I must, on this occasion, give your ladyship the particulars of a short conversation between your brother and me; which, however, perhaps, will not be to my advantage, because it will shew you what a teazing body I can be, if I am indulged.  But Mr. B. will not spoil me neither in that way, I dare say!—­Your ladyship will see this in the very dialogue I shall give you.

Thus it was.  I had been reading in Mr. Locke’s book, and Mr. B. asked me how I liked it?—­“Exceedingly well, Sir.  But I have a proposal to make, which, if you will be pleased to comply with, will give me a charming opportunity of understanding Mr. Locke.”

“What is your proposal, my dear?  I see it is some very particular one, by that sweet earnestness in your look.”

“Why, so it is, Sir:  and I must know, whether you are in high good humour, before I make it.  I think you look grave upon me; and my proposal will not then do, I’m sure.”

“You have all the amusing ways of your sex, my dear Pamela.  But tell me what you would say?  You know I don’t love suspense.”

“May-be you’re busy.  Sir.  Perhaps I break in upon you.  I believe you were going into your closet.”

“True woman!—­How you love to put one upon the tenters!  Yet, my life for yours, by your parade, what I just now thought important, is some pretty trifle!—­Speak it at once, or I’ll be angry with you;” and tapped my cheek.

“Well, I wish I had not come just now!—­I see you are not in a good humour enough for my proposal.—­So, pray, Sir, excuse me till to-morrow.”

He took my hand, and led me to his closet, calling me his pretty impertinent; and then urging me, I said, “You know, Sir, I have not been used to the company of children.  Your dear Billy will not make me fit, for a long time, to judge of any part of education.  I can learn of the charming boy nothing but the baby conduct:  but now, if I might take into the house some little Master of three or four years old, or Miss of five or six, I should watch over all their little ways; and now reading a chapter in the child, and now one in the book, I can look forward, and with advantage, into the subject; and go through all the parts of education tolerably, for one of my capacity; for, Sir, I can, by my own defects, and what I have wished to mend, know how to judge of, and supply that part of life which carries a child up to eleven or twelve years of age, which was mine, when my lady took me.”

“A pretty thought, Pamela! but tell me, who will part with their child, think you?  Would you, if it were your case, although ever so well assured of the advantages your little one would reap by it?—­For don’t you consider, 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.”