her foot
within my doors; and I suppose this treatment will hinder her.

I was much concerned at this: And he said, Had I a hundred sisters,
Pamela, their opposition should have no weight with me: and I did not
intend you should know it; but you can't but expect a little difficulty
from the pride of my sister, who have suffered so much from that of
her brother; and we are too nearly allied in mind, as well as blood, I
find.--But this is not her business: And if she would have made it so,
she should have done it with more decency. Little occasion had she to
boast of her birth, that knows not what belongs to good manners.

I said, I am very sorry, sir, to be the unhappy occasion of a
misunderstanding between so good a brother and so worthy a sister. Don't
say so, Pamela, because this is an unavoidable consequence of the
happy prospect before us. Only bear it well yourself, because she is my
sister; and leave it to me to make her sensible of her own rashness.

If, sir, said I, the most lowly behaviour, and humble deportment, and in
every thing shewing a dutiful regard to good Lady Davers, will have any
weight with her ladyship, assure yourself of all in my power to mollify
her. No, Pamela, returned he; don't imagine, when you are my wife, I
will suffer you to do any thing unworthy of that character. I know the
duty of a husband, and will protect your gentleness to the utmost, as
much as if you were a princess by descent.

You are inexpressibly good, sir, said I; but I am far from taking a
gentle disposition to shew a meanness of spirit: And this is a trial I
ought to expect; and well I may bear it, that have so many benefits to
set against it, which all spring from the same cause.

Well, said he, all the matter shall be this: We will talk of our
marriage as a thing to be done next week. I find I have spies upon
me wherever I go, and whatever I do: But now, I am on so laudable
a pursuit, that I value them not, nor those who employ them. I have
already ordered my servants to have no conference with any body for
ten or twelve days to come. And Mrs. Jewkes tells me every one names
Thursday come se'nnight for our nuptials. So I will get Mr. Peters, who
wants to see my little chapel, to assist Mr. Williams, under the notion
of breakfasting with me next Thursday morning, since you won't have it
sooner; and there will nobody else be wanting; and I will beg of Mr.
Peters to keep it private, even from his own family, for a few d