صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

the advantages your little one would reap by it?—For don't you consider, my dear, that the child ought to be wholly subjected to your authority? That its father or mother ought seldom to see it; because it should think itself absolutely dependent upon you?—And where, my dear, will you meet with parents so resigned?-Besides, one would have the child descended of genteel parents, and not such as could do nothing for it; otherwise the turn of mind and education you would give it, might do it more harm than good.

All this is true, sir, very true. But have you no other objection, if one could find a genteelly descended young master? And would you join to persuade his papa to give me up his power, only from three months to three months, as I liked, and the child liked, and as the papa approved of my proceedings?

This is so reasonable, with these last conditions, Pamela, that I should be pleased with your notion, if it could be put in practice, because the child would be benefited by your instruction, and you would be improved in an art which I could wish to see you an adept in.

But perhaps, sir, you had rather it were a girl than a boy?

I had, my dear, if a girl could be found, whose parents would give her up to you; but I suppose you have some boy in your head, by your putting it upon that sex at first.

Let me see, sir. You say you are in a good humour! Let me see, if you be !-looking boldly in his face.

What now, with some little impatience, would the pretty fool be at?

Only, sir, that you have nothing to do but to speak the word, and there is a child whose papa, and mamma too, I am sure, would consent to give up to me, for my own instruction, as well as for her sake; and if, to speak in the Scripture phrase, I have found grace in your sight, kind sir, speak this word to the dear child's papa.

And have you thus come over with me, Pamela !-Go,

I am half angry with you, for leading me on in this manner against myself. This looks so artful, that I won't love you!-Dear sir!-And dear madam, too! Begone! I say: -you have surprised me by art, when your talent is nature, and you should keep to that.

I was sadly balked, and had neither power to go nor stay!-At last, seeing I had put him into a kind of flutter, as now he had put me, I moved my unwilling feet towards the door. He took a turn about the closet meantime. Yet stay, said he, there is something so generous in your art, that on recollection I cannot part with you.

He took notice of the starting tear-I am to blame!— You had surprised me so, that my hasty temper got the better of my consideration. Let me kiss away this pearly fugitive. Forgive me, my dearest love! What an inconsiderate brute am I, when compared to such an angel as my Pamela! I see at once, now, all the force, and all the merit, of your amiable generosity: And to make you amends for this my hastiness, I will coolly consider of the matter, and will either satisfy you by my compliance, or by the reasons which I will give for the contrary.

But say, my Pamela, can you forgive my harshness?— Can I! Yes, indeed, sir, pressing his hand to my lips; and bid me go, and begone, twenty times a day, if I am to be thus kindly called back to you, thus nobly and condescendingly treated, in the same breath!—I see, dear sir, continued I, that I must be in fault, if ever you are lastingly displeased with me.-For as soon as you turn yourself about, your anger vanishes, and you make me rich amends for a few harsh words. Only one thing, dear sir, let me add: if I have dealt artfully with you, impute it to my fear of offending you, through the nature of my petition, and not to design; and that I took the example of the prophet, to king David, in the parable of the ewe lamb.

ر

I remember it, my dear-and you have well pointed your parable, and had nothing to do, but to say, Thou art the man!

I am called upon by my dear benefactor for a little airing, and he suffers me only to conclude this long letter, knowing to whom I have the honour to write, this being post day. And so I am obliged, with greater abruptness than I had designed, to mention thankfully your ladyship's goodness to me; particularly in that kind, kind letter,* in behalf of my dear parents, had a certain event taken place. Mr. B showed it to me this morning, and not before I believe for fear I should have been so much oppressed by the sense of your ladyship's unmerited goodness to me, had he let me know of it before your departure from us, that I should not have been able to look up at you; heaping favours and blessings upon me, as you hourly were doing besides. What a happy creature am I!—But my gratitude runs me into length; and sorry I am that I cannot have time just now to indulge it.

But yet I am apt sometimes to doubt whether I ought to think myself so very happy; and whether it is not an argument of a mean spirit; because I am under obligations, unreturnable obligations, to every living soul, as well as to your ladyship; and yet can rejoice in them, as if it was such a glorious thing to be obliged, when it is not in one's power to oblige again.

Is there nothing, my dear Lord and Lady Davers; is there nothing, my dear lady countess, and my good Lord C―, that I can do, to show at least that I have a will, and am not an ungrateful and a sordid creature?

And yet, if you give me power to do anything that will have the appearance of a return, even that power will be laying a fresh obligation upon me-which, however, I should be very proud of, because I should thereby convince you, by something more than words, how much I am (most particularly, my dearest Lady Davers, my sister, my friend, my patroness),

Your most obliged and faithful servant,

P. B.

See page 127.

Your dear brother joins in respectful thankfulness to his four noble gossips. And I made my Billy, by his lips, subscribe his. I hope so to direct his earliest notions, as to make him sensible of his dutiful obligation.

LETTER LXIV.

Lady Davers to Mrs. B.

MY DEAREST PAMELA,-Talk not to us of unreturnable obligations, and all that, as in your last letter. You do more for us, in the entertainment you give us all by your letters, than we have done, or ever can do, for you. And as to me, I know no greater pleasure in the world, than that which my brother's felicity and yours gives me. God continue this felicity to you both. I am sure it will be his fault, and not yours, if it be at all diminished.

We have heard some idle rumours here, as if you were a little uneasy of late; and having not had a letter from you for this fortnight past, it makes me write to ask how you all do? and whether you expected an answer from me to your last?

I hope you won't be punctilious with me, my Pamela : For we have nothing to write to you about, except it be how much we all love and honour you; and that you believe already, or else you don't do us don't do us justice. I suppose you'll be going out of town soon, now the parliament is rising. My lord is resolved to put his proxy into another hand, and intends, I believe, to take my brother's advice in it. Both the earl and his lordship are highly pleased with my brother's moderate and independent principles. He has got great credit among all unprejudiced men, by the part he acted throughout the last sessions, in which he has shown that he would no more join to distress and clog the wheels of government, by an unreasonable

opposition, than he would do the dirty work of any administration. As he has so noble a fortune, and wants nothing of anybody, he would be doubly to blame, to take any other part than that of his country, in which he has so great a stake.

May he act out of the house, and in the house, with equal honour, and he will be his country's pride, and your pride, and mine too! Which is the wish of

Your affectionate sister,

B. DAVERS.

If you want a pretence to kiss my dear boy, give him now and then one for me. I hope he improves, under the eye of so careful a mamma; the little rogue will else be unworthier than I wish him to be. I hope you proceed with my book. I must see your observations on Locke too. 'Twas a charming pretty thought of yours, that of Miss Goodwin. A hasty wretch! How could he be angry?-'Twas well he so soon considered of the matter, and asked pardon.

LETTER LXV.

Mrs. B to Lady Davers.

MY DEAREST LADY,-I have been a little in disorder, that I have. Some few rubs have happened. I hope they will be happily removed. But I am unwilling to believe all that is said. This is a wicked town, though. I wish we were out of it. But I see not when that will be. I wish Mr. B― would permit me and my Billy to go into Kent: but I don't care to leave him behind me, neither, and he is not inclined to go. Excuse my brevity, my dearest lady,

« السابقةمتابعة »