“You say well, brother,” returned Lady Davers; “but you may undoubtedly keep your own principles and independency, and yet pay your duty to the king, and accept of this title; for your family and fortune will be a greater ornament to the title, than the title to you.”

“Then what occasion have I for it, if that be the case, Madam?”

“Why, I can’t say, but I should be glad you had it, for your family’s sake, as it is an hereditary honour.  Then it would mend the style of your spouse here; for the good girl is at such a loss for an epithet when she writes, that I see the constraint she lies under.  It is, ‘My dear gentleman, my best friend, my benefactor, my dear Mr. B.’ whereas Sir William would turn off her periods more roundly, and no other softer epithets would be wanting.”

“To me,” replied he, “who always desire to be distinguished as my Pamela’s best friend, and think it an honour to be called her dear Mr. B. and her dear man, this reason weighs very little, unless there were no other Sir William in the kingdom than her Sir William:  for I am very emulous of her favour, I can tell you, and think it no small distinction.”

I blushed at this too great honour, before such company, and was afraid my lady would be a little picqued at it.  But after a pause, she said, “Well, then, brother, will you let Pamela decide upon this point?”

“Rightly put,” said the countess.  “Pray let Mrs. B. choose for you, Sir.  My lady has hit the thing.”

“Very good, by my soul,” says Lord Jackey; “let my young aunt,” that was his word, “choose for you, Sir.”

“Well, then, Pamela,” said Mr. B., “give us your opinion, as to this point.”

“But, first,” said Lady Davers, “say you will be determined by it; or else she will be laid under a difficulty.”

“Well, then,” replied he, “be it so—­I will be determined by your opinion, my dear; give it me freely.”

Lord Jackey rubbed his hands together, “Charming, charming, as I hope to live!  By Jove, this is just as I wished!”

“Well, now, Pamela,” said my lady, “speak your true heart without disguise:  I charge you do.”

“Why then, gentlemen and ladies,” said I, “if I must be so bold as to speak on a subject, upon which on several accounts, it would become me to be silent, I should be against the title; but perhaps my reason is of too private a nature to weigh any thing:  and if so, it would not become me to have any choice at all.”

They all called upon me for my reason; and I said, looking down a little abashed, “It is this:  Here my dear Mr. B. has disparaged himself by distinguishing, as he has done, such a low creature as I; and the world will be apt to say, he is seeking to repair one way the honour he has lost another! and then perhaps, it will be attributed to my pride and ambition:  ’Here, they will perhaps say, ’the proud cottager will needs be a lady in hopes