“These proud and passionate folks,” said Mr. B., “how good they can be, when they reflect a little on what becomes their characters!”

“So, then,” rejoined my lady, “I am to have no merit of my own, I see, do what I will.  This is not quite so generous in my brother, as one might expect.”

“Why, you saucy sister—­excuse me.  Lord Davers—­what merit would you assume?  Can people merit by doing their duty?  And is it so great a praise, that you think fit to own for a sister so deserving a girl as this, whom I take pride in calling my wife?”

“Thou art what thou always wert,” returned my lady; “and were I in this my imputed pride to want an excuse, I know not the creature living, that ought so soon to make one for me, as you.”

“I do excuse you,” said he, “for that very reason, if you please:  but it little becomes either your pride, or mine, to do any thing that wants excuse.”

“Mighty moral! mighty grave, truly!—­Pamela, friend, sister,—­there’s for you!—­thou art a happy girl to have made such a reformation in thy honest man’s way of thinking as well as acting.  But now we are upon this topic, and only friends about us, I am resolved to be even with thee, brother—­Jackey, if you are not for another dish, I wish you’d withdraw.  Polly Barlow, we don’t want you.  Beck, you may stay.”  Mr. H. obeyed; and Polly went out; for you must know, Miss, that my Lady Davers will have none of the men-fellows, as she calls them, to attend upon us at tea.  And I cannot say but I think her entirely in the right, for several reasons that might be given.

When they were withdrawn, my lady repeated, “Now we are upon this topic of reclaiming and reformation, tell me, thou bold wretch; for you know I have seen all your rogueries in Pamela’s papers; tell me, if ever rake but thyself made such an attempt as thou didst, on this dear good girl, in presence of a virtuous woman, as Mrs. Jervis was always noted to be?  As to the other vile creature, Jewkes, ’tis less wonder, although in that thou hadst the impudence of him who set thee to work:  but to make thy attempt before Mrs. Jervis, and in spite of her struggles and reproaches, was the very stretch of shameless wickedness.”

Mr. B. seemed a little disconcerted, and said, “Surely, Lady Davers, this is going too far!  Look at Pamela’s blushing face, and downcast eye, and wonder at yourself for this question, as much as you do at me for the action you speak of.”

The countess said to me, “My dear Mrs. B., I wonder not at this sweet confusion on so affecting a question!—­but, indeed, since it is come in so naturally, I must say, Mr. B., that we have all, and my daughters too, wondered at this, more than at any part of your attempts; because, Sir, we thought you one of the most civilized men in England, and that you could not but wish to have saved appearances at least.”