Well, said Mr. Perry, very kindly and politely, excellent as your lady
is, I know not the gentleman that could deserve her, but that one who
could say such just and such fine things.
I was all abashed; and took Miss Darnford's hand, and said, Save me, dear
miss, by your sweet example, from my rising pride. But could I deserve
half these kind things, what a happy creature should I be! said Miss
Darnford, You deserve them all, indeed you do.
The greatest part of the company having sat down to loo, my master being
pressed, said he would take one game at whist; but had rather be excused
too, having been up all night: and I asked how his friend did? We'll
talk of that, said he, another time; which, and his seriousness, made me
fear the poor gentleman was dead, as it proved.
We cast in, and Miss Boroughs and my master were together, and Mr. Perry
and I; and I had all four honours the first time, and we were up at one
deal. Said my master, An honourable hand, Pamela, should go with an
honourable heart; but you'd not have been up, if a knave had not been
one. Whist, sir, said Mr. Perry, you know, was a court game originally;
and the knave, I suppose, signified always the prime minister.
'Tis well, said my master, if now there is but one knave in a court, out
of four persons, take the court through.
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