Why, my dear, said he, I know she came on purpose to quarrel; and had
she not found herself under a very violent uneasiness, after what had
passed between us, and my treatment of her lord's letter, she would
not have offered to come near me. What sort of language had she for me,
Pamela? O sir, very good, only her well-mannered brother, and such as
that! Only, said he, 'tis taking up the attention of the company disagreeably,
or I could tell you almost every word she said. Lady Jones wished to
hear a further account of my lady's conduct, and most of the company
joined with her, particularly Mrs. Peters; who said, that as they knew
the story, and Lady Davers's temper, though she was very good in the
main, they could wish 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.