But you see, said he, by my Pamela's hand, when all the court-cards
get together, and are acted by one mind, the game is usually turned
accordingly: Though now and then, too, it may be so circumstanced, that
honours will do them no good, and they are forced to depend altogether
upon tricks. I thought this way of talking prettier than the game itself. But I
said, Though I have won the game, I hope I am no trickster. No, said my
master, God forbid but court-cards should sometimes win with honour! But
you see, for all that, your game is as much owing to the knave as the
king; and you, my fair-one, lost no advantage, when it was put into your
power. Else, sir, said I, I should not have done justice to my partner. You
are certainly right, Pamela, replied he; though you thereby beat your
husband. Sir, said I, you may be my partner next, and I must do justice,
you know. Well, said he, always choose so worthy a friend, as chance has
given you for a partner, and I shall never find fault with you, do what
you will. Mr. Perry said, You are very good to me, sir; and Miss Boroughs, I
observed, seemed pleased with the compliment to her humble servant; by
which I saw she esteemed him, as he appears to deserve. Dear sir! said
I, how much better is this, than to be locked in by Lady Davers!
The supper was brought in sooner on my account, because I had had no
dinner; and there passed very agreeable compliments on the occasion.
Lady Darnford would help me first, because I had so long fasted, as she
said. Sir Simon would have placed himself next me: And my master said,
He thought it was best, where there was an equal number of ladies and
gentlemen, that they should sit, intermingled, that the gentlemen might
be employed in helping and serving the ladies. Lady Darnford said,
She hoped Sir Simon would not sit above any ladies at his own table
especially. Well, said he, I shall sit over-against her, however, and
that's as well. My dearest sir could not keep his eyes off me, and seemed generously
delighted with all I did, and all I said; and every one was pleased to
see his kind and affectionate behaviour to me.
Lady Jones brought up the discourse about Lady Davers again; and my
master said, I fear, Pamela, you have been hardly used, more than you'll
say. I know my sister's passionate temper too well, to believe she could
be over-civil to you, especially as it happened so unluckily that I was
out. If, added he, she had no pique to you, my dear, yet what has passed
between her and me, has so exasperated her, that I know she would have
quarrelled with my horse, if she had thought I valued it, and nobody
else was in her way. Dear sir, said I, don't say so of good Lady Davers.