He sat her down in the chamber she lay in, and she could not speak for
passion. Take care of your lady, said he; and when she has rendered
herself more worthy of my attention, I'll see her; till then, at her
peril, and yours too, come not near my apartment. And so he came to me,
and, with all the sweet soothing words in the world, pacified my fears,
and gave me leave to go to write in my closet, as soon as my fright was
over, and to stay there till things were more calm. And so he dressed
himself, and went out of the chamber, permitting me, at my desire, to
fasten the door after him.
At breakfast-time my master tapped at the door, and I said, Who's
there? I, my dearest, said he. Oh! then, replied I, I will open it with
pleasure. I had written on a good deal; but I put it by, when I ran to
the door. I would have locked it again, when he was in; but he said, Am
not I here? Don't be afraid. Said he, Will you come down to breakfast,
my love? O no, dear sir, said I; be pleased to excuse me! said he,
I cannot bear the look of it, that the mistress of my house should
breakfast in her closet, as if she durst not come down, and I at
home!--O, dearest sir, replied I, pray pass that over, for my sake; and
don't let my presence aggravate your sister, for a kind punctilio! Then,
my dear, said he, I will breakfast with you here. No, pray, dear sir,
answered I, breakfast with your sister. That, my dear, replied he, will
too much gratify her pride, and look like a slight to you.--Dear sir,
said I, your goodness is too great, for me to want punctilious proofs of
it. Pray oblige her ladyship. She is your guest surely, sir, you may be
freest with your dutiful wife! She is a strange woman, said he:
How I pity her!--She has thrown herself
into a violent fit of the colic, through passion: And is but now, her
woman says, a little easier. I hope, sir, said I, when you carried her
ladyship out, you did not hurt her. No, replied he, I love her too well.
I set her down in the apartment she had chosen: and she but now desires
to see me, and that I will breakfast with her, or refuses to touch any
thing. But, if my dearest please, I will insist it shall be with you at
the same time. O, no, no, dear sir! said I; I should not forgive myself, if I did. I
would on my knees beg her ladyship's goodness to me, now I am in your
presence; though I thought I ought to carry it a little stiff when you
were absent, for the sake of the honour you have done me. And, dear sir,
if my deepest humility will please, permit me to shew it.