That's a dear girl! said he; I see my hints are not thrown away upon you;
and I beg pardon for being angry with you; and, for the future, will stay
till I hear your defence, before I judge you. Said Miss Darnford, This
is a little better! To own a fault is some reparation; and what every
lordly husband will not do. He said, But tell me, my dear, did Lady
Davers offer you any incivility? O sir, replied I, she is your sister,
and I must not tell you all; but she has used me very severely! Did you
tell her, said he, you were married? Yes, sir, I did at last; but she
will have it 'tis a sham-marriage, and that I am a vile creature: and she
was ready to beat me, when I said so: for she could not have patience,
that I should be deemed her sister, as she said.
How unlucky it was, replied he, I was not at home?--Why did you not send
to me here? Send, sir! I was kept prisoner by force. They would not let
me stir, or do you think I would have been hindered from obeying you?
Nay, I told them, that I had a pre-engagement; but she ridiculed me, and
said, Waiting-maids talk of pre-engagements! And then I shewed her your
kind letter; and she made a thousand remarks upon it, and made me wish I
had not. In short, whatever I could do or say, there was no pleasing
her; and I was a creature and wench, and all that was naught.
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