I stood up, and she tapped my cheek! Oh, says she, that scarlet glow
shews what a rancorous little heart thou hast, if thou durst shew it!
but come this way; and so led me to her chair: Stand there, said she,
and answer me a few questions while I dine, and I'll dismiss thee, till
I call thy impudent master to account; and then I'll have you face to
face, and all this mystery of iniquity shall be unravelled; for, between
you, I will come to the bottom of it.
When she had sat down, I moved to the window on the other side of the
parlour, looking into the private garden; and her woman said, Mrs.
Pamela, don't make my lady angry. Stand by her ladyship, as she bids
you. Said I, Pray, good now, let it suffice you to attend your lady's
commands, and don't lay yours upon me.--Your pardon, sweet Mrs. Pamela,
said she. Times are much altered with you, I'll assure you! said I, Her
ladyship has a very good plea to be free in the house that she was born
in; but you may as well confine your freedoms to the house in which
you had your breedings. Why, how now, Mrs. Pamela, said she; since you
provoke me to it, I'll tell you a piece of my mind. Hush, hush, good
woman, said I, alluding to my lady's language to Mrs. Jewkes, my lady
wants not your assistance:--Besides, I can't scold!
The woman was ready to flutter with vexation; and Lord Jackey laughed as
if he would burst his sides: G--d d--n me, Beck, said he, you'd better
let her alone to my lady here for she'll be too many for twenty such
as you and I!--And then he laughed again, and repeated--I can't scold,
quoth-a! but, by gad, miss, you can speak d----d spiteful words, I
can tell you that!--Poor Beck, poor Beck!--'Fore gad, she's quite
dumbfoundered! Well, but Pamela, said my lady, come hither, and tell me truly, Dost
thou think thyself really married?--Said I, and approached her chair, My
good lady, I'll answer all your commands, if you'll have patience with
me, and not be so angry as you are: But I can't bear to be used thus
by this gentleman, and your ladyship's woman. Child, said she, thou art
very impertinent to my kinsman; thou can'st not be civil to me; and my
ladyship's woman is much thy betters. But that's not the thing!--Dost
thou think thou art really married?
I see, madam, said I, you are resolved not to be pleased with any answer
I shall return: If I should say, I am not, then your ladyship will call
me hard names, and, perhaps, I should tell a fib. If I should say, I
am, your ladyship will ask, how I have the impudence to be so?--and will
call it a sham-marriage. I will, said she, be answered more directly.
Why, what, madam, does it signify what I think? Your ladyship will
believe as you please. But can'st thou have the vanity, the pride, the folly, said she, to
think thyself actually married to my brother? He is no fool, child; and
libertine enough of conscience; and thou art not the first in the
list of his credulous harlots.--Well, well, said I, (and was in a sad
flutter,) as I am easy, and pleased with my lot, pray, madam, let me
continue so, as long as I can. It will be time enough for me to know the
worst, when the worst comes. And if it should be so bad, your ladyship
should pity me, rather than thus torment me before my time.