an another, to such as have
the least reason to expect it from you, or who are most inferior at the
table; for thus will you, my Pamela, cheer the doubting mind, quiet the
uneasy heart, and diffuse ease, pleasure, and tranquillity, around my
board.

And be sure, my dear, continued he, let no little accidents ruffle your
temper. I shall never forget once that I was at Lady Arthur's; and a
footman happened to stumble, and let fall a fine china dish, and broke
it all to pieces: It was grievous to see the uneasiness it gave the poor
lady: And she was so sincere in it, that she suffered it to spread all
over the company; and it was a pretty large one too; and not a person
in it but turned either her consoler, or fell into stories of the like
misfortunes; and so we all became, for the rest of the evening, nothing
but blundering footmen, and careless servants, or were turned
into broken jars, plates, glasses, tea-cups, and such like brittle
substances. And it affected me so much, that, when I came home, I went
to bed, and dreamt, that Robin, with the handle of his whip, broke the
fore glass of my chariot; and I was so solicitous, methought, to keep
the good lady in countenance for her anger, that I broke his head in
revenge, and stabbed one of my coach-horses. And all the comfort I had
when it was done, methought, was, that I had not exposed myself before
company; and there were no sufferers, but guilty Robin, and one innocent
coach-horse.

I was exceedingly diverted with the facetious hints, and the pleasant
manner in which he gave them; and I promised to improve by the excellent
lessons contained in them.

I then went up and dressed myself, as like a bride as I could, in my
best clothes; and, on inquiry, hearing my dearest master was gone to
walk in the garden, I went to find him out. He was reading in the little
alcove; and I said, Sir, am I licensed to intrude upon you?--No, my
dear, said he, because you cannot intrude. I am so wholly yours, that,
wherever I am, you have not only a right to join me, but you do me a
very acceptable favour at the same time.

I have, sir, said I, obeyed your first kind injunction, as to dressing
myself before dinner; but may be you are busy, sir. He put up the papers
he was reading, and said, I can have no business or pleasure of equal
value to your company, my dear. What were you going to say?--Only, sir,
to know if you have any more kind injunctions to give me?--I could hear
you talk a