bestowal of her heart. The result was not foreseen--not intended--but they became as man and wife without having wedded. Colonial society was scandalized, yet the baronet loved the girl sincerely and could not be persuaded to part from her. Having occasion to visit England he took Agnes with him and introduced her as Lady Frankland, but the nature of their alliance had been made known to his relatives and they refused to receive her. The thought of a permanent union with the girl had not yet presented itself to the young man. An aristocrat could not marry a commoner. A nobleman might destroy the honor of a girl for amusement, but it was beneath his dignity to make reparation for the act.
Sir Henry was called to Portugal in 1755, and Agnes went with him. They arrived inopportunely in one respect, though the sequel showed a blessing in the accident; for while they were sojourning in Lisbon the earthquake occurred that laid the city in ruins and killed sixty thousand people. Sir Henry was in his carriage at the time and was buried beneath a falling wall, but Agnes, who had hurried from her lodging at the first alarm, sped through the rocking streets in search of her lover. She found him at last, and, instead of crying or fainting, she set to work to drag away the stones and timbers that were piled upon him. Had she been a delicate creature, her lover's equal in birth, such as Frankland was used to dance with at the state balls, she could not have done this, but her days of service at the inn had given her a strength that received fresh accessions from hope and love. In an hour she had liberated him, and, carrying him to a place of safety, she cherished the spark of life until health returned. The nobleman had received sufficient proof of Agnes's love and courage. He realized, at last, the superiority of worth to birth. He gave his name, as he had already given his heart, to her, and their married life was happy.
