Mrs. Peters whispered Lady Jones, as my master told me afterwards; Did
you ever see such excellence, such prudence, and discretion? Never in my
life, said the other good lady. She will adorn, she was pleased to say,
her distinction. Ay, says Mrs. Peters, she would adorn any station in
life.
My good master was highly delighted, generous gentleman as he is! with
the favourable opinion of the ladies; and I took the more pleasure in it,
because their favour seemed to lessen the disgrace of his stooping so
much beneath himself.
Lady Darnford said, We will not oppress you; though we could almost blame
your too punctilious exactness: but if we excuse Miss Andrews from
dinner, we must insist upon her company at the card-table, and at a dish
of tea; for we intend to pass the whole day with you, sir, as we told
you. What say you to that, Pamela, said my master. Sir, replied I,
whatever you and the ladies please, I will cheerfully do. They said, I
was very obliging. But Sir Simon rapt out an oath, and said, That they
might dine together, if they would; but he would dine with me, and nobody
else: for, said he, I say, sir, as Parson Williams said, (by which I
found my master had told them the story,) You must not think you have
chosen one that nobody can like but yourself.
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