for twenty such
as you and I!--And then he laughed again, and repeated--I can't scold,
quoth-a! but, by gad, miss, you can speak d----d spiteful words, I
can tell you that!--Poor Beck, poor Beck!--'Fore gad, she's quite
dumbfoundered!

Well, but Pamela, said my lady, come hither, and tell me truly, Dost
thou think thyself really married?--Said I, and approached her chair, My
good lady, I'll answer all your commands, if you'll have patience with
me, and not be so angry as you are: But I can't bear to be used thus
by this gentleman, and your ladyship's woman. Child, said she, thou art
very impertinent to my kinsman; thou can'st not be civil to me; and my
ladyship's woman is much thy betters. But that's not the thing!--Dost
thou think thou art really married?

I see, madam, said I, you are resolved not to be pleased with any answer
I shall return: If I should say, I am not, then your ladyship will call
me hard names, and, perhaps, I should tell a fib. If I should say, I
am, your ladyship will ask, how I have the impudence to be so?--and will
call it a sham-marriage. I will, said she, be answered more directly.
Why, what, madam, does it signify what I think? Your ladyship will
believe as you please.

But can'st thou have the vanity, the pride, the folly, said she, to
think thyself actually married to my brother? He is no fool, child; and
libertine enough of conscience; and thou art not the first in the
list of his credulous harlots.--Well, well, said I, (and was in a sad
flutter,) as I am easy, and pleased with my lot, pray, madam, let me
continue so, as long as I can. It will be time enough for me to know the
worst, when the worst comes. And if it should be so bad, your ladyship
should pity me, rather than thus torment me before my time.

Well, said she, but dost not think I am concerned, that a young wench,
whom my poor dear mother loved so well, should thus cast herself away,
and suffer herself to be deluded and undone, after such a noble stand as
thou madst for so long a time?

I think myself far from being deluded and undone, and am as innocent and
virtuous as ever I was in my life. Thou liest, child, said she.

So your ladyship told me twice before.

She gave me a slap on the hand for this; and I made a low courtesy, and
said, I humbly thank your ladyship! but I could not refrain tears: And
added, Your dear brother, madam, however, won't thank your ladyship for
this usage of me, though I do. Come a little near