Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded

My dearest PAMELA,--'Mighty well!'--I hope my not coming home this

night, will not frighten you!--'Vastly tender, indeed!--And did it

frighten you, child?'--You may believe I can't help it. 'No, to be

sure!--A person in thy way of life, is more tenderly used than an honest

wife. But mark the end of it!'--I could have wished--'Pr'ythee, Jackey,

mind this,'--we--'mind the significant we,'--had not engaged to the good

neighbourhood, at Sir Simon's, for to-morrow night.--'Why, does the good

neighbourhood, and does Sir Simon, permit thy visits, child? They shall

have none of mine, then, I'll assure them!'--But I am so desirous to set

out on Wednesday for the other house--'So, Jackey, but we just nicked

it, I find:'--that, as well as in return for the civilities of so

many good friends, who will be there on purpose, I would not put it

off.--'Now mind, Jackey.'--What I beg of you--'Mind the wretch, that

could use me and your uncle as he has done; he is turned beggar to this

creature!'--I beg of you, therefore, my dear--'My dear! there's for

you!--I wish I may not be quite sick before I get through.'--What I beg

of you, therefore, my dear, [and then she looked me full in the face,]

is, that you will go in the chariot to Sir Simon's, the sooner in the

day the better;--'Dear heart! and why so, when WE were not expected till

night? Why, pray observe the reason--Hem!' [said she]--Because you will

be diverted with the company;--'Mighty kind, indeed!'--who all--'Jackey,

Jackey, mind this,'--who all so much admire you. 'Now he'd ha' been

hanged before he would have said so complaisant a thing, had he

been married, I'm sure!'--Very true, aunt, said he: A plain case

that!--

[Thought I, that's hard upon poor matrimony, though I hope my

lady don't find it so. But I durst not speak out.]

--Who all so much admire you, [said she,] 'I must repeat that--Pretty miss!--I wish thou

wast as admirable for thy virtue, as for that baby-face of thine!'--And

I hope to join you there by your tea-time in the afternoon!--'So, you're

in very good time, child, an hour or two hence, to answer all your

important pre-engagements!'--which will be better than going home, and

returning with you; as it will be six miles difference to me; and I know

the good company will excuse my dress on this occasion.--'Very true; any

dress is good enough, I'm sure, for such company as admire thee, child,

for a companion, in thy ruined state!--Jackey, Jackey, mind, mind,

again! more fine things still!'--I count every hour of this little

absence for a day!--'There's for you! Let me repeat it'--I count every

hour of this little absence for a day!--'Mind, too, the wit of the good

man!