My dearest PAMELA,--'Mighty well!'--I hope my not coming home this
night, will not frighten you!--'Vastly tender, indeed!--And did it
frighten you, child?'--You may believe I can't help it. 'No, to be
sure!--A person in thy way of life, is more tenderly used than an honest
wife. But mark the end of it!'--I could have wished--'Pr'ythee, Jackey,
mind this,'--we--'mind the significant we,'--had not engaged to the good
neighbourhood, at Sir Simon's, for to-morrow night.--'Why, does the good
neighbourhood, and does Sir Simon, permit thy visits, child? They shall
have none of mine, then, I'll assure them!'--But I am so desirous to set
out on Wednesday for the other house--'So, Jackey, but we just nicked
it, I find:'--that, as well as in return for the civilities of so
many good friends, who will be there on purpose, I would not put it
off.--'Now mind, Jackey.'--What I beg of you--'Mind the wretch, that
could use me and your uncle as he has done; he is turned beggar to this
creature!'--I beg of you, therefore, my dear--'My dear! there's for
you!--I wish I may not be quite sick before I get through.'--What I beg
of you, therefore, my dear, [and then she looked me full in the face,]
is, that you will go in the chariot to Sir Simon's, the sooner in the
day the better;--'Dear heart! and why so, when WE were not expected till
night? Why, pray observe the reason--Hem!' [said she]--Because you will
be diverted with the company;--'Mighty kind, indeed!'--who all--'Jackey,
Jackey, mind this,'--who all so much admire you. 'Now he'd ha' been
hanged before he would have said so complaisant a thing, had he
been married, I'm sure!'--Very true, aunt, said he: A plain case
that!--
[Thought I, that's hard upon poor matrimony, though I hope my
lady don't find it so. But I durst not speak out.]
--Who all so much admire you, [said she,] 'I must repeat that--Pretty miss!--I wish thou
wast as admirable for thy virtue, as for that baby-face of thine!'--And
I hope to join you there by your tea-time in the afternoon!--'So, you're
in very good time, child, an hour or two hence, to answer all your
important pre-engagements!'--which will be better than going home, and
returning with you; as it will be six miles difference to me; and I know
the good company will excuse my dress on this occasion.--'Very true; any
dress is good enough, I'm sure, for such company as admire thee, child,
for a companion, in thy ruined state!--Jackey, Jackey, mind, mind,
again! more fine things still!'--I count every hour of this little
absence for a day!--'There's for you! Let me repeat it'--I count every
hour of this little absence for a day!--'Mind, too, the wit of the good
man!