to be so agreeably entertained, if he and I
pleased; because they imagined I should have no difficulties after this.

Tell me, then, Pamela, said he, did she lift up her hand at you? Did
she strike you? But I hope not! A little slap of the hand, said I, or
so.--Insolent woman! She did not, I hope, offer to strike your face?
Why, said I, I was a little saucy once or twice; and she would have
given me a cuff on the ear, if her woman and Mrs. Jewkes had not
interposed. Why did you not come out at the door? Because, said I,
her ladyship sat in the chair against it, one while, and another while
locked it; else I offered several times to get away.

She knew I expected you here: You say, you shewed her my letter to
you? Yes, sir, said I; but I had better not; for she as then more
exasperated, and made strange comments upon it. I doubt it not, said he;
but, did she not see, by the kind epithets in it, that there was no room
to doubt of our being married? O, sir, replied I, and made the company
smile, she said, For that very reason she was sure I was not married.

That's like my sister! said he; exactly like her; and yet she lives
very happily herself: for her poor lord never contradicts her. Indeed he
dares not.

You were a great many wenches, were you not, my dear? for that's a great
word with her.--Yes, sir, said I, wenches and creatures out of number;
and worse than all that. What? tell me, my dear. Sir, said I, I must not
have you angry with Lady Davers; while you are so good to me, 'tis all
nothing; only the trouble I have that I cannot be suffered to shew how
much I honoured her ladyship, as your sister.

Well, said he, you need not be afraid to tell me: I must love her after
all; though I shall not be pleased with her on this occasion. I know
it is her love for me, though thus oddly expressed, that makes her so
uneasy: and, after all, she comes, I'm sure, to be reconciled to me;
though it must be through a good hearty quarrel first: for she can shew
a good deal of sunshine; but it must be always after a storm; and I'll
love her dearly, if she has not been, and will not be, too hard upon my
dearest.

Mr. Peters said, Sir, you are very good, and very kind; I love to see
this complaisance to your sister, though she be in fault, so long as you
can shew it with so much justice to the sweetest innocence and merit
in the world. By all that's good, Mr. Peters, said he, I'd present my
sister with a thousand pounds, if she