Pamela by Samuel Richardson (the false prince series TXT) đ
- Author: Samuel Richardson
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My lady said, Thouârt a good-natured foolish fellow; thou mightâst have saved this nonsensical parade, till I had given thee leave. Why, aunt, said he, if they are actually married, thereâs no help for it; and we must not make mischief between man and wife.
But brother, said she, do you think Iâll sit at table with the creature? No contemptuous names, I beseech you, Lady Davers! I tell you she is really my wife; and I must be a villain to suffer her to be ill used. She has no protector but me; and, if you will permit her, she will always love and honour you.âIndeed, indeed I will, madam, said I.
I cannot, I wonât sit down at table with her, said she: Pamela, I hope thou dost not think I will?âIndeed, madam, said I, if your good brother will permit it, I will attend your chair all the time you dine, to shew my veneration for your ladyship, as the sister of my kind protector. See, said he, her condition has not altered her; but I cannot permit in her a conduct unworthy of my wife; and I hope my sister will not expect it neither.
Let her leave the room, replied she, if I must stay. Indeed you are out of the way, aunt, said her kinsman; that is not right, as things stand. Said my master, No, madam, that must not be; but, if it must be so, weâll have two tables; you and your nephew shall sit at one, and my wife and I at the other: and then see what a figure your unreasonable punctilio will make you cut.âShe seemed irresolute, and he placed her at the table; the first course, which was fish, being brought in. Where, said she to me, wouldâst thou presume to sit? Wouldâst have me give place to thee too, wench?âCome, come, said my master, Iâll put that out of dispute; and so set himself down by her ladyship, at the upper end of the table, and placed me at his left hand. Excuse me, my dear, said he; this once excuse me!âOh! your cursed complaisance, said she, to such aâ-. Hush, sister! hush! said he: I will not bear to hear her spoken slightly of! âTis enough, that, to oblige your violent and indecent caprice, you make me compromise with you thus.
Come, sir, added he, pray take your place next your gentle aunt!âBeck, said she, do you sit down by Pamela there, since it must be so; weâll 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?âTo nothing but whatâs very good, replied my master, if such spirits as Lady Daversâs do but take the rule of it. Shall I help you, sister, to some of the carp? Help your beloved! said she. Thatâs kind! said he.âNow, thatâs my good Lady Davers! Here, my love, let me help you, since my sister desires it.âMighty well, returned she, mighty well!âBut sat on one side, turning from me, as it were.
Dear aunt, said her kinsman, letâs see you buss and be friends: since âtis so, what signifies it? Hold thy foolâs 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. Iâll 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!
âFore gad, said her kinsman, âtis very kind of you to take it so well. Her ladyship is as good a woman as ever lived; but Iâve had many a cuff from her myself.
I wonât put it up neither, said my master, except youâll assure me you have seen her serve her lord so.
I pressed my foot to his, and said, softly, Donât, dear sir!âWhat! said she, is the creature begging me off from insult? If his manners wonât keep him from outraging me, I wonât owe his forebearance to thee, wench.
Said my master, and put some fish on my ladyâs plate, Well does Lady Davers use the word insult!âBut, come, let me see you eat one mouthful, and Iâll 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.
She put a little bit to her mouth, but laid it down in her plate again: I cannot eat, said she; I cannot swallow, Iâm sure. It will certainly choak me. He had forbid his menservants to come in, that they might not behold the scene he expected; and rose from table himself, and filled a glass of wine, her woman offering, and her kinsman rising, to do it. Meantime, his seat between us being vacant, she turned to me: How now, confidence, said she, darest thou sit next me? Why dost thou not rise, and take the glass from thy property?
Sit still, my dear, said he; Iâll 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 sheâs in a humour to receive it as she ought. Sister, said he, with a glass in his hand, pray drink; youâll perhaps eat a little bit of something then. Is this to insult me? said she.âNo, really, returned he: but to incite you to eat; for youâll be sick for want of it.
She took the glass, and said, God forgive you, wicked wretch, for your usage of me this day!âThis is a little as it used to be!âI once had your love;âand now it is changed; and for whom? that vexes me! And wept so, she was forced to set down the glass.
You donât do well, said he. You neither treat me like your brother nor a gentleman; and if you would suffer me, I would love you as well as ever. âBut for a woman of sense and understanding, and a fine-bred woman, as I once thought my sister, you act quite a childish part. Come, added he, and held the glass to her lips, let your brother, that you once loved, prevail on you to drink this glass of wine.âShe then drank it. He kissed her, and said, Oh! how passion deforms the noblest minds! You have lost a good deal of that loveliness that used to adorn my sister. And let me persuade you to compose yourself, and be my sister again!âFor 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 sat down between us again, and said, when the second course came in, Let Abraham come in and wait. I touched his toe again; but he minded it not; and I saw he was right; for her ladyship began to recollect herself, and did not behave half so ill before the servants, as she had done; and helped herself with some little freedom; but she could not forbear a strong sigh and a sob now and then. She called for a glass of the same wine she had drank before. Said he, Shall I help you again, Lady Davers?âand rose, at the same time, and went to the sideboard, and filled her a glass. Indeed, said she, I love to be soothed by my brother!âYour health, sir!
Said my master to me, with great sweetness, My dear, now Iâm up, Iâll fill for you!âI must serve both sisters alike! She looked at the servant, as if he were a little check upon her, and said to my master, How now, sir!âNot that you know of. He whispered her, Donât shew any contempt before my servants to one I have so deservedly made their mistress. Consider, âtis done.âAy, said she, thatâs the thing that kills me.
He gave me a glass: My good ladyâs health, sir, said I.âThat wonât do, said she, leaning towards me, softly: and was going to say wench, or creature, or some such word. And my master, seeing Abraham look towards her, her eyes being red and swelled, said, Indeed, sister, I would not vex myself about it, if I was you. About what? said she. Why, replied he, about your lordâs not coming down, as he had promised. He sat down, and she tapped him on the shoulder: Ah! wicked one, said she, nor will that do neither!âWhy, to be sure, added he, it would vex a lady of your sense and merit to be slighted, if it was so; but I am sure my lord loves you, as well as you love him; and you know not what may have happened.
She shook her head, and said, Thatâs like your art!âThis makes one amazed you should be so caught!âWho, my lord caught! said he: No, no! heâll have more wit than so! But I never heard you were jealous before. Nor, said he, have you any reason to think so now!âHonest friend, you need not wait, said she; my woman will help us to what we want. Yes, let him, replied he. Abraham, fill me a glass. Come, said my master, Lord Davers to you, madam: I hope heâll take care he is not found out!âYouâre very provoking, brother, said she. I wish you were as good as Lord Davers.âBut donât carry your jest too far. Well, said he, âtis a tender point, I own. Iâve 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 youâll bear me company to Bedfordshire? I was intending to set out thither tomorrow, but Iâll tarry your pleasure, if youâll go with me.
Is thy wife, as thou callest her, to go along with thee, friend? said she. Yes, to be sure, answered he, my dear Quaker sister; and took her hand, and smiled. And wouldâst have me parade it with her on the road?â Hey?âAnd make one to grace her retinue?âHey? Tell me how thoudâst chalk it out, if I would do as thou wouldâst have me, honest friend?
He clasped his arms about her, and kissed her: You are a dear saucy sister, said he; but I must love you!âWhy, Iâll tell you how Iâd have it. Here shall you, and my PamelaâLeave out my, I desire you, if youâd have me sit patiently. No, replied he, I canât do that. Here shall you, and my Pamela, go together in your chariot, if you please; and she will then appear as one of your retinue; and your nephew and I will sometimes ride, and sometimes go into my chariot, to your woman.
Shouldâst thou like this, creature? said she to me.âIf your ladyship think it not too great an honour for me, madam, said I. Yes, replied she, but my ladyship does think it would be too great an honour.
Now I think of it, said he, this must not be neither; for, without youâd give her the hand in your own chariot,
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