Why, said he, do you charge me with a conduct to you, that you bring

upon yourself?--Is it not surprising that you should take the liberty

with me, that the dear mother you have named never gave you an example

for to any of her relations?--Was it not sufficient, that I was

insolently taken to task by you in your letters, but my retirements must

be invaded? My house insulted? And, if I have one person dearer to me

than another, that that person must be singled out for an object of your

violence? Ay, said she, that one person is the thing!--But though I came with a

resolution to be temperate, and to expostulate with you on your avoiding

me so unkindly, yet cannot I have patience to look upon that bed in

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which I was born, and to be made the guilty scene of your wickedness

with such a---Hush! said he, I charge you! call not the dear girl by any name unworthy

of her. You know not, as I told you, her excellence; and I desire you'll

not repeat the freedoms you have taken below.

She stamped with her foot, and said, God give me patience! So much

contempt to a sister that loves you so well; and so much tenderness to a

vile---He put his hand before her mouth: Be silent, said he, once more, I

charge you! You know not the innocence you abuse so freely. I ought not,

neither will I bear it. She sat down and fanned herself, and burst into tears, and such sobs

of grief, or rather passion, that grieved me to hear; and I sat and

trembled sadly. He walked about the room in great anger; and at last said, Let me ask

you, Lady Davers, why I am thus insolently to be called to account

by you? Am I not independent? Am I not of age? Am I not at liberty to

please myself?--Would to God, that, instead of a woman, and my sister,

any man breathing had dared, whatever were his relation under that of

a father, to give himself half the airs you have done!--Why did you not

send on this accursed errand your lord, who could write me such a letter

as no gentleman should write, nor any gentleman tamely receive? He

should have seen the difference.

We all know, said she, that, since your Italian duel, you have commenced

a bravo; and all your airs breathe as strongly of the manslayer as of

the libertine. This, said he, I will bear; for I have no reason to

be ashamed of that duel, nor the cause of it; since it was to save a

friend, and because it is levelled at myself only: but suffer not your

tongue to take too great a liberty with my Pamela.




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