Previous  - next

this!--When I had got matters thus far, and had made all up for Mrs.
Jervis, I was in hopes to have got a double holiday of joy for all the
family, in your pardon too. Well, said my master, this is a little
specimen of what I told you, Longman. You see there's a spirit you did
not expect.

Mrs. Jervis told me after, that she could stay no longer, to hear me so
hardly used; and must have spoken, had she staid, what would never have
been forgiven her; so she went out. I looked after her to go too; but my
master said, Come, Pamela, give another specimen, I desire you, to
Longman I am sure you must, if you will but speak. Well, sir, said I,
since it seems your greatness wants to be justified by my lowness, and I
have no desire you should suffer in the sight of your family, I will say,
on my bended knees, (and so I kneeled down,) that I have been a very
faulty, and a very ungrateful creature to the best of masters: I have
been very perverse and saucy; and have deserved nothing at your hands but
to be turned out of your family with shame and disgrace. I, therefore,
have nothing to say for myself, but that I am not worthy to stay, and so
cannot wish to stay, and will not stay: And so God Almighty bless you,
and you Mr. Longman, and good Mrs. Jervis, and every living soul of the
family! and I will pray for you as long as I live!--And so I rose up, and
was forced to lean upon my master's elbow-chair, or I should have sunk
down.

The poor old man wept more than I, and said, Ads-bobbers, was ever the
like heard! 'Tis too much, too much; I can't bear it. As I hope to
live, I am quite melted. Dear sir, forgive her! The poor thing prays
for you; she prays for us all! She owns her fault; yet won't be
forgiven! I profess I know not what to make of it.

My master himself, hardened wretch as he was, seemed a little moved, and
took his handkerchief out of his pocket, and walked to the window: What
sort of a day is it? said he.--And then, getting a little more hard-
heartedness, he said, Well, you may be gone from my presence, thou
strange medley of inconsistence! but you shan't stay after your time in
the house.

Nay, pray, sir, pray, sir, said the good old man, relent a little. Ads-
heartikins! you young gentlemen are made of iron and steel, I think; I'm
sure, said he, my heart's turned into butter, and is running away at my
eyes. I never felt the like before.--Said my master, with an imperious
tone, Get out of my presence, hussy! I can't bear you in my sight. Sir,
said I, I'm going as fast as I can.

But, indeed, my dear father and mother, my head was so giddy, and my
limbs trembled so, that I was forced to go holding by the wainscot all
the way with both my hands, and thought I should not have got to the
door: But when I did, as I hoped this would be my last interview with
this terrible hard-hearted master, I turned about, and made a low
courtesy, and said, God bless you, sir! God bless you, Mr. Longman! and
I went into the lobby leading to the great hall, and dropt into the first

Previous  - next