Come, sir, added he, pray take your place next your gentle aunt!--Beck,
said she, do you sit down by Pamela there, since it must be so; we'll
be hail fellow all! With all my heart, replied my master; I have so much
honour for all the sex, that I would not have the meanest person of it
stand, while I sit, had I been to have made the custom. Mrs. Worden,
pray sit down. Sir, said she, I hope I shall know my place better.
My lady sat considering; and then, lifting up her hands, said, Lord!
what will this world come to?--To nothing but what's very good, replied
my master, if such spirits as Lady Davers's do but take the rule of it.
Shall I help you, sister, to some of the carp? Help your beloved! said
she. That's kind! said he.--Now, that's my good Lady Davers! Here,
my love, let me help you, since my sister desires it.--Mighty well,
returned she, mighty well!--But sat on one side, turning from me, as it
were. Dear aunt, said her kinsman, let's see you buss and be friends: since
'tis so, what signifies it? Hold thy fool's tongue! said she: Is thy
tone so soon turned since yesterday? said my master, I hope nothing
affronting was offered yesterday to my wife, in her own house. She hit
him a good smart slap on the shoulder: Take that, impudent brother said
she. I'll wife you, and in her own house! She seemed half afraid: but
he, in very good humour, kissed her, and said, I thank you, sister, I
thank you. But I have not had a blow from you before for some time!
'Fore gad, said her kinsman, 'tis very kind of you to take it so well.
Her ladyship is as good a woman as ever lived; but I've had many a cuff
from her myself. I won't put it up neither, said my master, except you'll assure me you
have seen her serve her lord so.
I pressed my foot to his, and said, softly, Don't, dear sir!--What! said
she, is the creature begging me off from insult? If his manners won't
keep him from outraging me, I won't owe his forebearance to thee, wench.
Said my master, and put some fish on my lady's plate, Well does Lady
Davers use the word insult!--But, come, let me see you eat one mouthful,
and I'll forgive you; and he put the knife in one of her hands, and the
fork in the other. As I hope to live, said he, I cannot bear this silly
childishness, for nothing at all! I am quite ashamed of it.