 I would have removed the chair to have gone out, but her nephew came and sat in it. This provoked me, for I thought I should be unworthy of the honor I was raised to, though I was afraid to own it, if I did not show some spirit, and I said, What, sir, is your pretense in this house to keep me a prisoner here? Because, said he, I like it. Do you so, sir? replied I. If that is the answer of a gentleman to such an one as I, it would not, I daresay, be the answer of a gentleman to a gentleman. My lady, my lady, said he, a challenge, a challenge, by Gad. No, sir, said I, I am of a sex that gives no challenges, and you think so too, or you would not give this occasion for the word. Said my lady, don't be surprised, nephew, the wench could not talk thus if she had not been her master's bed-fellow. Pamela, Pamela, said she, and tapped me upon the shoulder two or three times in anger. Thou hast lost thy innocence, girl, and thou hast got some of thy bold master's assurance and art fit to go anywhere. Then, and please your ladyship, said I, I am unworthy of your presence and desire I may quit it. No, replied she, I will know first what reason you can give for not accepting my proposal if you are innocent. I can give, said I, a very good one, but I beg to be excused. I will hear it, said she. Why, then, answered I, I should perhaps have less reason to like this gentleman than where I am. Well, then, said she, I'll put you to another trial. I'll set out this moment with you to your father and mother, and give you up safe to them. What do you say to that? I, Mrs. Pamela, said her nephew. Now what does your innocence say to that? For, gad, madame, you have puzzled her now. Be pleased, madame, said I, to call off this fine gentleman. Your kindness in these proposals makes me think you would not have me baited. I'll be didn't, said he, if she does not make me a bulldog. Why, she'll toss us all by and by. Sir, said I, you indeed behave as if you were in a bear-garden. Jackie, be quiet, said my lady. You only give her a pretense to evade my questions. Come answer me, Pamela. I will, madame, said I, and it is thus I have no occasion to be beholden to your ladyship for this honour, for I am to set out tomorrow morning on the way to my parents. Now again, thou liest wench, I am not of quality, said I, to answer such language. Once again, said she, provoke me not by these reflections and this pertness. If thou dost, I shall do something by thee unworthy of myself. That, thought I, you have done already, but I ventured not to say so. But who is to carry you, said she, to your father and mother? Whom my master pleases, madame, said I? I, said she, I doubt not thou wilt do everything he pleases, if thou hast not already. Why, now tell me, Pamela, from thy heart, hast thou not been in bed with thy master? Ha, wench! I was quite shocked at this and said, I wonder how your ladyship can use me thus. I am sure you can expect no answer, and my sex and my tender years might accept me from such treatment from a person of your ladyship's birth and quality, and who, be the distance ever so great, is of the same sex with me. Thou art a confident wench, said she, I see. Pray, madame, said I, let me beg you to permit me to go. I am waited for in the town to dinner. No, replied she, I can't spare you, and whomsoever you are to go to will excuse you when they are told to his eye that command you not to go. And you may excuse it too, young lady would be, if you consider that it is the unexpected coming of your late lady's daughter and your master's sister that commands your stay. But a pre-engagement your ladyship will consider is something. I so it is, but I know not what reason waiting-mates have to assume these heirs of pre-engagement. O Pamela, Pamela, I am sorry for thy thus aping my betters and giving thyself such heirs. I see thou art quite spoiled, of a modest innocent girl that thou wasst and humble too. Thou art now fit for nothing in the world, but what I fear thou art. Why, please your ladyship, said her kinsman, what signifies all you say? The matter's over with her no doubt, and she likes it, and she is in a fairy dream, and his pity to awaken her before her dreams out. Bad as you take me to be, madame, said I, I am not used to such language or reflections as this gentleman bestows upon me, and I won't bear it. Well, Jackie, said she, be silent, and shaking her head. Poor girl, said she, what a sweet innocence is here destroyed, a thousand pities. I could cry over her if that would do her good. But she is quite lost, quite undone, and then has assumed a carriage upon it that all those creatures are distinguished by. I cried sadly for vexation, and said, Say what you please, madame, if I can help it, I will not answer another word. Mrs. Jukes came in, and asked if her ladyship was ready for dinner. She said yes. I would have gone out with her, but my lady said, taking my hand, she could not spare me. And Miss, said she, you may pull off your gloves and lay your fan by, for you shan't go, and if you behave well, you shall wait upon me at dinner, and then I shall have a little further talk with you. Mrs. Jukes said to me, madame, may I speak one word with you? I can't tell Mrs. Jukes, said I, for my lady holds my hand, and you see I am a kind of prisoner. What you have to say, Mrs. Jukes, said she, you may speak before me. But she went out and seemed vexed for me, and she says I looked like the very scarlet. The cloth was laid in another parlor, and for three persons, and she led me in. Come, my little dear, said she with a sneer, I'll hand you in, and I would have you think it as well if it was my brother. What a sad case, thought I, should I be in, if I were as naughty as she thinks me. It was bad enough as it was. Jackie, said my lady, come let us go to dinner. She said to her woman, do you, Bec, help Pamela to tend us? We will have no men-fellows. Come, my young lady, shall I help you off with your white gloves? I have not, madame, said I, deserved this at your ladyship's hands. Mrs. Jukes, coming in with a first dish, she said, do you expect anybody else, Mrs. Jukes, that you lay the cloth for three? Said she, I hoped your ladyship and madame would have been so well reconciled that she would have sat down, too. What means this clownish woman, said my lady in great disdain? Could you think the creature should sit down with me? She does, madame, and please your ladyship with my master. I doubt it not, good woman, said she, and lies with him, too. Does she not? Answer me, fat face, how these ladies are privileged. If she does, madame, said she, there may be a reason for it, perhaps, and went out. So, said she, has the wench got thee over too? Come, my little dear, pull off thy gloves, I say, and off she pulled my left glove herself, and spied my ring. Oh, my dear God! said she, if the wench has not got a ring. Well, this is a pretty piece of foolery, indeed. Does't know, my friend, that thou art miserably tricked? And so, poor innocent, thou hast made a fine exchange, hast thou not, thy honesty for this bobble? And I'll warrant, my little dear, has topped her part, and paraded it like any real wife, and so mimics still the condition. Why, said she, and turned me round, thou art as mincing as any bride, no wonder thou art thus tricked out, and talkest of thy pre-engagements. Prithee, child, walk before me to that glass, survey thyself, and come back to me, that I may see how finely thou canst act the theatrical part given thee. I was then resolved to try to be silent, though most sadly vexed, so I went and sat me down in the window, and she took her place at the upper end of the table, and her saucy Jackie, flearing at me most provokingly, sat down by her. Said he, shall not the bride sit down by us, madame? I well thought of, said the lady, pray, Mrs. Bride, your pardon for sitting down in your place. I said nothing. Said she, with a poor pun, thou hast some modesty, however, child, for thou canst not stand it, so must sit down, though in my presence. I still kept my seat, and said nothing. Thought I, this is a sad thing, that I am hindered to from showing my duty where it is most due, and shall have anger there, too, maybe, if my dear master should be there before me. So she ate some soup, as did her kinsmen, and then, as she was cutting up a fowl, said, if thou longest my little dear, I will help thee to opinion or breast or anything. But, may be, child, said he, thou likeest the rump, shall I bring it thee? And then laughed like an idiot, for all he is a Lord's son, and may be a Lord himself. For he is the son of Lord Blank, and his mother, who was Lord Davors's sister, being dead, he has received what education he has from Lord Davors's direction. Poor wretch, for all his greatness, he'll never die for a plot, at least of his own hatching. If I could then have gone up, I would have given you his picture. But, for one of twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, much about the age of my dear master, he is a most odd mortal. Pamela, said my lady, helped me to a glass of wine. No back, said she, you shan't, for she was offering to do it. I will have my lady bride confer that honor upon me, and then I shall see if she can stand up. I was silent and never stirred. Dust here, chastity, said she, helped me to a glass of wine when I bid thee. What, not stir? Then I'll come and help thee to one. Still I stirred not, and fanning myself continued silent. Said she, when I have asked thee, meek one, half a dozen questions to gather, I suppose thou wilt answer them all at once. Pretty creature is not that it. I was so vexed, I bid a piece of my fan out, not knowing what I did. But still I said nothing, and did nothing but flutter it, and fan myself. I believe, said she, my next question will make up half a dozen, and then, modest one, I shall be entitled to an answer. He rose and brought the bottle in glass. Come, said he, Mrs. Bride, be pleased to help my lady, and I will be your deputy. Sir, replied I, it is in a good hand, help my lady yourself. Why, creature, said she, dost thou think thyself above it? And then flew into a passion. Insolence, continued she, this moment when I bid you know your duty and give me a glass of wine, or so I took a little spirit then. Thot I, I can but be beat. If, said I, to attend your ladyship at table, or even kneel at your feet, was required of me, I would most gladly do it, were I only the person you think me. But if it be to triumph over one who has received honors, that she thinks require her to act another part, not to be utterly unworthy of them, I must say I cannot do it. She seemed quite surprised and looked now upon her kinsmen and then upon her woman. I'm astonished, quite astonished. Well, then, I suppose you would have me conclude you my brother's wife, could you not? Your ladyship, said I, compels me to say this. Well, returned she, but dost thou thyself think thou art so? Silence, said her kinsmen, gives consent, to his plain enough she does. Shall I rise, madame, and pay my duty to my new aunt? Tell me, said my lady, what in the name of impudence possesses thee to dare to look upon thyself as my sister? Madame, replied I, that is a question will better become your most worthy brother to answer than me. She was rising in great wrath, but her woman said, Good your ladyship, you'll do yourself more harm than her, and if the poor girl has been deluded so, as you have heard, with the sham marriage, she'll be more deserving of your ladyship's pity than anger. True back, very true, said my lady, but there's no bearing the impudence of the creature in the meantime. I would have gone out at the door, but her kinsmen ran and set his back against it. I expected bad treatment from her pride and violent temper, but this was worse than I could have thought of, and I said to him, Sir, when my master comes to know your rude behavior, you will maybe have caused her to repent it, and went and sat down in the window again. Another challenge by Gad, said he, but I am glad she says her master. You see, madame, she herself does not believe she is married, and so has not been so much deluded as you think her. And coming to me with a most barbarous air of insult, he said, kneeling on one knee before me, my new aunt, your blessing or your curse, I care not which, but quickly give me one or other that I may not lose my dinner. I gave him a most contemptuous look. Tinseled toy, said I, for he was laced all over. Twenty or thirty years hence, when you are at age, I shall know how to answer you better. Meantime, sport with your footmen and not with me. And so I removed to another window nearer the door, and he looked like a sad fool as he is. Back, back, said my lady, this is not to be born. Was ever the like heard? Is my kinsman and Lord Davers' to be thus used by such a slut? And was coming to me, and indeed I began to be afraid, for I have but a poor heart after all. But Mrs. Juke's hearing high words came in again with the second course, and said, pray your ladyship, don't so discompose yourself. I am afraid this day's business will make matters wider than ever between your good ladyship and your brother, for my master dotes upon madame. Woman, said she, do thou be silent. Sure, I that was born in this house may have some privilege in it without being talked to by the saucy servants in it. I beg pardon, madame, replied Mrs. Juke's, and turning to me, said, madame, my master will take it very ill if you make him wait for you thus. So I rose to go out. But my lady said, if it was only for that reason she shan't go. And went to the door and shot it, and said to Mrs. Juke's, woman, don't come again till I call you. And coming to me took my hand and said, find your legs miss if you please. I stood up and she tapped my cheek. Oh, says she, that scarlet glow shows what a rancorous little heart thou hast if thou durst show it. But come this way. And so led me to her chair. Stand there, said she, and answer me a few questions while I dine, and I'll dismiss thee till I call thy impudent master to account. And then I'll have you face to face, and all this mystery of iniquity shall be unraveled. For between you I will come to the bottom of it. When she had sat down I moved to the window on the other side of the parlor, looking into the private garden. And her woman said, Mrs. Pamela, don't make my lady angry. Stand by her ladyship as she bids you. Said I, pray good now, let it suffice you to attend your lady's commands, and don't lay yours upon me. Your pardon, sweet Mrs. Pamela, said she, times are much altered with you, I'll assure you. Said I, her ladyship has a very good plea to be free in the house that she was born in, but you may as well confine your freedoms to the house in which you had your breedings. Why, how now, Mrs. Pamela, said she, since you provoke me to it, I'll tell you a piece of my mind. Hush, hush, good woman, said I, alluding to my lady's language to Mrs. Jukes, my lady wants not your assistance, besides I can't scold. The woman was ready to flutter with vexation, and Lord Jackie laughed as if he would burst his sides. Good didn't meet Beck, said he. You'd better let her alone to my lady here, for she'll be too many for twenty, such as you and I. And then he laughed again and repeated, I can't scold Quotha. But by Gad, Miss, you can speak dint spiteful words, I can tell you that. Poor Beck, poor Beck, for Gad she's quite dumbfounded. Well, but Pamela, said my lady, come hither and tell me truly, does thou think thyself really married? Said I, and approached her chair, my good lady, I'll answer all your commands, if you'll have patience with me, and not be so angry as you are, but I can't bear to be used thus by this gentleman and your ladyship's woman. Child, said she, thou art very impertinent to my kinsmen, thou canst not be civil to me, and my ladyship's woman is much thine betters. But that's not the thing. Does thou think thou art really married? End of Section 26B. Section 26C of Pamela or Virtue Rewarded. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Pamela or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson. Section 26C. I see, madame, said I, you are resolved not to be pleased with any answer I shall return. If I should say I am not, then your ladyship will call me hard names, and perhaps I should tell a fib. If I should say I am, your ladyship will ask how I have the impudence to be so, and will call it a sham marriage. I will, said she, be answered more directly. Why what, madame, does it signify what I think your ladyship will believe as you please? But canst thou have the vanity, the pride, the folly, said she, to think thyself actually married to my brother, he is no fool-child and libertine enough of conscience, and thou are not the first in the list of his credulous harlots. Well, well, said I, and was in a sad flutter. As I am easy and pleased with my lot, pray, madame, let me continue so as long as I can. It will be time enough for me to know the worst when the worst comes, and if it should be so bad, your ladyship should pity me rather than thus torment me before my time. Well, said she, but dost not think I am concerned that a young wench whom my poor dear mother loved so well should thus cast herself away and suffer herself to be deluded and undone after such a noble stand as thou madeest for so long a time? I think myself far from being deluded and undone, and am as innocent and virtuous as ever I was in my life. Thou liest child, said she. So your ladyship told me twice before. She gave me a slap on the hand for this, and I made a low curtsy and said, I humbly thank your ladyship, but I could not refrain tears, and added, Your dear brother, madame, however, won't thank your ladyship for this usage of me, though I do. Come a little nearer me, my dear, said she, and thou shalt have a little more than that to tell him of if thou thinkest thou hast not made mischief enough already between a sister and brother. But child, if he was here, I would serve thee worse and him too. I wish he was, said I. Does thou threaten me, mischief-maker, and insolent as thou art? Now pray, madame, said I, but got to a little distance. Be pleased to reflect upon all that you have said to me, since I have had the honor, or rather misfortune, to come into your presence, whether you have said one thing befitting your ladyship's degree to me, even supposing I was the wench and the creature you imagine me to be. Come hither, my pert dear, replied she, come but within my reach for one moment, and I'll answer thee as thou deservedest. To be sure she meant to box my ears, but I should not be worthy my happy lot if I could not show some spirit. When the cloth was taken away, I said, I suppose I may now depart your presence, madame? I suppose not, said she. Why I'll lay thee a wager child, thy stomach's too full to eat, and so thou mayest fast till thy mannerly master comes home. Pray your ladyship, said her woman, let the poor girl sit down at table with Mrs. Jukes and me. Said I, you are very kind, Mrs. Warden. But times, as you said, are much altered with me, and I have been of late so much honored with better company that I can't stoop to yours. Was ever such confidence, said my lady. Poor Beck, poor Beck, said her kinsman, why she beats you quite out of the pit. Will your ladyship, said I, be so good as to tell me how long I am to tarry? For you'll please to see by that letter that I am obliged to attend my master's commands. And so I gave her the dear gentleman's letter from Mr. Carlton's, which I thought would make her use me better, as she might judge by it of the honor done me by him. I, said she, this is my worthy brother's hand. It is directed to Mrs. Andrews. That's to you, I suppose, child? And so she ran on, making remarks as she went along in this manner. 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. Know 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, prithee Jackie, mind this, we, mind the significant we, had not engaged to the good neighborhood at Sir Simon's for tomorrow night. Why, does the good neighborhood and Sir Simon permit thy visit's 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, Jackie, 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, Jackie. What I beg of you? Mind the wretch that could use me in your uncle as he has done. He has 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 down in the chariot to Sir Simon's the sooner in the day the better. Your heart, and why so, when we were not expected till night? Why, pray, observe the reason, hum, said she. Because you will be diverted with the company, mighty, kind, indeed, who all, Jackie, Jackie, mind this, who all so much admire you. Now he'd have been hanged before he would have said so complacent 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 wasst 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. Jackie, Jackie, 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. One may see love as a new thing to him. Here is a very tedious time gone since he saw his dearie. No less than, according to his amorous calculation, a dozen days and nights at least. And yet, tedious as it is, it is but a little absence. Well said my good, accurate and consistent brother. But wise men in love are always the greatest simpletons. But now comes the reason for why this little absence, which at the same time is so great an absence, is so tedious. For I am, I now for it, with the utmost sincerity my dearest love,owed upon dearest love. I shall never love the word again. Pray bid your uncle never call me dearest love, Jackie. Forever yours, but brother thou liest, thou knowest thou dust. And so, my good lady Andrews, or what shall I call you? Your dearest love will be forever yours, and hast thou the vanity to believe this? But stay, here's a post-script. The poor man knew not when to have done to his dearest love. He sadly in for it truly. Why his dearest love, you are mighty happy in such a lover. If you could go to dine with them, cry you mercy, my dearest love. Now comes the pre-engagement. It will be a freedom that will be very pleasing to them, and the more as they don't expect it. Well, so much for this kind letter. But you see, you cannot honor this admiring company with this little expected, and but in complacence to his folly, I dare say, little desired freedom. And I cannot forbear admiring you so much myself, my dearest love, that I will not spare you at all, this whole evening, for it is a little hard if thy master's sister may not be blessed a little bit with thy charming company. So I found I had shown her my letter to very little purpose, and repented it several times as she read on. Well, then, said I, I hope your ladyship will give me leave to send my excuses to your good brother, and say that your ladyship is come, and is so fond of me, that you will not let me leave you. Pretty creature, said she, and wantest thou thy good master to come and quarrel with his sister on thy account? But thou shalt not stir from my presence, and I would now ask thee what it is thou meanest by showing me this letter. Why, madame, said I, to show your ladyship how I was engaged for this day and evening. And for nothing else, said she, why I can't tell madame, said I, but if you can collect from it any other circumstances I might hope I should not be the worst treated. I saw her eyes begin to sparkle with passion, and she took my hand and said, grasping it very hard, I know, confident creature, that thou showedest me to insult me. You showed it me to let me see that he could be similar to a beggar born than to me, or to my good lord Davers. You showed it me as if you'd have me to be as credulous a fool as yourself to believe your marriage true, when I know the whole trick of it, and have reason to believe you do too, and you showed it me to upgrade me with his stooping to such painted dirt to the disgrace of a family ancient and untainted beyond most in the kingdom, and now I will give thee one hundred guineas for one bold word that I may fell thee at my foot. Was not this very dreadful, to be sure, I had better have kept the letter from her. I was quite frightened, and this fearful menace and her fiery eyes and rageful countenance made me lose all my courage. So I said, weeping, good your ladyship pity me. Indeed I am honest, indeed I am virtuous, indeed I would not do a bad thing for the world. Though I know, said she, the whole trick of thy pretended marriage and thy foolish ring here, and all the rest of the wicked nonsense, yet I should not have patience with thee if thou shouldst but offer to let me know thy vanity prompts thee to believe thou art married to my brother. I could not bear the thought. So take care, Pamela, take care, beggarly brat, take care. Good madame, said I, spare my dear parents, they are honest and industrious, they were once in a very creditable way, and never were beggars. Miss fortunes may attend anybody, and I can bear the cruelest imputations on myself because I know my innocence, but upon such honest industrious parents, who went through the greatest trials without being beholden to anything but God's blessing and their own hard labor, I cannot bear reflection. What? Art thou setting up for a family, creature as thou art? Give me patience with thee. I suppose my brother's folly and his wickedness together will, in a little while, occasion a search at the herald's office to set out thy wretched obscurity. Provoke me, I desire thou wilt. One hundred guineas will I give thee, to say but thou thinkest thou art married to my brother. Your ladyship, I hope, won't kill me, and since nothing I can say will please you, that your ladyship is resolved to quarrel with me, since I must not say what I think, on one hand or another, whatever your ladyship designs by me, be pleased to do, and let me depart your presence. She gave me a slap on the hand, and reached to box my ear. But Mrs. Jukes, harkening without, and her woman, too, they both came in at that instant, and Mrs. Jukes said, pushing herself in between us, your ladyship knows not what you do. And you don't. My master would never forgive me, if I suffered in his house, when he so dearly loves to be so used, and it must not be, though you are, Lady Davers. Her woman, too, interposed and told her I was not worth her ladyship's anger, but she was like a person beside herself. I offered to go out, and Mrs. Jukes took my hand to lead me out, but her kinsmen set his back against the door, and put his hand to his sword, and said, I should not go, till his aunt permitted it. He drew it half way, and I was so terrified that I cried out, Oh, the sword, the sword! And not knowing what I did, I ran to my lady herself, and clasped my arms about her, forgetting just then how much she was my enemy, and said, sinking on my knees, Defend me, good your ladyship, the sword, the sword! Mrs. Jukes said, Oh, my lady will fall into fits! But Lady Davers was herself so startled, at the matter being carried so far, that she did not mind her words, and said, Jackie, don't draw your sword. You see, as great as her spirit is, she can't bear that. Come, said she, become fritted, he shan't frighten you. I'll try to overcome my anger, and will pity you. So, Wench, rise up, and don't be foolish. Mrs. Jukes held her salts to my nose, and I did not faint. And my lady said, Mrs. Jukes, if you would be forgiven, leave Pamela and me by ourselves. And Jackie, do you withdraw? Only you backstay. So I sat down in the window, all in a sad fluster, for, to be sure, I was sadly frightened. Said her woman, you should not sit in my lady's presence, Mrs. Pamela. Yes, let her sit till she is a little recovered of her fright, said my lady, and do you set my chair by her. And so she sat over against me, and said, To be sure, Pamela, you have been very provoking with your tongue, to be sure you have, as well upon my nephew, who is a man of quality too, as me. And palliating her cruel usage, and beginning, I suppose, to think herself she had carried it further than she could answer it to her brother, she wanted to lay the fault upon me. Own, said she, you have been very saucy, and beg my pardon, and beg Jackie's pardon, and I will try to pity you, for you are a sweet girl, after all, if you had but held out and been honest. Tis injurious to me, madame, said I, to imagine I am not honest. And she, have you not been a bed with my brother, tell me that. Your ladyship, replied I, asks your questions in a strange way, and in strange words. Oh, your delicacy is wounded, I suppose, by my plain questions. This niceness will soon leave you, Wench, it will indeed, but answer me directly. Then your ladyship's next question, said I, will be, am I married, and you won't bear my answer to that, and will beat me again. I hadn't beat you yet, have I, back? said she. So you want to make out a story, do you? But indeed I can't bear thou should so much as think thou art my sister. I know the whole trick of it, and so tis my opinion dust thou. It is only thy little cunning that it might look like a cloak to thy yielding, and get better terms from him. Prithee, prithee, Wench, thou seest I know the world a little, almost as much at thirty-two, as thou dusted sixteen. Remember that. I rose from the window, and walking to the other end of the room. Beat me again, if you please, said I, but I must tell your ladyship I scorn your words, and am as much married as your ladyship. At that she ran to me, but her woman interposed again. Let the vain wicked creature go from your presence, madame, said she. She is not worthy to be in it. She will but vex your ladyship. Stand away, beck, said she. That's an assertion I would not take from my brother. I can't bear it. As much married as I, is that to be borne? But if the creature believes she is madame, said her woman, she is to be as much pitied for her credulity as despised for her vanity. I was in hopes to have slipped out at the door, but she caught hold of my gown and pulled me back. Pray your ladyship, said I, don't kill me, I have done no harm. But she locked the door and put the key in her pocket. So seeing Mrs. Jukes before the window, I lifted up the sash and said, Mrs. Jukes, I believe it would be best for the chariot to go to your master and let him know that Lady Davies is here and I cannot leave her ladyship. She was resolved to be displeased. Let me say what I would. End of section 26c.