Why, said he, do you charge me with a conduct to you, that you bring
upon yourself?--Is it not surprising that you should take the liberty
with me, that the dear mother you have named never gave you an example
for to any of her relations?--Was it not sufficient, that I was
insolently taken to task by you in your letters, but my retirements must
be invaded? My house insulted? And, if I have one person dearer to me
than another, that that person must be singled out for an object of your
violence? Ay, said she, that one person is the thing!--But though I came with a
resolution to be temperate, and to expostulate with you on your avoiding
me so unkindly, yet cannot I have patience to look upon that bed in
which I was born, and to be made the guilty scene of your wickedness
with such a---Hush! said he, I charge you! call not the dear girl by any name unworthy
of her. You know not, as I told you, her excellence; and I desire you'll
not repeat the freedoms you have taken below.
She stamped with her foot, and said, God give me patience! So much
contempt to a sister that loves you so well; and so much tenderness to a
vile---He put his hand before her mouth: Be silent, said he, once more, I
charge you! You know not the innocence you abuse so freely. I ought not,
neither will I bear it. She sat down and fanned herself, and burst into tears, and such sobs
of grief, or rather passion, that grieved me to hear; and I sat and
trembled sadly. He walked about the room in great anger; and at last said, Let me ask
you, Lady Davers, why I am thus insolently to be called to account
by you? Am I not independent? Am I not of age? Am I not at liberty to
please myself?--Would to God, that, instead of a woman, and my sister,
any man breathing had dared, whatever were his relation under that of
a father, to give himself half the airs you have done!--Why did you not
send on this accursed errand your lord, who could write me such a letter
as no gentleman should write, nor any gentleman tamely receive? He
should have seen the difference.
We all know, said she, that, since your Italian duel, you have commenced
a bravo; and all your airs breathe as strongly of the manslayer as of
the libertine. This, said he, I will bear; for I have no reason to
be ashamed of that duel, nor the cause of it; since it was to save a
friend, and because it is levelled at myself only: but suffer not your
tongue to take too great a liberty with my Pamela.