And so, returned she, you say you are actually and really married,
honestly, or rather foolishly married, to this slut?
I am, indeed, says he, if you presume to call her so! And why should I
not, if I please? Who is there ought to contradict me? Whom have I hurt
by it?--Have I not an estate, free and independent?--Am I likely to
be beholden to you, or any of my relations? And why, when I have a
sufficiency in my own single hands, should I scruple to make a woman
equally happy, who has all I want? For beauty, virtue, prudence, and
generosity too, I will tell you, she has more than any lady I ever saw.
Yes, Lady Davers, she has all these naturally; they are born with her;
and a few years' education, with her genius, has done more for her, than
a whole life has done for others.
No more, no more, I beseech you, said she; thou surfeitest me, honest
man! with thy weak folly. Thou art worse than an idolater; thou hast
made a graven image, and thou fallest down and worshippest the works of
thy own hands; and, Jeroboam-like, wouldst have every body else bow down
before thy calf! Well said, Lady Davers! Whenever your passion suffers you to descend
to witticism; 'tis almost over with you. But let me tell you, though
I myself worship this sweet creature, that you call such names, I want
nobody else to do it; and should be glad you had not intruded upon me,
to interrupt me in the course of our mutual happiness.
Well said, well said, my kind, my well-mannered brother! said she.I
shall, after this, very little interrupt your mutual happiness, I'll
assure you. I thought you a gentleman once, and prided myself in my
brother: But I'll say now with the burial service, Ashes to ashes, and
dirt to dirt! Ay, said he, Lady Davers, and there we must all end at last; you with
all your pride, and I with my plentiful fortune, must come to it; and
then where will be your distinction? Let me tell you, except you and I
both mend our manners, though you have been no duellist, no libertine,
as you call me, this amiable girl, whom your vanity and folly so much
despise, will out-soar us both, infinitely out-soar us; and he who
judges best, will give the preference where due, without regard to birth
or fortune. Egregious preacher! said she: What, my brother already turned
Puritan!--See what marriage and repentance may bring a man to! I
heartily congratulate this change!--Well, said she, (and came towards
me, and I trembled to see her coming; but her brother followed to
observe her, and I stood up at her approach, and she said,) give me thy
hand, Mrs. Pamela, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. what shall I call thee?--Thou hast
done wonders in a little time; thou hast not only made a rake a husband
but thou hast made a rake a preacher! But take care, added she, after
all, in ironical anger, and tapped me on the neck, take care that thy
vanity begins not where his ends; and that thou callest not thyself my
sister. She shall, I hope, Lady Davers, said he, when she can make as great a
convert of you from pride, as she has of me, from libertinism.