Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded

Mr. Colbrand was so kind, but I did not know it till the chariot stopped

at Sir Simon's, to step up behind the carriage, lest, as he said, my

lady should send after me; and he told Mrs. Jewkes, when he got home,

that he never saw such a runner as me in his life.

When the chariot stopped, which was not till six o'clock, so long did

this cruel lady keep me, Miss Darnford ran out to me: O madam, said she,

ten times welcome! but you'll be beat, I can tell you! for here has been

Mr. B---- come these two hours, and is very angry with you.

That's hard indeed, said I;--Indeed I can't afford it;--for I hardly

knew what I said, having not recovered my fright. Let me sit down, miss,

any where, said I; for I have been sadly off. So I sat down, and was

quite sick with the hurry of my spirits, and leaned upon her arm.

Said she, Your lord and master came in very moody; and when he had staid

an hour, and you not come, he began to fret, and said, He did not expect

so little complaisance from you. And he is now sat down, with great

persuasion, to a game at loo.--Come, you must make your appearance, lady

fair; for he is too sullen to attend you, I doubt.

You have no strangers, have you miss? said I.--Only two women relations

from Stamford, replied she, and an humble servant of one of them.--Only

all the world, miss! said I.--What shall I do, if he be angry? I can't

bear that. Just as I had said so, came in Lady Darnford and Lady Jones to chide me,

as they said, for not coming sooner. And before I could speak, came in

my dear master. I ran to him. How dy'e Pamela? said he; and saluting me,

with a little more formality than I could well bear.--I expected half

a word from me, when I was so complaisant to your choice, would have

determined you, and that you'd have been here to dinner;--and the

rather, as I made my request a reasonable one, and what I thought would

be agreeable to you. O dear sir, said I, pray, pray, hear me, and you'll

pity me, and not be displeased! Mrs. Jewkes will tell you, that as

soon as I had your kind commands, I said, I would obey you, and come to

dinner with these good ladies; and so prepared myself instantly, with

all the pleasure in the world. Lady Darnford and miss said I was their

dear!--Look you, said miss, did I not tell you, stately one, that

something must have happened?