We came not home till ten in the evening, and then found a letter from Sir Jacob Swynford, uncle by the half blood to Mr. B., acquainting him, that hearing his niece, Lady Davers, was with him, he would be here in a day or two (being then upon his journey) to pay a visit to both at the same time.  This gentleman is very particularly odd and humoursome:  and his eldest son being next heir to the maternal estate, if Mr. B. should have no children, was exceedingly dissatisfied with his debasing himself in marrying me; and would have been better pleased had he not married at all, perhaps.

There never was any cordial love between Mr. B.’s father and him, nor between the uncle, and nephew and niece:  for his positiveness, roughness, and self-interestedness too, has made him, though very rich, but little agreeable to the generous tempers of his nephew and niece; yet when they meet, which is not above once in four or five years, they are very civil and obliging to him.  Lady Davers wondered what could bring him hither now:  for he lives in Herefordshire, and seldom stirs ten miles from home.  Mr. B. said, he was sure it was not to compliment him and me on our nuptials.  “No, rather,” said my lady, “to satisfy himself if you are in a way to cut out his own cubs.”—­“Thank God, we are,” said he.  “Whenever I was strongest set against matrimony, the only reason I had to weigh against my dislike to it was, that I was unwilling to leave so large a part of my estate to that family.  My dear,” said he to me, “don’t be uneasy; but you’ll see a relation of mine much more disagreeable than you can imagine; but no doubt you have heard his character.”

“Ah, Pamela,” said Lady Davers, “we are a family that value ourselves upon our ancestry; but, upon my word, Sir Jacob, and all his line, have nothing else to boast of.  And I have been often ashamed of my relation to them.”—­“No family, I believe, my lady, has every body excellent in it,” replied I:  “but I doubt I shall stand but poorly with Sir Jacob.”

“He won’t dare to affront you, my dear,” said Mr. B., “although he’ll say to you, and to me, and to my sister too, blunt and rough things.  But he’ll not stay above a day or two, and we shall not see him again for some years to come; so we’ll bear with him.”

I am now, Miss, coming to the conversation I hinted at.

TUESDAY.

On Tuesday, Mr. Williams came to pay his respects to his kind patron.  I had been to visit a widow gentlewoman, and, on my return, went directly to my closet, so knew not of his being here till I came to dinner; for Mr. B. and he were near two hours in discourse in the library.  When I came down, Mr. B. presented him to me.  “My friend Mr. Williams, my dear,” said he.  “Mr. Williams, how do you do?” said I; “I am glad to see you.”

He rejoiced, he said, to see me look so well; and had longed for an opportunity to pay his respects to his worthy patron and me before:  but had been prevented twice when upon the point of setting out.  Mr. B. said, “I have prevailed upon my old acquaintance to reside with us, while he stays in these parts.  Do you, my dear, see that every thing is made agreeable to him.”—­“To be sure, Sir, I will.”