In all companies she must have shewn, that she had, whether I deserved it
altogether or not, a high regard and opinion of me; and this the rather,
as such a conduct in her would be a reputation and security to herself:
For if we rakes attempt a married lady, our first encouragement,
exclusive of our own vanity, arises from the indifferent opinion, slight,
or contempt, she expresses of her husband.
I should expect, therefore, that she should draw a kind veil over my
faults; that such as she could not hide, she would extenuate; that she
would place my better actions in an advantageous light, and shew that I
had her good opinion, at least, whatever liberties the world took with my
character.
She must have valued my friends for my sake; been cheerful and easy,
whomsoever I had brought home with me; and, whatever faults she had
observed in me, have never blamed me before company; at least, with such
an air of superiority, as should have shewn she had a better opinion of
her own judgment, than of mine.
Now, my Pamela, this is but a faint sketch of the conduct I must have
expected from my wife, let her quality have been what it would; or have
lived with her on bad terms. Judge then, if to me a lady of the modish
taste could have been tolerable.
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