Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded

Mrs. Jewkes just then came up, and said dinner was ready. Come, my

Pamela, said my dear master; you desired to be excused from breakfasting

with us; but I hope you'll give Lady Davers and me your company to

dinner. How dare you insult me thus? said my lady.--How dare you, said he,

insult me by your conduct in my own house, after I have told you I am

married? How dare you think of staying here one moment, and refuse my

wife the honours that belong to her as such?

Merciful God! said she, give me patience! and held her hand to her

forehead. Pray, sir, dear sir, said I, excuse me, don't vex my lady:--Be silent,

my dear love, said he; you see already what you have got by your sweet

condescension. You have thrown yourself at her feet, and, insolent

as she is, she has threatened to trample upon you. She'll ask you,

presently, if she is to owe her excuse to your interposition? and yet

nothing else can make her forgiven.

Poor lady, she could not bear this; and, as if she was discomposed, she

ran to her poor grieved woman, and took hold of her hand, and said,

Lead me down, lead me down, Beck! Let us instantly quit this house, this

cursed house, that once I took pleasure in! Order the fellows to get

ready, and I will never see it, nor its owner, more. And away she went

down stairs, in a great hurry. And the servants were ordered to make

ready for their departure.

I saw my master was troubled, and I went to him, and said, Pray, dear

sir, follow my lady down, and pacify her. 'Tis her love to you.--Poor

woman! said he, I am concerned for her! But I insist upon your coming

down, since things are gone so far. Her pride will get new strength

else, and we shall be all to begin again.

Dearest, dear sir, said I, excuse my going down this once! Indeed, my

dear, I won't, replied he. What! shall it be said, that my sister shall

scare my wife from my table, and I present?--No, I have borne too much

already; and so have you: And I charge you come down when I send for

you. He departed, saying these words, and I durst not dispute; for I saw he

was determined. And there is as much majesty as goodness in him, as I

have often had reason to observe; though never more than on the present

occasion with his sister. Her ladyship instantly put on her hood and

gloves, and her woman tied up a handkerchief full of things; for her

principal matters were not unpacked; and her coachman got her chariot

ready, and her footmen their horses; and she appeared resolved to go.

But her kinsman and Mr. Colbrand had taken a turn together, somewhere;

and she would not come in, but sat fretting on a seat in the fore-yard,

with her woman by her; and, at last, said to one of the footmen, Do you,

James, stay to attend my nephew; and we'll take the road we came.