I thought your ladyship,
replied I, could not have taken exceptions at this message. Thou knowest
nothing, wench, said she, of what belongs to people of condition: How
shouldst thou? Nor, thought I, do I desire it, at this rate.
What shall I say, madam? said I. Nothing at all, replied she; let him
expect his dearest love, and be disappointed; it is but adding a few more
hours, and he will make every one a day, in his amorous account.--Mrs.
Jewkes coming nearer me, and my lady walking about the room, being then
at the end, I whispered, Let Robert stay at the elms; I'll have a
struggle for't by and by.
As much married as I! repeated she.--The insolence of the creature!--And
so she walked about the room, talking to herself, to her woman, and now
and then to me; but seeing I could not please her, I thought I had better
be silent. And then it was, Am I not worthy an answer? If I speak, said
I, your ladyship is angry at me, though ever so respectfully; if I do
not, I cannot please: Would your ladyship tell me but how I shall oblige
you, and I would do it with all my heart.
Confess the truth, said she, that thou art an undone creature; hast been
in bed with thy master; and art sorry for it, and for the mischief thou
hast occasioned between him and me; and then I'll pity thee, and persuade
him to pack thee off, with a hundred or two of guineas; and some honest
farmer may take pity of thee, and patch up thy shame, for the sake of the
money; and if nobody will have thee, thou must vow penitence, and be as
humble as I once thought thee.
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