Your goodness, sir, said I, knows no bounds: O may my gratitude never

find any!--I saw, said my master, when the good man approached you, that

he did it with so much awe and love mingled together, that I fancied he

longed to salute my angel; and I could not but indulge his honest

heart. How blessed am I! said I, and kissed his hand.--And indeed I make

nothing now of kissing his dear hand, as if it was my own!

When honest old Mr. Jonathan come in to attend at dinner, so clean, so

sleek, and so neat, as he always is, with his silver hair, I said, Well,

Mr. Jonathan, how do you do? I am glad to see you.--You look as well as

ever, thank God! O, dear madam! said he, better than ever, to have such

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a blessed sight! God bless you and my good master!--and I hope, sir,

said he, you'll excuse all my past failings. Ay, that I will, Jonathan,

said he; because you never had any, but what your regard for my dear

wife here was the occasion of. And now I can tell you, you can never

err, because you cannot respect her too much. O sir, said he, your

honour is exceeding good! I'm sure I shall always pray for you both.

After dinner, Mr. Longman coming in, and talking of some affairs under

his care, he said afterwards, All your honour's servants are now happy;

for Robert, who left you, had a pretty little fortune fallen to him, or

he never would have quitted your service. He was here but yesterday, to

inquire when you and my lady returned hither; and hoped he might have

leave to pay his duty to you both. Ay, said my master, I shall be glad

to see honest Robert; for that's another of your favourites, Pamela. It

was high time, I think, I should marry you, were it but to engage

the respects of all my family to myself.--There are, sir, said I, ten

thousand reasons why I should rejoice in your goodness.

But I was going to say, said Mr. Longman, That all your honour's old

servants are now happy, but one. You mean John Arnold? said my master. I

do, indeed, said he, if you'll excuse me, sir. O, said I, I have had my

prayer for poor John answered, as favourably as I could wish.--Why, said

Mr. Longman, to be sure poor John has acted no very good part, take it

altogether; but he so much honoured you, sir, and so much respected you,

madam, that he would have been glad to have been obedient to both; and

so was faithful to neither. But, indeed, the poor fellow's heart is

almost broke, and he won't look out for any other place; and says,

he must live in your honour's service, or he must die wretched very

shortly. Mrs. Jervis was there when this was said: Indeed, said she, the

poor man has been here every day since he heard the tidings, that have

rejoiced us all; and he says, he hopes he shall yet be forgiven. Is he

in the house now? said my master. He is, sir; and was here when your

honour came in, and played at hide and seek to have one look at you both

when you alighted; and was ready to go out of his wits for joy, when we

saw your honour hand my lady in. Pamela, said my dear master, you're to

do with John as you please. You have full power. Then pray, sir, said I,

let poor John come in.




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