Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded

But you see, said he, by my Pamela's hand, when all the court-cards

get together, and are acted by one mind, the game is usually turned

accordingly: Though now and then, too, it may be so circumstanced, that

honours will do them no good, and they are forced to depend altogether

upon tricks. I thought this way of talking prettier than the game itself. But I

said, Though I have won the game, I hope I am no trickster. No, said my

master, God forbid but court-cards should sometimes win with honour! But

you see, for all that, your game is as much owing to the knave as the

king; and you, my fair-one, lost no advantage, when it was put into your

power. Else, sir, said I, I should not have done justice to my partner. You

are certainly right, Pamela, replied he; though you thereby beat your

husband. Sir, said I, you may be my partner next, and I must do justice,

you know. Well, said he, always choose so worthy a friend, as chance has

given you for a partner, and I shall never find fault with you, do what

you will. Mr. Perry said, You are very good to me, sir; and Miss Boroughs, I

observed, seemed pleased with the compliment to her humble servant; by

which I saw she esteemed him, as he appears to deserve. Dear sir! said

I, how much better is this, than to be locked in by Lady Davers!

The supper was brought in sooner on my account, because I had had no

dinner; and there passed very agreeable compliments on the occasion.

Lady Darnford would help me first, because I had so long fasted, as she

said. Sir Simon would have placed himself next me: And my master said,

He thought it was best, where there was an equal number of ladies and

gentlemen, that they should sit, intermingled, that the gentlemen might

be employed in helping and serving the ladies. Lady Darnford said,

She hoped Sir Simon would not sit above any ladies at his own table

especially. Well, said he, I shall sit over-against her, however, and

that's as well. My dearest sir could not keep his eyes off me, and seemed generously

delighted with all I did, and all I said; and every one was pleased to

see his kind and affectionate behaviour to me.

Lady Jones brought up the discourse about Lady Davers again; and my

master said, I fear, Pamela, you have been hardly used, more than you'll

say. I know my sister's passionate temper too well, to believe she could

be over-civil to you, especially as it happened so unluckily that I was

out. If, added he, she had no pique to you, my dear, yet what has passed

between her and me, has so exasperated her, that I know she would have

quarrelled with my horse, if she had thought I valued it, and nobody

else was in her way. Dear sir, said I, don't say so of good Lady Davers.