ns are given, and are
worthy of every parent's consideration, as is the whole Letter, which
contains the debate between Mr. B. and his Pamela, on the important
subject of mothers being nurses to their own children.

I now, methinks, behold this most charming of women in this sweet office:
her conscious eye now dropt on one, now on the other, with a sigh of
maternal tenderness, and then raised up to my delighted eye, full of
wishes, for the sake of the pretty varlets, and for her own sake, that I
would deign to legitimate; that I would condescend to put on the nuptial
fetters.

LETTER XII

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
MONDAY AFTERNOON.

A letter received from the worthy Captain Tomlinson has introduced me
into the presence of my charmer sooner than perhaps I should otherwise
have been admitted.

Sullen her brow, at her first entrance into the dining-room. But I took
no notice of what had passed, and her anger of itself subsided.

'The Captain, after letting me know that he chose not to write till he
had promised the draught of the settlements, acquaint me, that his friend
Mr. John Harlowe, in their first conference (which was held as soon as he
got down) was extremely surprised, and even grieved (as he feared he
would be) to hear that we were not married. The world, he said, who knew
my character, would be very censorious, were it owned, that we had lived
so long together unmarried in the same lodgings; although our marriage
were now to be ever so publicly celebrated.

'His nephew James, he was sure, would make a great handle of it against
any motion that might be made towards a reconciliation; and with the
greater success, as there was not a family in the kingdom more jealous of
their honour than theirs.'

This is true of the Harlowes, Jack: they have been called The proud
Harlowes: and I have ever found, that all young honour is supercilious
and touchy.

But seest thou not how right I was in my endeavour to persuade my fair-
one to allow her uncle's friend to think us married; especially as he
came prepared to believe it; and as her uncle hoped it was so?--But
nothing on earth is so perverse as a woman, when she is set upon carrying
a point, and has a meek man, or one who loves his peace, to deal with.

My beloved was vexed. She pulled out her handkerchief: but was more
inclined to blame me than herself.

Had you kept your word, Mr. Lovelace, and left me when we came to
town--And there