stay supper; and at last they
complied, on condition that I would grace the table, as they were
pleased to call it. I begged to be excused. My master said, Don't be
excused, Pamela, since the ladies desire it: And besides, said he, we
won't part with your father; and so you may as well stay with us.

I was in hopes my father and I might sup by ourselves, or only with Mrs.
Jewkes. And Miss Darnford, who is a most obliging young lady, said, We
will not part with you, indeed we won't.

When supper was brought in, Lady Darnford took me by the hand, and said
to my master, Sir, by your leave; and would have placed me at the upper
end of the table. Pray, pray, madam, said I, excuse me; I cannot do it,
indeed I cannot. Pamela, said my master, to the great delight of my good
father, as I could see by his looks, oblige Lady Darnford, since she
desires it. It is but a little before your time, you know.

Dear, good sir, said I, pray don't command it! Let me sit by my father,
pray! Why, said Sir Simon, here's ado indeed! Sit down at the upper end,
as you should do; and your father shall sit by you, there. This put my
dear father upon difficulties. And my master said, Come, I'll place you
all: and so put Lady Darnford at the upper end, Lady Jones at her right
hand, and Mrs. Peters on the other; and he placed me between the two
young ladies; but very genteelly put Miss Darnford below her younger
sister; saying, Come, miss, I put you here, because you shall hedge in
this little cuckow; for I take notice, with pleasure, of your goodness
to her; and, besides, all you very young ladies should sit together.
This seemed to please both sisters; for had the youngest miss been put
there, it might have piqued her, as matters have been formerly, to be
placed below me; whereas Miss Darnford giving place to her youngest
sister, made it less odd she should to me; especially with that handsome
turn of the dear man, as if I was a cuckow, and to be hedged in.

My master kindly said, Come, Mr. Andrews, you and I will sit together.
And so took his place at the bottom of the table, and set my father
on his right hand; and Sir Simon would sit on his left. For, said he,
parson, I think the petticoats should sit together; and so do you sit
down by that lady (his sister). A boiled turkey standing by me, my
master said, Cut up that turkey, Pamela, if it be not too strong work
for you, that Lady Darnford may not have too much trouble. So I carved
it in a t