Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded

Come, sir, added he, pray take your place next your gentle aunt!--Beck,

said she, do you sit down by Pamela there, since it must be so; we'll

be hail fellow all! With all my heart, replied my master; I have so much

honour for all the sex, that I would not have the meanest person of it

stand, while I sit, had I been to have made the custom. Mrs. Worden,

pray sit down. Sir, said she, I hope I shall know my place better.

My lady sat considering; and then, lifting up her hands, said, Lord!

what will this world come to?--To nothing but what's very good, replied

my master, if such spirits as Lady Davers's do but take the rule of it.

Shall I help you, sister, to some of the carp? Help your beloved! said

she. That's kind! said he.--Now, that's my good Lady Davers! Here,

my love, let me help you, since my sister desires it.--Mighty well,

returned she, mighty well!--But sat on one side, turning from me, as it

were. Dear aunt, said her kinsman, let's see you buss and be friends: since

'tis so, what signifies it? Hold thy fool's tongue! said she: Is thy

tone so soon turned since yesterday? said my master, I hope nothing

affronting was offered yesterday to my wife, in her own house. She hit

him a good smart slap on the shoulder: Take that, impudent brother said

she. I'll wife you, and in her own house! She seemed half afraid: but

he, in very good humour, kissed her, and said, I thank you, sister, I

thank you. But I have not had a blow from you before for some time!

'Fore gad, said her kinsman, 'tis very kind of you to take it so well.

Her ladyship is as good a woman as ever lived; but I've had many a cuff

from her myself. I won't put it up neither, said my master, except you'll assure me you

have seen her serve her lord so.

I pressed my foot to his, and said, softly, Don't, dear sir!--What! said

she, is the creature begging me off from insult? If his manners won't

keep him from outraging me, I won't owe his forebearance to thee, wench.

Said my master, and put some fish on my lady's plate, Well does Lady

Davers use the word insult!--But, come, let me see you eat one mouthful,

and I'll forgive you; and he put the knife in one of her hands, and the

fork in the other. As I hope to live, said he, I cannot bear this silly

childishness, for nothing at all! I am quite ashamed of it.