I hope she is innocent, as to fact; but I know not what to say to it.  He ought to be hanged, if he did not say she was.  Yet I have great opinion of his veracity:  and yet he is so bold a wretch!—­And her inconsideration is so great!

But lest I should alarm your fears, I will wait till I have the account he gives you of this dark affair; till when, I congratulate you upon the leave you have obtained to quit the town, and on your setting out for a place so much nearer to Tunbridge.  Forgive me, Pamela; but he is an intriguing wretch, and I would not have you to be too secure, lest the disappointment should be worse for you, than what you knew before:  but assure yourself, that I am in all cases and events, your affectionate sister and admirer,

B. DAVERS.

LETTER LXXVII

From Mrs. B. to Lady Davers.

MY DEAREST LADY,

Mr. B. came back from Bedfordshire to his time.  Every thing being in readiness, we set out with my baby, and his nurse.  Mrs. Jervis, when every thing in London is settled by her direction, goes to Bedfordshire.

We were met by my father and mother in a chaise and pair, which your kind brother had presented to them unknown to me, that they might often take the air together, and go to church in it (which is at some distance) on Sundays.  The driver is clothed in a good brown cloth suit, but no livery; for that my parents could not have borne, as Mr. B.’s goodness made him consider.

Your ladyship must needs think, how we were all overjoyed at this meeting:  for my own part I cannot express how much I was transported when we arrived at the farm-house, to see all I delighted in, upon one happy spot together.

Mr. B. is much pleased with the alterations here:  and it is a sweet, rural, and convenient place.

We were welcomed into these parts by the bells, and by the minister, and people of most note; and were at church together on Sunday.

Mr. B. is to set out on Tuesday for Tunbridge, with my papers.  A happy issue, attend that affair, I pray God!  He has given me the following particulars of it, to the time of my trial, beginning at the masquerade.

He says, that at the masquerade, when, pleased with the fair Nun’s shape, air and voice, he had followed her to a corner most unobserved, she said in Italian, “Why are my retirements invaded, audacious Spaniard?”—­“Because, my dear Nun, I hope you would have it so.”

“I can no otherwise,” returned she, “strike dead thy bold presumption, than to shew thee my scorn and anger thus!”—­“And she unmasking surprised me,” said Mr. B., “with a face as beautiful, but not so soft as my Pamela’s.”—­“And I,” said Mr. B., “to shew I can defy your resentment, will shew you a countenance as intrepid as yours is lovely.”  And so he drew aside his mask too.

He says, he observed his fair Nun to be followed wherever she went, by a mask habited like Testimony in Sir Courtly Nice, whose attention was fixed upon her and him; and he doubted not, that it was Mr. Turner.  So he and the fair Nun took different ways, and he joined me and Miss Darnford, and found me engaged as I before related to your ladyship, and his Nun at his elbow unexpected.