o easy an air, so fine
a shape, and so graceful a presence.--The Lady Darnford said, I was a
sweet girl. And Mrs. Peters said very handsome things. Even the parson
said, I should be the pride of the county. O, dear sirs! all this was
owing to the light my good master's favour placed me in, which made
me shine out in their eyes beyond my deserts. He said the young ladies
blushed, and envied me.

When I came near, he saw me in a little confusion, and was so kind as
to meet me: Give me your hand, said he, my poor girl; you walk too fast,
(for, indeed, I wanted to be out of their gazing). I did so, with a
courtesy, and he led me up the steps of the alcove, and, in a most
gentleman-like manner, presented me to the ladies, and they all saluted
me, and said, They hoped to be better acquainted with me: and
Lady Darnford was pleased to say, I should be the flower of their
neighbourhood. Sir Simon said, Good neighbour, by your leave; and
saluting me, added, Now will I say, that I have kissed the loveliest
maiden in England. But, for all this, methought I owed him a grudge
for a tell-tale, though all had turned out so happily. Mr. Peters very
gravely followed his example, and said, like a bishop, God bless you,
fair excellence! said Lady Jones, Pray, dear madam, sit down by me:
and they all sat down: But I said, I would stand, if they pleased.
No, Pamela, said my master: pray sit down with these good ladies, my
neighbours:--They will indulge it to you, for my sake, till they know
you better; and for your own, when they are acquainted with you. Sir,
said I, I shall be proud to deserve their indulgence.

They all so gazed at me, that I could not look up; for I think it is one
of the distinctions of persons of condition, and well-bred people, to
put bashful bodies out of countenance. Well, Sir Simon, said my master,
what say you now to my pretty rustic?--He swore a great oath, that he
should better know what to say to me if he was as young as himself. Lady
Darnford said, You will never leave, Sir Simon.

Said my master, You are a little confused, my good girl, and out of
breath; but I have told all my kind neighbours here a good deal of your
story, and your excellence. Yes, said Lady Darnford, my dear neighbour,
as I will call you; we that are here present have all heard of your
uncommon story. Madam, said I, you have then heard what must make your
kind allowance for me very necessary. No, said Mrs. Peters, we have
heard what will