She stamped with her foot, and said, God give me patience! So much
contempt to a sister that loves you so well; and so much tenderness to a
vile----
He put his hand before her mouth: Be silent, said he, once more, I charge
you! You know not the innocence you abuse so freely. I ought not,
neither will I bear it.
She sat down and fanned herself, and burst into tears, and such sobs of
grief, or rather passion, that grieved me to hear; and I sat and trembled
sadly.
He walked about the room in great anger; and at last said, Let me ask
you, Lady Davers, why I am thus insolently to be called to account by
you? Am I not independent? Am I not of age? Am I not at liberty to
please myself?--Would to God, that, instead of a woman, and my sister,
any man breathing had dared, whatever were his relation under that of a
father, to give himself half the airs you have done!--Why did you not
send on this accursed errand your lord, who could write me such a letter
as no gentleman should write, nor any gentleman tamely receive? He
should have seen the difference.
We all know, said she, that, since your Italian duel, you have commenced
a bravo; and all your airs breathe as strongly of the manslayer as of the
libertine. This, said he, I will bear; for I have no reason to be
ashamed of that duel, nor the cause of it; since it was to save a friend,
and because it is levelled at myself only: but suffer not your tongue to
take too great a liberty with my Pamela.
Pages:
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702