Mrs. Jewkes went to her ladyship, and said, Your ladyship will be
pleased to stay dinner; 'tis just coming upon table? No, said she, I
have enough of this house; I have indeed. But give my service to your
master, and I wish him happier than he has made me.
He had sent for me down, and I came, though unwillingly, and the cloth
was laid in the parlour I had jumped out of; and there was my master
walking about it. Mrs. Jewkes came in, and asked, if he pleased to
have dinner brought in? for my lady would not come in, but desired her
service, and wished him happier than he had made her. He, seeing her
at the window, when he went to that side of the room, all ready to go,
stept out to her, and said, Lady Davers, if I thought you would not be
hardened, rather than softened, by my civility, I would ask you to walk
in; and, at least, let your kinsman and servants dine before they go.
She wept, and turned her face from him, to hide it. He took her hand,
and said, Come, sister, let me prevail upon you: Walk in. No, said she,
don't ask me.--I wish I could hate you, as much as you hate me!--You do,
said he, and a great deal more, I'll assure you; or else you'd not vex
me as you do.--Come, pray walk in. Don't ask me, said she. Her kinsman
just then returned: Why, madam, said he, your ladyship won't go till you
have dined, I hope. No, Jackey, said she, I can't stay; I'm an intruder
here, it seems!--Think, said my master, of the occasion you gave for
that word.
Your violent passions are the only intruders! Lay them aside,
and never sister was dearer to a brother. Don't say such another word,
said she, I beseech you; for I am too easy to forgive you any thing for
one kind word!--You shall have one hundred, said he, nay, ten thousand,
if they will do, my dear sister. And, kissing her, he added, Pray give
me your hand. John, said he, put up the horses; you are all as welcome
to me, for all your lady's angry with me, as at any inn you can put up
at. Come, Mr. H----, said he, lead your aunt in; for she won't permit
that honour to me. This quite overcame her; and she said, giving her brother her hand,
Yes, I will, and you shall lead me any where! and kissed him. But don't
think, said she, I can forgive you neither. And so he led her into the
parlour where I was. But, said she, why do you lead me to this wench?
'Tis my wife, my dear sister; and if you will not love her, yet don't
forget common civilities to her, for your own sake.