o
should they be, but the officious Mrs. Jervis, and Mr. Longman, and
Jonathan! and so that has made me take the measures I did in dismissing
them my service.--I see, said he, you are going to speak on their
behalfs; but your time is not come to do that, if ever I shall permit
it.

My sister, says he, I have been beforehand with; for I have renounced
her. I am sure I have been a kind brother to her; and gave her to the
value of 3000L. more than her share came to by my father's will, when I
entered upon my estate. And the woman, surely, was beside herself with
passion and insolence, when she wrote me such a letter; for well she
knew I would not bear it. But you must know, Pamela, that she is much
incensed, that I will give no ear to a proposal of hers, of a
daughter of my Lord ----, who, said he, neither in person, or mind, or
acquirements, even with all her opportunities, is to be named in a day
with my Pamela. But yet you see the plea, my girl, which I made to you
before, of the pride of condition, and the world's censure, which, I
own, sticks a little too close with me still: for a woman shines not
forth to the public as man; and the world sees not your excellencies
and perfections: If it did, I should entirely stand acquitted by the
severest censures. But it will be taken in the lump; that here is
Mr. B----, with such and such an estate, has married his mother's
waiting-maid: not considering there is not a lady in the kingdom that
can out-do her, or better support the condition to which she will be
raised, if I should marry her. And, said he, putting his arm round me,
and again kissing me, I pity my dear girl too, for her part in this
censure; for, here will she have to combat the pride and slights of the
neighbouring gentry all around us. Sister Davers, you see, will never
be reconciled to you. The other ladies will not visit you; and you
will, with a merit superior to them all, be treated as if unworthy their
notice. Should I now marry my Pamela, how will my girl relish all this?
Won't these be cutting things to my fair-one? For, as to me, I shall
have nothing to do, but, with a good estate in possession, to brazen out
the matter of my former pleasantry on this subject, with my companions
of the chase, the green, and the assemblee; stand their rude jests for
once or twice, and my fortune will create me always respect enough, I
warrant you. But, I say, what will my poor girl do, as to her part, with
her own sex? Fo