My dear Mr. B. has received me with great affection and tenderness.  Sure he cannot be so bad!—­Sure he cannot!

“I know, my dear,” said he, “I left you in great anxiety; but ’tis an anxiety you have brought upon yourself; and I have not been easy ever since I parted from you.”

“I am sorry for it, Sir.”

“Why, my dear love, there is still a melancholy air in your countenance:  indeed, it seems mingled with a kind of joy; I hope at my return to you.  But ’tis easy to see which of the two is the most natural.”

“You should see nothing.  Sir, that you would not wish to see, if I could help it.”

“I am sorry you cannot.  But I am come home to hear all your grievances, and to redress them, if in my power.”

“When, Sir, am I to come upon my trial?  I have much to say.  I will tell you everything I think.  And, as it may be the last grievances, as you are pleased to call them, I may ever trouble you with, you must promise to answer me not one word till I have done.  For, if it does but hold, I have great courage, indeed I you don’t know half the sauciness that is in your girl yet; but when I come upon my trial, you’ll wonder at my boldness.”

“What means my dearest?” taking me into his arms.  “You alarm me exceedingly, by this moving sedateness.”

“Don’t let it alarm you.  Sir!  I mean nothing but good!—­But I have been preparing myself to tell you all my mind.  And as an instance of what you may expect from me, sometimes, Sir, I will be your judge, and put home questions to you; and sometimes you shall be mine, and at last pronounce sentence upon me; or, if you won’t, I will upon myself; a severe one to me, it shall be, but an agreeable one, perhaps, to you!—­When comes on the trial.  Sir?”

He looked steadily upon me, but was silent.  And I said, “But don’t be afraid, Sir, that I will invade your province; for though I shall count myself your judge, in some cases, you shall be judge paramount still.”

“Dear charmer of my heart,” said he, and clasped me to his bosom, “what a new PAMELA have I in my arms!  A mysterious charmer!  Let us instantly go to my closet, or yours, and come upon our mutual trial; for you have fired my soul with impatience!”

“No, Sir, if you please, we will dine first.  I have hardly eaten any thing these four days; and your company may give me an appetite.  I shall be pleased to sit down at table with you.  Sir,” taking his hand, and trying to smile upon him; “for the moments I have of your company, may be, some time hence, very precious to my remembrance.”

I was then forced to turn my head, to hide from him my eyes, brimful as they were of tears.

He took me again into his arms:—­“My dearest Pamela, if you love me, distract not my soul thus, by your dark and mysterious speeches.  You are displeased with me, and I thought I had reason, of late, to take something amiss in your conduct; but, instead of your suffering by my anger, you have words and an air that penetrate my very soul.”