Ay, said I, I have been a many creatures and wenches, and I know not

what; for these were the names she gave me. And I thought I ought to

act up to the part her dear brother has given me; and so I have but just

escaped a good cuffing.

Miss Boroughs said to her sister, as I overheard, but she did not design

I should, What a sweet creature is this! and then she takes so little

upon her, is so free, so easy, and owns the honour done her, so

obligingly! said Mr. Perry, softly, The loveliest person I ever saw! Who

could have the heart to be angry with her one moment?

Says Miss Darnford, Here, my dearest neighbour, these gentry are

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admiring you strangely; and Mr. Perry says, you are the loveliest lady

he ever saw; and he says it to his own mistress's face too, I'll assure

you!--Or else, says Miss Boroughs, I should think he much flattered me.

O, madam, you are exceedingly obliging! but your kind opinion ought to

teach me humility, and to reverence so generous a worth as can give a

preference against yourself, where it is so little due. Indeed, madam,

said Miss Nanny Boroughs, I love my sister well; but it would be a high

compliment to any lady, to be deemed worthy a second or third place

after you. There is no answering such politeness, said I: I am sure Lady Davers

was very cruel to keep me from such company. 'Twas our loss, madam, says

Miss Darnford. I'll allow it, said I, in degree; for you have all been

deprived, several hours, of an humble admirer.

Mr. Perry said, I never before saw so young a lady shine forth with such

graces of mind and person. Alas! sir, said I, my master coming up, mine

is but a borrowed shine, like that of the moon. Here is the sun, to

whose fervent glow of generosity I owe all the faint lustre, that your

goodness is pleased to look upon with so much kind distinction.

Mr. Perry was pleased to hold up his hands; and the ladies looked upon

one another. And my master said, hearing part of the last sentence,

What's the pretty subject, that my Pamela is displaying so sweetly her

talents upon? Oh! sir, said Mr. Perry, I will pronounce you the happiest man in

England: and so said they all.

My master said, most generously, Thank ye, thank ye, thank ye, all

round, my dear friends. I know not your subject; but if you believe

me so, for a single instance of this dear girl's goodness, what must I

think myself, when blessed with a thousand instances, and experiencing

it in every single act and word! I do assure you my Pamela's person,

all lovely as you see it, is far short of her mind: That, indeed,

first attracted my admiration, and made me her lover: but they were

the beauties of her mind, that made me her husband; and proud, my sweet

dear, said he, pressing my hand, am I of that title.




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