“’Tis she! ’tis she!  You’ve nobody behind you!—­No, she han’t—­Why now, nephew, you are right; I was afraid you’d have put a trick upon me.—­You’d rather,” repeated he to me, “have staid with Mrs. B.!—­Yes, I warrant—­But you shall be placed in better company, my dear child.”—­“Sister,” said Mr. B., “will you take that chair; for Pamela does not choose to give my uncle disgust, who so seldom comes to see us.”  My lady took the upper end of the table, and I sat next below my new mamma.  “So, Jenny,” said she, “how have you left Mrs. B.?”—­“A little concerned; but she was the easier, as Mr. B. himself desired I’d come down.”

My Lord Davers sat next me, and Sir Jacob said, “Shall I beg a favour of you, my lord, to let me sit next to Lady Jenny?” Mr. B. said, “Won’t it be better to sit over-against her, uncle?”—­“Ay, that’s right.  I’ faith, nephew, thou know’st what’s right.  Well, so I will.”  He accordingly removed his seat, and I was very glad of it; for though I was sure to be stared at by him, yet I feared if he sat next me, he would not keep his hands off my hoop.

He ran on a deal in my praises, after his manner, but so rough at times, that he gave me pain; and I was afraid too, lest he should observe my ring; but he stared so much in my face, that it escaped his notice.  After supper, the gentlemen sat down to their bottle, and the ladies and I withdrew, and about twelve they broke up; Sir Jacob talking of nothing but Lady Jenny, and wished Mr. B. had happily married such a charming creature, who carried tokens of her high birth in her face, and whose every feature and look shewed her to be nobly descended.

They let him go to bed with his mistake:  but the countess said next morning, she thought she never saw a greater instance of stupid pride and churlishness; and should be sick of the advantage of birth or ancestry, if this was the natural fruit of it.  “For a man,” said her ladyship, “to come to his nephew’s house, and to suffer the mistress of it to be closetted up (as he thinks), in order to humour his absurd and brutal insolence, and to behave as he has done, is such a ridicule upon the pride of descent, that I shall ever think of it.—­O Mrs. B.,” said she, “what advantages have you over every one that sees you; but most over those who pretend to treat you unworthily!” I expect to be called to breakfast every minute, and shall then, perhaps, see how this matter will end.  I wish, when it is revealed, he may not be in a fury, and think himself imposed on.  I fear it won’t go off so well as I wish; for every body seems to be grave, and angry at Sir Jacob.

THURSDAY.

I now proceed with my tale.  At breakfast-time, when every one was sat, Sir Jacob began to call out for Lady Jenny.  “But,” said he, “I’ll have none of your girl, nephew:  although the chair at the tea-table is left for somebody.”—­“No,” said Mr. B., “we’ll get Lady Jenny to supply Mrs. B.’s place, since you don’t care to see her.”—­“With all my heart,” replied he.—­“But, uncle,” said Mr. B., “have you really no desire, no curiosity to see the girl I have married?”—­“No, none at all, by my soul.”