olks, that, in a little while, the
lady grows careless in her dress; which, to me, looks as if she would
take no pains to secure the affection she had gained; and shews a slight
to her husband, that she had not to her lover. Now, you must know, this
has always given me great offence; and I should not forgive it, even in
my Pamela: though she would have this excuse for herself, that thousands
could not make, That she looks lovely in every thing. So, my dear,
I shall expect of you always to be dressed by dinner-time, except
something extraordinary happens; and this, whether you are to go abroad,
or stay at home. For this, my love, will continue to you that sweet ease
in your dress and behaviour, which you are so happy a mistress of; and
whomsoever I bring home with me to my table, you'll be in readiness
to receive them; and will not want to make those foolish apologies to
unexpected visitors, that carry with them a reflection on the conduct
of those who make them; and, besides, will convince me, that you think
yourself obliged to appear as graceful to your husband, as you would to
persons less familiar to your sight.

This, dear sir, said I, is a most obliging injunction; and I most
heartily thank you for it, and will always take care to obey it.--Why,
my dear, said he, you may better do this than half your sex; because
they too generally act in such a manner, as if they seemed to think it
the privilege of birth and fortune, to turn day into night, and night
into day, and are seldom stirring till it is time to sit down to dinner;
and so all the good old family rules are reversed: For they breakfast,
when they should dine; dine, when they should sup; and sup, when they
should go to bed; and, by the help of dear quadrille, sometimes go to
bed when they should rise.--In all things but these, my dear, continued
he, I expect you to be a lady. And my good mother was one of this
oldfashioned cut, and, in all other respects, as worthy a lady as any in
the kingdom. And so you have not been used to the new way, and may the
easier practise the other.

Dear sir, said I, pray give me more of your sweet injunctions. Why
then, continued he, I shall, in the usual course, and generally, if not
hindered by company, like to go to bed with my dearest by eleven; and,
if I don't, shan't hinder you. I ordinarily now rise by six in summer. I
will allow you to be half an hour after me, or so.

Then you'll have some time you may call your own, t