to one, and a deeper crimson by half.  Look you there else!  An hundred guineas to one against the field.”  Then stamping with one foot, and lifting up his hands and eyes “Lady Jenny has it all to nothing—­Ha, ha, ha!  You may well sit down both of you; but you’re a blush too late, I can tell you that.  Well hast thou done.  Lady Jenny,” tapping my shoulder with his rough paw.

I was hastening away, and he said, “But let’s see you again, Miss; for now will I stay, if they bring nobody else.”  And away I went; for I was quite out of countenance, “What a strange creature,” thought I, “is this!” Supper being near ready, he called out for Lady Jenny, for the sight of her, he said, did him good; but he was resolved not to sit down to table with somebody else.  The countess said, she would fetch her daughter; and stepping out, returned saying, “Mrs. B. understands that Sir Jacob is here, and does not choose to see her; so she begs to be excused; and my Jenny and she desire to sup together.”

“The very worst tidings I have heard this twelvemonth.  Why, nephew, let your girl sup with any body, so we may have Lady Jenny back with us.”—­“I know,” said the countess, (who was desirous to see how far he could carry it), “Jenny won’t leave Mrs. B.; so if you see one, you must see t’other.”—­“Nay, then I must sit down contented.  Yet I should be glad to see Lady Jenny.  But I will not sit at table with Mr. B.’s girl—­that’s positive.”

“Well, well, let ’em sup together, and there’s an end of it,” said Mr. B.  “I see my uncle has as good a judgment as any body of fine ladies.”—­("That I have, nephew.")—­“But he can’t forgo his humour, in compliment to the finest lady in England.”

“Consider, nephew, ’tis not thy doing a foolish thing, and calling a girl wife, shall cram a niece down my throat, that’s positive.  The moment she comes down to take place of these ladies, I am gone, that’s most certain.”—­“Well then, shall I go up, and oblige Pamela to sup by herself, and persuade Lady Jenny to come down to us?”—­“With all my soul, nephew,—­a good notion.—­But, Pamela—­did you say?—­A queer sort of name!  I have heard of it somewhere!—­Is it a Christian or a Pagan name?—­Linsey-woolsey—­half one, half t’other—­like thy girl—­Ha, ha, ha.”—­“Let me be hang’d,” whispered Mr. H. to his aunt, “if Sir Jacob has not a power of wit; though he is so whimsical with it.  I like him much.”—­“But hark ye, nephew,” said Sir Jacob, “one word with you.  Don’t fob upon us your girl with the Pagan name for Lady Jenny.  I have set a mark upon her, and should know her from a thousand, although she had changed her hoop.”  Then he laughed again, and said, he hoped Lady Jenny would come—­and without any body with her—­“But I smell a plot,” said he—­“By my soul I won’t stay, if they both come together.  I won’t be put upon—­But here is one or both—­Where’s my whip?—­I’ll go.”—­“Indeed, Mr. B., I had rather have staid with Mrs. B.,” said I, as I entered, as he had bid me.