Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded

Pray, madam, said her kinsman, since your brother is pleased to own his

marriage, we must not forget common civilities, as Mr. B---- says. And,

sir, added he, permit me to wish you joy. Thank you, sir, said he.

And may I? said he, looking at me. Yes, sir, replied my master. So he

saluted me, very complaisantly; and said, I vow to Gad, madam, I did not

know this yesterday; and if I was guilty of a fault, I beg your pardon.

My lady said, Thou'rt a good-natured foolish fellow; thou might'st have

saved this nonsensical parade, till I had given thee leave. Why, aunt,

said he, if they are actually married, there's no help for it; and we

must not make mischief between man and wife.

But brother, said she, do you think I'll sit at table with the creature?

No contemptuous names, I beseech you, Lady Davers! I tell you she is

really my wife; and I must be a villain to suffer her to be ill used.

She has no protector but me; and, if you will permit her, she will

always love and honour you.--Indeed, indeed I will, madam, said I.

I cannot, I won't sit down at table with her, said she: Pamela, I hope

thou dost not think I will?--Indeed, madam, said I, if your good brother

will permit it, I will attend your chair all the time you dine, to shew

my veneration for your ladyship, as the sister of my kind protector.

See, said he, her condition has not altered her; but I cannot permit in

her a conduct unworthy of my wife; and I hope my sister will not expect

it neither. Let her leave the room, replied she, if I must stay. Indeed you are out

of the way, aunt, said her kinsman; that is not right, as things stand.

Said my master, No, madam, that must not be; but, if it must be so,

we'll have two tables; you and your nephew shall sit at one, and my

wife and I at the other: and then see what a figure your unreasonable

punctilio will make you cut.--She seemed irresolute, and he placed her

at the table; the first course, which was fish, being brought in. Where,

said she to me, would'st thou presume to sit? Would'st have me give

place to thee too, wench?--Come, come, said my master, I'll put that out

of dispute; and so set himself down by her ladyship, at the upper end of

the table, and placed me at his left hand. Excuse me, my dear, said he;

this once excuse me!--Oh! your cursed complaisance, said she, to such

a----. Hush, sister! hush! said he: I will not bear to hear her spoken

slightly of! 'Tis enough, that, to oblige your violent and indecent

caprice, you make me compromise with you thus.