Your goodness, sir, said I, knows no bounds: O may my gratitude never
find any!--I saw, said my master, when the good man approached you, that
he did it with so much awe and love mingled together, that I fancied he
longed to salute my angel; and I could not but indulge his honest
heart. How blessed am I! said I, and kissed his hand.--And indeed I make
nothing now of kissing his dear hand, as if it was my own!
When honest old Mr. Jonathan come in to attend at dinner, so clean, so
sleek, and so neat, as he always is, with his silver hair, I said, Well,
Mr. Jonathan, how do you do? I am glad to see you.--You look as well as
ever, thank God! O, dear madam! said he, better than ever, to have such
a blessed sight! God bless you and my good master!--and I hope, sir,
said he, you'll excuse all my past failings. Ay, that I will, Jonathan,
said he; because you never had any, but what your regard for my dear
wife here was the occasion of. And now I can tell you, you can never
err, because you cannot respect her too much. O sir, said he, your
honour is exceeding good! I'm sure I shall always pray for you both.
After dinner, Mr. Longman coming in, and talking of some affairs under
his care, he said afterwards, All your honour's servants are now happy;
for Robert, who left you, had a pretty little fortune fallen to him, or
he never would have quitted your service. He was here but yesterday, to
inquire when you and my lady returned hither; and hoped he might have
leave to pay his duty to you both. Ay, said my master, I shall be glad
to see honest Robert; for that's another of your favourites, Pamela. It
was high time, I think, I should marry you, were it but to engage
the respects of all my family to myself.--There are, sir, said I, ten
thousand reasons why I should rejoice in your goodness.
But I was going to say, said Mr. Longman, That all your honour's old
servants are now happy, but one. You mean John Arnold? said my master. I
do, indeed, said he, if you'll excuse me, sir. O, said I, I have had my
prayer for poor John answered, as favourably as I could wish.--Why, said
Mr. Longman, to be sure poor John has acted no very good part, take it
altogether; but he so much honoured you, sir, and so much respected you,
madam, that he would have been glad to have been obedient to both; and
so was faithful to neither. But, indeed, the poor fellow's heart is
almost broke, and he won't look out for any other place; and says,
he must live in your honour's service, or he must die wretched very
shortly. Mrs. Jervis was there when this was said: Indeed, said she, the
poor man has been here every day since he heard the tidings, that have
rejoiced us all; and he says, he hopes he shall yet be forgiven. Is he
in the house now? said my master. He is, sir; and was here when your
honour came in, and played at hide and seek to have one look at you both
when you alighted; and was ready to go out of his wits for joy, when we
saw your honour hand my lady in. Pamela, said my dear master, you're to
do with John as you please. You have full power. Then pray, sir, said I,
let poor John come in.