posed natural to her temper, are excited on this occasion. Her

opinion of true wit; and what are its indispensable requisites in

public entertainments

PAGE

119-124

LETTER LVII.

Mrs. B- to Lady Davers.-That her mind being wholly engrossed

by thoughts of a more serious nature, on account of her approaching

lying-in, she begs to be excused, for the present, from the lighter

subjects of the theatre. Her apprehensiveness on the occasion 125-127

LETTER LVIII.

Lady Davers to Mr. B——.—In a generous and tender manner requests

him to assure his Pamela that he will legally secure to her parents

the possession of the good he has conferred upon them, if she dies.

Prays for a son and heir; but, however, that shall be, that God

will spare his Pamela; for that he can never have such another

wife

127, 128

LETTER LIX.

Mrs. B to Mr. B--
---. -[Not to be delivered to him, but in case of her

death.]—In a grateful and moving manner thanking him for all the

benefits he had heaped on her and hers. Begging pardon for all

her imperfections. Recommending to him some of her unfinished

charities; and all his servants; and then taking a solemn farewell of

him
128-135

LETTER LX.

Miss Darnford to Lady Darnford. -Congratulates them on her sister's

nuptials. Gives a brief character of good old Mrs. Andrews. Mr.

B's considerate contrivance to have a midwife in the house,

unknown to his lady. Miss Darnford concludes with acquainting

her mamma that Mrs. B- is happily delivered of a fine boy 136-141

LETTER LXI.

Miss Darnford to Lady Darnford.-Gives a signal instance of the joyful

gratitude of Mr. B's tenants on the birth of a son and heir to the

estate. That the Earl and Countess of C—, and Lord and Lady

Davers, are arrived to stand sponsors at the christening. Requests

to stay with Mrs. B-
the remainder of the winter.

142-145

LETTER LXII.

Miss Darnford to Lady Darnford.-That having received their commands

to come down, she will directly obey them. Instructingly par-

ticularises Mr. B's polite conduct to his lady, and her obliging

returns. That she sees but one thing that can possibly happen to

disturb their felicity. Then recites the behaviour of the nun at the

masquerade, who, as she has been told by Mr. Turner, unmasked to

Mr. B, and is the Countess Dowager of and that a letter

or two have passed between the lady and Mr. B. That, as Mrs.

B―, with all her perfections, has a little spice of jealousy, Miss

Darnford trembles, she says, for the consequences to both their hap-

piness, should she be once alarmed

-

PAGE

146-149

LETTER LXIII.

Mrs. B to Lady Davers.-That they are just returned from accom-

panying Miss Darnford, in her way home, as far as Bedford, where

she was met by her papa and mamma. Mrs. B's maternal tender-

ness for her Billy. Gives the moving particulars of her father's thank-

ful joy, on his first seeing the child. That Mr. B has put into her

hands Mr. Locke's Treatise upon Education, requiring her thoughts

of it in writing. His reason for it. She repeats a conversation

between herself and Mr. B-; in which, under the notion of asking

leave to take into her care some neighbouring child, in order the

better to qualify her for instructing her Billy, when older; she sur-

prises him into an approbation of her scheme, which is to obtain

that Miss Goodwin may be the child. He is at first angry to be so

surprised; but on consideration censures his own hastiness 149-157

LETTER LXIV.

Lady Davers to Mrs. B—.-Drops some hints that she has heard Mrs.

B- is uneasy of late; and desires to know how she does. Praises

her brother's moderate conduct in parliament. Wishes him to act

out of the house, and in it, with equal honour

. 157, 158

Mrs. B

LETTER LXV.

to Lady Davers.-That she has been in a little disorder: but

is unwilling to believe all that is said. That this, however, is a wicked

town. Wishes to quit it: but chooses not to go without Mr. B 158, 159

LETTER LXVI.

Lady Davers to Mrs. B.-Understands that things go not well.

Offers to make a pretence of indisposition, to come to town, if she

thinks it will be of service

159

LETTER LXVII.

PAGE

Mrs. B- —to Lady Davers.—Is very thankful for her goodness to her.

Hopes all will be well. Desires to know what her ladyship has

heard; but that it becomes not her, till she cannot help it, to make

appeals. Apprehends that her ladyship's presence will not avail 159, 160

LETTER LXVIII.

Lady Davers to Mrs. B- -That what she has heard is no secret to

anybody; but that she shall not be first told of it by her.

to know what she has heard, and how she came to hear it

Desires

160

LETTER LXIX.

Mrs. B-
3- to Lady Davers.-Exclaims bitterly against masquerades, to

which she attributes her present unhappiness. Acquaints her lady-

ship with her informant and information. Receives a letter, directed

for Mr. B, in his absence, from the dowager lady. Gives it him.

His captious behaviour upon it. Her alternate hopes and fears,

resolutions and doubtings

161-170

LETTER LXX.

Lady Davers to Mrs. B-Is greatly moved by her affecting periods;

and is vexed to hear that the vile lady, as she calls the countess, has

argued for polygamy before her uncle. Leaves her to her own work-

ings: but that if she finds matters to proceed to extremity, the

storm she formerly raised at the Hall, was nothing to the hurricane

she will excite on this occasion.

171, 172

LETTER LXXI.

Mrs. B- to Lady Davers.—Mr. B's kindness to her; but slighting

expression of her Billy. A fresh occasion of distress, in Mr. B's

acquainting her that that very afternoon the countess, and the vis-

countess her sister, are to come to drink tea with her, and to see her

Billy. Her behaviour upon this affecting news; and his to her, upon

that. Her comfort and her distress on occasion of this trying visit.

Is forced to break off on his coming in to receive his guests. 172-174

Mrs. B

LETTER LXXII.

to Lady Davers.-Gives the particulars of the two ladies'
visit, of her own deportment, and the conversation that passed on
the occasion. That not being able to refrain from a flood of tears at

their departure, on something unexpectedly spoken in Italian by the

countess and Mr. B——— in her favour, and explained to her by him,

he goes out in a passion. Her new distress upon this occasion, as he

will hereby guess at the reason of her grief. He returns at night, and

locks himself into his closet

PAGE

175-183

Mrs. B-

LETTER LXXIII.

to Lady Davers.-She writes by Polly to beg leave to attend

him in his closet, in order to account to him for her conduct. He

answers by writing also, declining to see her, and promising to give

her cause a fair hearing at some other time. She ventures down.

Her solemn speech and deportment make him apprehensive for her

intellects. His tender behaviour to her. Desires her to waive the

subject for a few days, being to set out on a journey at four in the

morning; and intends to return on Saturday night

183-187

LETTER LXXIV.

Mrs. B- to Lady Davers.-Gives the copy of a letter written to her,

signed Thomasine Fuller, acquainting her, 'That Mr. B is gone

' with the countess that very morning to Tunbridge; and that they

'have agreed to live together as man and wife.' Is now endeavour-

ing, by the help of religion, to bring her mind to support the heavy

evil. Her reasonings and reflections, and the new scheme she is

forming to make herself as easy as possible. Hopes they will not

be so cruel as to take her Billy from her. That she will give them

no provocation, by law-suits or otherwise, so to do

187-190

Friday is concluding, and she hopes she is calmer than she was; and that,

after a while, she may not, at the worst, be an unhappy person

Saturday night.-After impatiently expecting his return, she receives a

note from him, at eleven, that he shall not be with her till Monday,

when he hopes to dine with her

Monday, eleven.-Impatiently longs for his return. He comes, and she
resolves to have her trial over, if possible, before night be passed.
His tender reception of her. From her behaviour he is still more
apprehensive for her intellects. Her whimsical bar, and apparatus
for her trial, as she calls it, increase his concern for her head, and
prepare his mind for the good impression which the solemnity of her
behaviour and expressions, and her noble conduct and sentiments
afterwards, make upon him: for, having by the generosity of her
affection to him, by her prudently avoiding all upbraidings and re-
proaches, and by her regard for his future happiness, greatly moved
him, he confesses his error, and promises that he will restore to her
virtue a husband all her own. Her ecstatic joy on this occasion.

190

191

Begs of her ladyship to return her all her letters on that subject, in

order to oblige Mr. B—, who requests to see them, and promises

to make a good use of them with the countess

PAGE

191-210

LETTER LXXV.

Mrs. B- to Lady Davers.-That she has obtained leave to get every-

thing ready to set out for Kent. Mr. Badmires and applauds

her conduct in the late affair. Promises to account to her for every

step he has taken, or shall take, in it; which he can do, he says,

because the lady's honour is untainted. He takes a tender leave of

her for a few days. Her reflection upon the benefits that may be

made of afflictions

210-212

LETTER LXXVI.

Lady Davers to Mrs. B—.—Sends the letters she writes for. Rejoices

with her upon the turn this afflicting affair has taken. Observes how

watchful over their conduct young widows ought to be. Gives some

particulars of the countess's story. Takes notice that her bar, and

other parts of her conduct, show that her intellect was in danger, had

this affair proceeded; which redoubles her joy that it is likely to end

so happily

213, 214

LETTER LXXVII.

Mrs. B- —to Lady Davers.-Relates her journey to Kent. Her joy to

see her husband, her child, and her parents, on one happy spot to-

gether. That Mr. B- is set out with her papers to Tunbridge.

That he first gave her the particulars of his affair with the countess,

beginning at the masquerade. She recites those particulars, which

contain cautions to the fair sex, against the wiles and stratagems of

the other; to both, to check the first appearances of evil. Mr.

B- -'s comparison, feature by feature, of the countess with his

Pamela
214-232

LETTER LXXVIII.

Mrs. B to Lady Davers.-Continuation of the subject; in which Mr.

B― clears up the countess's character, imputing to himself the bad

consequences that might have followed from their intimacy. His

scheme to end this affair with the countess to the satisfaction of all

parties. Platonic love censured

233-237

Mrs. B-

LETTER LXXIX.

to Lady Davers.-Her Billy is taken dangerously ill of the
small-pox. Her sorrowful reflections upon the troubles to which the
happiest state is naturally subjected. Her precautions on the likeli-