And so, returned she, you say you are actually and really married,

honestly, or rather foolishly married, to this slut?

I am, indeed, says he, if you presume to call her so! And why should I

not, if I please? Who is there ought to contradict me? Whom have I hurt

by it?--Have I not an estate, free and independent?--Am I likely to

be beholden to you, or any of my relations? And why, when I have a

sufficiency in my own single hands, should I scruple to make a woman

equally happy, who has all I want? For beauty, virtue, prudence, and

generosity too, I will tell you, she has more than any lady I ever saw.

Yes, Lady Davers, she has all these naturally; they are born with her;

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and a few years' education, with her genius, has done more for her, than

a whole life has done for others.

No more, no more, I beseech you, said she; thou surfeitest me, honest

man! with thy weak folly. Thou art worse than an idolater; thou hast

made a graven image, and thou fallest down and worshippest the works of

thy own hands; and, Jeroboam-like, wouldst have every body else bow down

before thy calf! Well said, Lady Davers! Whenever your passion suffers you to descend

to witticism; 'tis almost over with you. But let me tell you, though

I myself worship this sweet creature, that you call such names, I want

nobody else to do it; and should be glad you had not intruded upon me,

to interrupt me in the course of our mutual happiness.

Well said, well said, my kind, my well-mannered brother! said she.I

shall, after this, very little interrupt your mutual happiness, I'll

assure you. I thought you a gentleman once, and prided myself in my

brother: But I'll say now with the burial service, Ashes to ashes, and

dirt to dirt! Ay, said he, Lady Davers, and there we must all end at last; you with

all your pride, and I with my plentiful fortune, must come to it; and

then where will be your distinction? Let me tell you, except you and I

both mend our manners, though you have been no duellist, no libertine,

as you call me, this amiable girl, whom your vanity and folly so much

despise, will out-soar us both, infinitely out-soar us; and he who

judges best, will give the preference where due, without regard to birth

or fortune. Egregious preacher! said she: What, my brother already turned

Puritan!--See what marriage and repentance may bring a man to! I

heartily congratulate this change!--Well, said she, (and came towards

me, and I trembled to see her coming; but her brother followed to

observe her, and I stood up at her approach, and she said,) give me thy

hand, Mrs. Pamela, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. what shall I call thee?--Thou hast

done wonders in a little time; thou hast not only made a rake a husband

but thou hast made a rake a preacher! But take care, added she, after

all, in ironical anger, and tapped me on the neck, take care that thy

vanity begins not where his ends; and that thou callest not thyself my

sister. She shall, I hope, Lady Davers, said he, when she can make as great a

convert of you from pride, as she has of me, from libertinism.




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