Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded

Yet has she, continued he, very good qualities. She was a dutiful

daughter, is a good wife; she is bountiful to her servants, firm in her

friendships, charitable to the poor, and, I believe, never any sister

better loved a brother, than she me: and yet she always loved to vex and

tease me; and as I would bear a resentment longer than she, she'd be one

moment the most provoking creature in the world, and the next would

do any thing to be forgiven; and I have made her, when she was the

aggressor, follow me all over the house and garden to be upon good terms

with me. But this case piques her more, because she had found out a match for

me in the family of a person of quality, and had set her heart upon

bringing it to effect, and had even proceeded far in it, without my

knowledge, and brought me into the lady's company, unknowing of her

design. But I was then averse to matrimony upon any terms; and was angry

at her proceeding in it so far without my privity or encouragement: And

she cannot, for this reason, bear the thoughts of my being now married,

and to her mother's waiting-maid too, as she reminds my dear Pamela,

when I had declined her proposal with the daughter of a noble earl.

This is the whole case, said he; and, allowing for the pride

and violence of her spirit, and that she knows not, as I do, the

transcendent excellencies of my dear Pamela, and that all her view, in

her own conception, is mine and the family honour, she is a little to be

allowed for: Though, never fear, my Pamela, but that I, who never had

a struggle with her, wherein I did not get the better, will do you

justice, and myself too.

This account of Lady Davers pleased every body, and was far from being

to her ladyship's disadvantage in the main; and I would do any thing

in the world to have the honour to be in her good graces: Yet I fear it

will not be easily, if at all, effected. But I will proceed.

After supper, nothing would serve Miss Darnford and Miss Boroughs, but

we must have a dance; and Mr. Peters, who plays a good fiddle, urged

it forward. My dear master, though in a riding-dress, took out Miss

Boroughs. Sir Simon, for a man of his years, danced well, and took me out; but put

on one of his free jokes, that I was fitter to dance with a younger

man; and he would have it, (though I had not danced since my dear lady's

death to signify, except once or twice to please Mrs. Jervis, and,

indeed, believed all my dancing days over,) that as my master and I were

the best dancers, we should dance once together, before folks, as the

odd gentleman said; and my dear sir was pleased to oblige him: And

afterwards danced with Miss Darnford, who has much more skill and

judgment than I; though they compliment me with an easier shape and air.