Pamela by Samuel Richardson (the false prince series TXT) đ
- Author: Samuel Richardson
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Tuesday morning, eleven oâclock.
My dear, dearâmaster (Iâm sure I should still say; but I will learn to rise to a softer epithet, now-and-then) is not yet come. I hope he is safe and well!âSo Mrs. Jewkes and I went to breakfast. But I can do nothing but talk and think of him, and all his kindness to me, and to you, which is still me, more intimately!âI have just received a letter from him, which he wrote overnight, as I find by it, and sent early this morning. This is a copy of it.
TO MRS. ANDREWS
âMY DEAREST PAMELA, Monday night.
âI hope my not coming home this night will not frighten you. You may believe I canât help it. My poor friend is so very ill, that I doubt he canât recover. His desires to have me stay with him are so strong, that I shall sit up all night with him, as it is now near one oâclock in the morning; for he canât bear me out of his sight: And I have made him and his distressed wife and children so easy, in the kindest assurances I could give him of my consideration for him and them, that I am looked upon (as the poor disconsolate widow, as she, I doubt, will soon be, tells me,) as their good angel. I could have wished we had not engaged to the good neighbourhood at Sir Simonâs for tomorrow night; but I am so desirous to set out on Wednesday for the other house, 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. What I beg of you, therefore, my dear, is, that you would go in the chariot to Sir Simonâs, the sooner in the day the better, because you will be diverted with the company, who all so much admire you; and I hope to join you there by your tea-time in the afternoon, 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 the occasion. I count every hour of this little absence for a day: for I am, with the utmost sincerity, âMy dearest love, for ever yours, etc.â
âIf you could go to dine with them, it will be a freedom that would be very pleasing to them; and the more, as they donât expect it.â
I begin to have a little concern, lest his fatigue should be too great, and for the poor sick gentleman and family; but told Mrs. Jewkes, that the least intimation of his choice should be a command to me, and so I would go to dinner there; and ordered the chariot to be got ready to carry me: when a messenger came up, just as I was dressed, to tell her she must come down immediately. I see at the window, that visitors are come; for there is a chariot and six horses, the company gone out of it, and three footmen on horseback; and I think the chariot has coronets. Who can it be, I wonder?âBut here I will stop, for I suppose I shall soon know.
Good sirs! how unlucky this is! What shall I do!âHere is Lady Davers come, her own self! and my kind protector a great, great many miles off! âMrs. Jewkes, out of breath, comes and tells me this, and says, she is inquiring for my master and me. She asked her, it seemed, naughty lady as she is, if I was whored yet! Thereâs a word for a ladyâs mouth! Mrs. Jewkes says, she knew not what to answer. And my lady said, She is not married, I hope? And said she, I said, No: because you have not owned it yet publicly. My lady said, That was well enough. Said I, I will run away, Mrs. Jewkes; and let the chariot go to the bottom of the elm-walk, and I will steal out of the door unperceived: But she is inquiring for you, madam, replied she, and I said you was within, but going out; and she said, she would see you presently, as soon as she could have patience. What did she call me? said I. The creature, madam; I will see the creature, said she, as soon as I can have patience. Ay, but, said I, the creature wonât let her, if she can help it.
Pray, Mrs. Jewkes, favour my escape, for this once; for I am sadly frighted.âSaid she, Iâll bid the chariot go down, as you order, and wait till you come; and Iâll step down and shut the hall door, that you may pass unobserved; for she sits cooling herself in the parlour, over against the staircase. Thatâs a good Mrs. Jewkes! said I: But who has she with her? Her woman, answered she, and her nephew; but he came on horseback, and is going into the stables; and they have three footmen.â And I wish, said I, they were all three hundred miles off!âWhat shall I do?âSo I wrote thus far, and wait impatiently to hear the coast is clear.
Mrs. Jewkes tells me I must come down, or she will come up. What does she call me now? said I. Wench, madam, Bid the wench come down to me. And her nephew and her woman are with her.
Said I, I canât go, and thatâs enough!âYou might contrive it that I might get out, if you would.âIndeed, madam, said she, I cannot; for I went to shut the door, and she bid me let it stand open; and there she sits over against the staircase. Then, said I, Iâll get out of the window, I think!â(And fanned myself;) for I am sadly frightened. Laud, madam, said she, I wonder you so much disturb yourself!âYouâre on the right side the hedge, Iâm sure; and I would not be so discomposed for any body. Ay, said I, but who can help constitution? I dare say you would no more be so discomposed, that I can help it.âSaid she, Indeed, madam, if it was to me, I would put on an air as mistress of the house, as you are, and go and salute her ladyship, and bid her welcome. Ay, ay, replied I, fine talking!âBut how unlucky this is, your good master is not at home!
What answer shall I give her, said she, to her desiring to see you?âTell her, said I, I am sick a-bed; Iâm dying, and must not be disturbed; Iâm gone outâor any thing.
But her woman came up to me just as I had uttered this, and said, How do you do, Mrs. Pamela? My lady desires to speak to you. So I must go.â Sure she wonât beat me!âOh that my dear protector was at home!
Well, now I will tell you all that happened in this frightful interview. âAnd very bad it was.
I went down, dressed as I was, and my gloves on, and my fan in my hand, to be just ready to step into the chariot, when I could get away; and I thought all my trembling fits had been over now; but I was mistaken; for I trembled sadly. Yet resolved to put on as good an air as I could.
So I went to the parlour, and said, making a very low courtesy, Your servant, my good lady! And your servant again, said she, my lady, for I think you are dressed out like one.
A charming girl, though! said her rakish nephew, and swore a great oath: Dear aunt, forgive me, but I must kiss her; and was coming to me. And I said, Forbear, uncivil gentleman! I wonât be used freely. Jackey, said my lady, sit down, and donât touch the creatureâSheâs proud enough already. Thereâs a great difference in her air, Iâll assure you, since I saw her last.
Well, child, said she, sneeringly, how dost find thyself? Thouârt mightily come on, of late!âI hear strange reports about thee!âThouârt almost got into foolâs paradise, I doubt!âAnd wilt find thyself terribly mistaken in a little while, if thou thinkest my brother will disgrace his family, to humour thy baby-face!
I see, said I, sadly vexed, (her woman and nephew smiling by,) your ladyship has no very important commands for me; and I beg leave to withdraw. Beck, said she to her woman, shut the door, my young lady and I must not have done so soon.
Whereâs your well-mannered deceiver gone, child?âsays she.âSaid I, When your ladyship is pleased to speak intelligibly, I shall know how to answer.
Well, but my dear child, said she, in drollery, donât be too pert neither, I beseech thee. Thou wilt not find thy masterâs sister half so ready to take thy freedoms, as thy mannerly master is!âSo, a little of that modesty and humility that my motherâs waiting-maid used to shew, will become thee better than the airs thou givest thyself, since my motherâs son has taught thee to forget thyself.
I would beg, said I, one favour of your ladyship, That if you would have me keep my distance, you will not forget your own degree.âWhy, suppose, Miss Pert, I should forget my degree, wouldst thou not keep thy distance then?
If you, madam, said I, lessen the distance yourself, you will descend to my level, and make an equality, which I donât presume to think of; for I canât descend lower than I amâat least in your ladyshipâs esteem!
Did I not tell you, Jackey, said she, that I should have a wit to talk to?âHe, who swears like a fine gentleman at every word, rapped out an oath, and said, drolling, I think, Mrs. Pamela, if I may be so bold as to say so, you should know you are speaking to Lady Davers!âSir, said I, I hope there was no need of your information, and so I canât thank you for it; and am sorry you seem to think it wants an oath to convince me of the truth of it.
He looked more foolish than I, at this, if possible, not expecting such a reprimand.âAnd said, at last, Why, Mrs. Pamela, you put me half out of countenance with your witty reproof!âSir, said I, you seem quite a fine gentleman; and it will not be easily done, I dare say.
How now, pert one, said my lady, do you know whom you talk to?âI think I do not, madam, replied I: and for fear I should forget myself more, Iâll withdraw. Your ladyshipâs servant, said I; and was going: but she rose, and gave me a push, and pulled a chair, and, setting the back against the door, sat down in it.
Well, said I, I can bear anything at your ladyshipâs hands; but I was ready to cry though. And I went, and sat down, and fanned myself, at the other end of the room.
Her woman, who stood all the time, said softly, Mrs. Pamela, you should not sit in my ladyâs presence. And my lady, though she did not hear her, said, You shall sit down, child, in the room where I am, when I give you leave.
So I stood up, and said, When your ladyship will hardly permit me to stand, one might be indulged to sit down. But I ask you, said she, Whither your master is gone? To one Mr. Carlton, madam, about eighteen miles off, who is very sick. And when does he come home?âThis evening, madam. And where are you going? To a gentlemanâs house in the town, madam.âAnd how was you to
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