Ay, said I, I have been a many creatures and wenches, and I know not
what; for these were the names she gave me. And I thought I ought to
act up to the part her dear brother has given me; and so I have but just
escaped a good cuffing.
Miss Boroughs said to her sister, as I overheard, but she did not design
I should, What a sweet creature is this! and then she takes so little
upon her, is so free, so easy, and owns the honour done her, so
obligingly! said Mr. Perry, softly, The loveliest person I ever saw! Who
could have the heart to be angry with her one moment?
Says Miss Darnford, Here, my dearest neighbour, these gentry are
admiring you strangely; and Mr. Perry says, you are the loveliest lady
he ever saw; and he says it to his own mistress's face too, I'll assure
you!--Or else, says Miss Boroughs, I should think he much flattered me.
O, madam, you are exceedingly obliging! but your kind opinion ought to
teach me humility, and to reverence so generous a worth as can give a
preference against yourself, where it is so little due. Indeed, madam,
said Miss Nanny Boroughs, I love my sister well; but it would be a high
compliment to any lady, to be deemed worthy a second or third place
after you. There is no answering such politeness, said I: I am sure Lady Davers
was very cruel to keep me from such company. 'Twas our loss, madam, says
Miss Darnford. I'll allow it, said I, in degree; for you have all been
deprived, several hours, of an humble admirer.
Mr. Perry said, I never before saw so young a lady shine forth with such
graces of mind and person. Alas! sir, said I, my master coming up, mine
is but a borrowed shine, like that of the moon. Here is the sun, to
whose fervent glow of generosity I owe all the faint lustre, that your
goodness is pleased to look upon with so much kind distinction.
Mr. Perry was pleased to hold up his hands; and the ladies looked upon
one another. And my master said, hearing part of the last sentence,
What's the pretty subject, that my Pamela is displaying so sweetly her
talents upon? Oh! sir, said Mr. Perry, I will pronounce you the happiest man in
England: and so said they all.
My master said, most generously, Thank ye, thank ye, thank ye, all
round, my dear friends. I know not your subject; but if you believe
me so, for a single instance of this dear girl's goodness, what must I
think myself, when blessed with a thousand instances, and experiencing
it in every single act and word! I do assure you my Pamela's person,
all lovely as you see it, is far short of her mind: That, indeed,
first attracted my admiration, and made me her lover: but they were
the beauties of her mind, that made me her husband; and proud, my sweet
dear, said he, pressing my hand, am I of that title.