u presume to sit? Would'st have me give
place to thee too, wench?--Come, come, said my master, I'll put that out
of dispute; and so set himself down by her ladyship, at the upper end of
the table, and placed me at his left hand. Excuse me, my dear, said he;
this once excuse me!--Oh! your cursed complaisance, said she, to such
a----. Hush, sister! hush! said he: I will not bear to hear her spoken
slightly of! 'Tis enough, that, to oblige your violent and indecent
caprice, you make me compromise with you thus.

Come, sir, added he, pray take your place next your gentle aunt!--Beck,
said she, do you sit down by Pamela there, since it must be so; we'll
be hail fellow all! With all my heart, replied my master; I have so much
honour for all the sex, that I would not have the meanest person of it
stand, while I sit, had I been to have made the custom. Mrs. Worden,
pray sit down. Sir, said she, I hope I shall know my place better.

My lady sat considering; and then, lifting up her hands, said, Lord!
what will this world come to?--To nothing but what's very good, replied
my master, if such spirits as Lady Davers's do but take the rule of it.
Shall I help you, sister, to some of the carp? Help your beloved! said
she. That's kind! said he.--Now, that's my good Lady Davers! Here,
my love, let me help you, since my sister desires it.--Mighty well,
returned she, mighty well!--But sat on one side, turning from me, as it
were.

Dear aunt, said her kinsman, let's see you buss and be friends: since
'tis so, what signifies it? Hold thy fool's tongue! said she: Is thy
tone so soon turned since yesterday? said my master, I hope nothing
affronting was offered yesterday to my wife, in her own house. She hit
him a good smart slap on the shoulder: Take that, impudent brother said
she. I'll wife you, and in her own house! She seemed half afraid: but
he, in very good humour, kissed her, and said, I thank you, sister, I
thank you. But I have not had a blow from you before for some time!

'Fore gad, said her kinsman, 'tis very kind of you to take it so well.
Her ladyship is as good a woman as ever lived; but I've had many a cuff
from her myself.

I won't put it up neither, said my master, except you'll assure me you
have seen her serve her lord so.

I pressed my foot to his, and said, softly, Don't, dear sir!--What! said
she, is the creature begging me off from insult? If his manners won't
keep him from outraging me, I won't owe his forebeara