Dear sir! said I--Leave me, interrupted he. I will set out for
Bedfordshire this moment! What! sir, said I, without me?--What have I
done? You have too meanly, said he, for my wife, stooped to this furious
sister of mine; and, till I can recollect, I am not pleased with you:
But Colbrand shall attend you, and two other of my servants; and Mrs.
Jewkes shall wait upon you part of the way: And I hope you'll find me in
a better disposition to receive you there, than I am at parting with you
here. Had I not hoped, that this was partly put on to intimidate my lady, I
believe I could not have borne it: But it was grievous to me; for I saw
he was most sincerely in a passion. I
was afraid, said she, he would be angry at you, as well as me; for
well do I know his unreasonable violence, when he is moved. But one
word, sir, said she; Pardon Pamela, if you won't me; for she has
committed no offence, but that of good-nature to me, and at my request.
I will be gone myself, directly as I was about to do, had you not
prevented me. I prevented you, said he, through love; but you have strung me for
it, through hatred. But as for my Pamela, I know, besides the present
moment, I cannot be angry with her; and therefore I desire her never to
see me, on such occasions, till I can see her in the temper I ought to
be in, when so much sweetness approaches me. 'Tis therefore I say, my
dearest, leave me now.
But, sir, said I, must I leave you, and let you go to Bedfordshire
without me? Oh, dear sir, how can I?--Said my lady, You may go
to-morrow, both of you, as you had designed; and I will go away this
afternoon: And, since I cannot be forgiven, will try to forget I have a
brother. May I, sir, said I, beg all your anger on myself, and to be reconciled
to your good sister? Presuming Pamela! replied he, and made me start;
Art thou then so hardy, so well able to sustain a displeasure, which
of all things, I expected from thy affection, and thy tenderness, thou
would'st have wished to avoid?--Now, said he, and took my hand, and, as
it were, tossed it from him, begone from my presence, and reflect upon
what you have said to me! I was so frightened, (for then I saw he took amiss what I said,) that I
took hold of his knees, as he was turning from me; and I said, Forgive
me, good sir! you see I am not so hardy! I cannot bear your displeasure!
And was ready to sink. His sister said, Only forgive Pamela; 'tis all I ask--You'll break
her spirit quite!--You'll carry your passion as much too far as I have
done!--I need not say, said he, how well I love her; but she must not
intrude upon me at such times as these!--I had intended, as soon as I
could have quelled, by my reason, the tumults you had caused by your
violence, to have come in, and taken such a leave of you both, as might
become a husband, and a brother: But she has, unbidden, broke in upon
me, and must take the consequence of a passion, which, when raised, is
as uncontrollable as your own.