‘she may, I hope, Lady Davers, when she can make as great a convert of you from pride, as she has of me from libertinism.’
Mrs Jewkes just then came up, and said, dinner was ready to be served.
‘Come, my Pamela,’ said my master: ‘you desired to be excused from breakfasting with us; but I hope you will give my Lady Davers and me your company to dinner.’
‘How dare you insult me thus?’ said my lady.
‘How dare you, madam,’ replied he, ‘insult me in my own house, especially after I have told you I am married? How can you think of staying here one moment, and yet refuse my wife the honours that belong to her, as my wife?’
‘Merciful God,’ said she, ‘give me patience!’ and held her hand to her forehead.
‘Pray, sir, dear sir,’ said I, ‘excuse me; don‘t vex my lady.’
‘Be silent, my dear love,’ said he. ‘You see already what you have gained by your condescension. You have thrown yourself at her feet; and, insolent as she is, she has threatened to trample upon you. She will ask you presently, if she is to owe her excuse to your interposition; and yet nothing else can make me forgive her.’
Poor lady! she could not bear this, and in a frantic way ran to her afflicted woman; and, taking her by the hand, ‘Lead me down, lead me down, Worden!’ said she. ‘Let us instantly quit this house, this now hated house. Order the fellows to get ready, and I will never see it, nor its owner, more.’ Away she flung; and her servants were ordered to make ready for her departure.
My dear Mr B. was troubled, as I saw. ‘Pray, dear sir,’ said I, ‘follow my lady down, and pacify her.’ Tis her love to you.’
‘Poor woman!’ said he; ‘I am concerned for her! But I insist upon your coming down, since things are gone so far. Her pride will otherwise get new strength, and we shall be all to begin again.’
‘Dearest sir,’ said I, ‘excuse me going down this once!’
‘Indeed, my dear, I will not,’ replied he. ‘What! shall it be said, that my sister shall fright my wife from the table, and I present? No, I have borne too much already! and so have you. I charge you, come down, when I send for you.’
He departed, saying these words, and I dared not dispute: for I saw, he was determined. And there is as much majesty as goodness in him; as I have often had reason to observe, though never more than on the present occasion.
Her ladyship instantly put on her hood and gloves, and her woman tied up a handkerchief full of things; for her principal matters were not unpacked, and her coachman got her chariot ready, and her footmen their horses, and she appeared resolved to go. But her kinsman having taken a turn somewhere with Mr Colbrand, she sat down fretting on a seat in the fore yard,323 her woman standing by her, expecting him, and refusing to come in: she at last said to one of the footmen, ‘Do you, James, stay to attend my nephew: we will take the road we came.’
Mrs Jewkes went to her, and said, ‘Your ladyship will be pleased to walk in to dinner; ’ tis just coming upon table.’ ‘No,’ said she, ‘I have enough of this house; I have indeed! But make my compliments to your master, and tell him, that I wish him happier than he has made me.’
He had sent for me down, and I obeyed. The cloth was laid in the parlour I had jumped out of; and there I found my master, walking backwards and forwards in thoughtful vexation.
Mrs Jewkes came in, and asked, if he pleased to have dinner served; for my lady would not come in, but desired her compliments, and wished him happier than he had made her.
Seeing at the window, when he went to that side of the room, every thing prepared for her departure, he stepped to her, and said, ‘Lady Davers, if I thought you would not scorn me for my tame-ness, I would ask you to walk in, and at least let your kinsman’ (who then appeared) ‘and your servants dine before they set out.’
She wept, and turned her face from him to hide her tears. He took her hand, and said, ‘Let me prevail upon my sister to 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; or you would not vex me as you do. Pray walk in.’
‘Don’t ask me,’ said she.
‘Dear madam,’ said Mr H. ‘your ladyship won’t go till you have dined, I hope.’
‘Yes, Jackey, I will,’ said she: ‘I can’t stay; I’m an intruder here, it seems!’
‘Think,’ said her brother, ‘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 than you to me.’
‘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 Lady Davers. And,’ saluting her, ‘pray give me your hand. John,’ said he, ‘put up the horses. Come, Mr H. lead in your aunt: she won’t permit me to have that honour.’
This quite overcame her; and giving her brother her hand, ‘Yes, I will,’ said she; ‘and you shall lead me any whither: but don’t think, I can forgive you, neither.’
He led her into the parlour, where I was. ‘But,’ said she, ‘why do you lead me to this wench?’ ‘she is my wife, Lady Davers: and if you will not love her for my sake, do not, however, forget common civilities to her, for your own.’
‘Pray, madam,’ said her kinsman, ‘since your brother is pleased to own his marriage, we must not forget common civilities, as Mr B. says. And, sir,’ added he, ‘permit me to wish you joy.’
‘Thank you, Mr H.,’ said he. ‘And may I,’ said he, looking hesitatingly at Mr B. and then my master presented me to him, and he very complaisantly324 saluted me, and said, ‘I vow to Gad, madam,’ scraping and bowing to me, ‘I did not know this yesterday; and, if I was guilty of a fault, I beg your pardon.’
‘Thou’rt a good-natured foolish fellow,’ said my lady; ‘thou mightest have saved this nonsensical parade, till thou hadst my leave for it.’
‘Why, if they are actually married, there’s no help for it, and we must not make mischief between man and wife.’
‘But, brother,’ said she, ‘do you think I’ll sit at table with the creature?’
‘No contemptuous names, I beseech you, Lady Davers! I tell you, she is really my wife; and what must I be to suffer her to be ill used? If you will permit her to love you, she will always love and honour you.’
‘Indeed, indeed, I will, madam,’ said I. My hands held up.
‘I cannot, I will not, sit down at table with her,’ said she: ‘Pamela, I hope thou dost not think I will?’
‘Indeed, madam,’ said I, ‘if your good brother will permit it, I will withdraw, and dine by myself, rather than give uneasiness to the sister of my honoured benefactor.’
‘Let her then leave the room,’ replied she, ‘if you expect me to stay.’
‘Indeed, you are out of the way, madam,’ said her kinsman; ‘that is not right, as things stand.’
‘No, madam, that must not be,’ said my master: ‘but, if it will please you, we will have two tables; you and your nephew shall sit at one, and my Pamela and I will sit at the other: but in that case, imagine, my dear Lady Davers, what a figure you will make!’
She seemed irresolute; and her brother placed her in the second place at the table. The first course being brought in, my master, fearing she would say some disrespectful things of me, bid the men-servants withdraw, and send in Mrs Jewkes. ‘Worden,’ said he, ‘do you attend your lady; Jewkes shall wait upon us.’
‘Where,’ said she to me, (the servants, however, being gone) ‘wouldst thou presume to sit? Wouldst have me give place to thee too, wench?’
‘Come, come,’ said my master, ‘I’ll put that out of dispute.’ And so he sat himself down at the upper end of the table, and placed me on his left hand. ‘Excuse me, my dear,’ said he, ‘this once excuse me!’
‘Oh! your hated complaisance,’ said she, ‘to
such a–’
‘Hush, Lady Davers! Hush!’ said he: ‘I will not bear to hear her spoken slightingly of!’ Tis enough, that, to oblige your violent and indecent caprice, you make me compromise with you thus.’
‘Mr H.,’ added he, ‘take your place next your gentle aunt.’
‘Worden,’ said she, ‘do you sit down by Pamela there, since it must be so; we’ll be hail-fellow325 all! ’
‘With all my heart,’ replied my master. ‘I have so much honour for the sex, that I would not have the meanest person of it, who had intrinsic merit, stand, while I sit.’
‘Well say’st thou that, wretch,’ replied her ladyship, ‘who hast raised one of the meanest of it to an equality with thyself! But were these always thy notions?’
‘They were not, Lady Davers: like other proud fools of family, I did not always know, that there was merit in individuals of low degree, which many of a higher could not boast of.’
Mrs Jewkes came in.
‘shall I help you, Lady Davers, to some of that carp?’ said her brother.
‘Help your beloved!’ said she.
‘That’s kind!’ replied he. ‘Here, my love, let me help you.’
‘Mighty well!’ returned she. But sat on one side, turning from me, as it were.
‘Dear aunt, dear Lady Davers,’ whispered, but not very softly, her kinsman, ‘let’s see you kiss and be friends. Since things are as they are, what signifies standing out! ’
‘Hold thy fool’s tongue,’ said she: ‘is thy tone so soon turned since yesterday? ’
‘since yesterday!’ said Mr B. ‘I hope nothing affronting was offered yesterday to my wife in her own house.’ She hit him a 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 good humour, ‘I thank you, sister, I thank you. But I have not had a blow from you before a great while.’
‘’Fore Gad, sir,’ 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 have had many a cuff from her myself.’
‘I won’t put it up neither,’ said my master, ‘except you’ll assure me, you had 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 good manners will not keep him from affronting me, I will not owe his forbearance to thee, wench.’
‘Well does Lady Davers use the word insult!’ said my master. ‘But, come, let me see you eat, 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 am quite ashamed of your childishness.’
She cut a little bit, but laid it down in her plate again: ‘I cannot eat,’ said she; ‘I cannot swallow. It will certainly choak me, if I attempt it.’ He arose from table himself, and filled a glass of wine. Mean time, his seat between us being vacant, she turned to me: ‘Confidence!’ said she, ‘how darest thou to sit next me? Why dost thou not rise, and take the glass from thy property? ’326
‘sit still, my dear,’ said he; ‘I’ll help you both.’ But I arose; for I was afraid of a good cuff; and said, ‘Pray, sir, let me help my lady!’ ‘So you shall,’ replied he, ‘when she is in a humour to receive. it as she ought. Lady Davers,’ said he, offering her a glass of wine, ‘pray accept of this from my hands.’ ‘Is this to insult me?’ said she. ‘No, really,’ returned he; ‘but to induce you to eat.’
She took the glass, and said, ‘God forgive you, wicked wretch, for your usage of me this day! This is a little as it used to be! I once had your love; and now it is changed; and for whom? that vexes me! ’ She wept, and set down the glass without drinking.
‘You don’t do well,’ said he. ‘You neither treat me like your brother, nor like a man. I love you as well as ever. But, for a woman of sense, you act quite a childish part. Come,’ added he, and held the glass to her, ‘let the brother whom you once loved, prevail on you.’ She then drank it. He took her hand. ‘How passion,’ said he, ‘deforms the noblest minds! You must not quite forfeit that agreeableness that used to distinguish my sister. Let me persuade you to recollect yourself, and be again my sister! ’ For Lady Davers is indeed a fine woman, and has a presence as majestic for a lady, as her dear brother has for a gentleman.
He then led me to my seat, and sat down between us again; and when the second course was served, ‘Lest you may be wanted without, Mrs Jewkes,’ said he, ‘let the men come in and wait.’ I touched his toe again; but he minded it not; and I saw he was right; for her ladyship, by this time, had seemed to recollect herself, and behaved with some little freedom; but she could not forbear a sigh and a sob now-and-then.
She called for a glass of the same wine she had drank before. ‘shall I help you again, Lady Davers?’ said her brother. At the same time, rising, and going to the side-board, filled her a glass. ‘I love,’ said she, ‘to be soothed by my brother! Your health, sir! ’
‘My dear, now I’m up,’ said my master to me, ‘I will fill for you! I must serve both sisters alike!’ She looked at the men-servants, as if they were a check upon her, and said to my master, ‘How now, sir! Not that you know of.’ He whispered her, ‘Don’t shew any contempt before my servants to one I have so deservedly made their mistress. Consider,’ tis done.’ ‘Ay,’ said she, ‘that’s the thing that kills me.’
He gave me a glass. ‘Your ladyship’s health,’ said I, and stood up. ‘That won’t do,’ said she, leaning towards me, softly; and was going to call me wench, or creature, or some such name. And my master, seeing Abraham look towards her, her eyes being red and swelled, said, ‘Indeed, Lady Davers, I would not vex myself about it, if I were you.’ ‘About what?’ said she. ‘About your lord’s not coming down, as he had promised,’ replied he. He sat down, and she tapped him on the shoulder: ‘Ah! Wicked-one,’ said she, ‘nor will that do neither!’ ‘Why, to be sure,’ added he, ‘it would vex a woman of your merit, to be slighted, if it were so; but you know not what may have happened.’
She shook her head, and said, ‘That’s like your art! This makes one amazed you should be so caught!’ ‘Who! my lord caught?’ said he: ‘no, no! he’ll have more wit than to be caught! But I never heard you were jealous before.’ ‘Nor,’ said she, ‘have you any reason to think so now.’ ‘Honest friends,’ to the footmen, ‘you need not wait,’ said she; ‘my woman will help us to what we want.’ ‘Yes, let them,’ replied my master. ‘Abraham, fill me a glass of wine. Come,’ said he, ‘Lord Davers to you, madam: I hope he’ll take care he is not found out!’ ‘You are very provoking, brother,’ said she. ‘I wish you were half as good a man as Lord Davers: but don’t carry your jest too far.’ ‘Well,’ said he,’ ‘tis a tender point, I own. I have done !’
By these kind managements the dinner passed over better than I expected. And when the servants were withdrawn, my master said, still keeping his place between us, ‘I have a question to ask you, Lady Davers; and that is, if you will bear me company to Bedfordshire? I was intending to set out thither to-morrow. But I will attend your pleasure, if you will go with me.’
‘Is thy wife, as thou callest her, to go along with thee, friend?’ said she. ‘To be sure she is, my dear Quaker sister,’327 answered he; and took her hand, and smiled. ‘And wouldst have me parade it with her on the road? Hay! And make one to grace her retinue? Hay! Tell me, how thou wouldst chalk it out,328 if I would do as thou wouldst have me, honest friend!’
‘Why, I’ll tell you how I would have it. Here shall you and my Pamela –’ ‘Leave out my, I desire you, if you would have me sit patiently.’ ‘No,’ said he, ‘I cannot do that. Here shall you, and my Pamela, go together in your chariot, if you please; and your nephew and I will sometimes ride, and sometimes, by turns, go into my chariot, to your woman.’
‘Shouldst thou like this, creature?’ said she to me. ‘If your ladyship think it not too
great an honour, madam,’ said I. ‘Yes,’ replied she, ‘but my ladyship does think it would be too great an honour. But, how then, sir?’ ‘Why, then, when we came home, we would get Lord Davers to come to us, and stay a month or two.’ ‘And what if he were to come?’ ‘Why I would have you, as I know you have a good fancy,329 give Pamela your judgment on some patterns I expect from London, for clothes.’ ‘Provoking wretch!’ said she; ‘now I wish I may keep my hands to myself.’ ‘I don’t say it to provoke you,’ said he; ‘nor ought it to do so. But when I tell you, I am married, is it not a consequence, that we must have new clothes?’
‘Hast thou any more of these obliging things to say to me?’ said she. ‘I will make you a present,’ returned he, ‘worth your acceptance, if you will grace us with your company at church, when we make our appearance.’ ‘Take mat,’ said she, ‘if I the for’t! Wretch that thou art!’ lifting up her hand, but he caught hold of it. Her kinsman said, ‘Dear Lady Davers, I wonder at you! Why, all these are things of course.’
I begged leave to withdraw; and, as I went out, my master said, ‘There’s a person! There’s a shape! There’s a sweetness! O Lady Davers, were you a man, you would doat on her, as I do.’ ‘Yes,’ said the naughty lady, ‘so I should for my harlot, but not for a wife.’ I turned, upon this, and said, ‘Indeed, your ladyship is cruel, and well may men take liberties, when women of distinction say such things!’ I wept, and added, ‘Your ladyship’s disgust, were not your brother the most generous of men, would make me very unhappy.’
‘No fear, wench; no fear,’ said she: ‘thou wilt hold him as long as any body can, I see that! Poor Sally Godfrey never had half the interest in him.’
‘Stay, my Pamela,’ said he, in a passion. ‘stay, I tell you. You have now heard two vile charges against me! I love you with an affection so sincere, that I ought to say something before this accuser, that you may not think your virtue linked to too black a villain.’