Clarissa, Volume 6 - The History Of A Young Lady

Clarissa, Volume 6 − The History Of A Young Lady 103
She was shown the paper−−−−
But too evident!−−Cursed, cursed toad, devil, jade, passed from each mouth:−−and the vileness of the
corrupted, and the unworthiness of the corruptress, were inveighed against.
Up we all went, passing the lady's door into the dining−room, to proceed to trial.−−−−
Stamp, stamp, stamp up, each on her heels; rave, rave, rave, every tongue −−−−
Bring up the creature before us all this instant!−−−−
And would she have got out of the house, say you?−−
These the noises and the speeches as we clattered by the door of the fair bribress.
Up was brought Dorcas (whimpering) between two, both bawling out−−You must go−−You shall go−−'Tis fit
you should answer for yourself−−You are a discredit to all worthy servants−−as they pulled and pushed her
up stairs.−−She whining, I cannot see his honour−−I cannot look so good and so generous a gentleman in the
face−−O how shall I bear my aunt's ravings?−−−−
Come up, and be d−−n'd−−Bring her forward, her imperial judge−−What a plague, it is the detection, not the
crime, that confounds you. You could be quiet enough for days together, as I see by the date, under the
villany. Tell me, ungrateful devil, tell me who made the first advances?
Ay, disgrace to my family and blood, cried the old one−−tell his honour−− tell the truth!−−Who made the first
advances?−−−−
Ay, cursed creature, cried Sally, who made the first advances?
I have betrayed one trust already!−−O let me not betray another!−−My lady is a good lady!−−O let not her
suffer!−−
Tell all you know. Tell the whole truth, Dorcas, cried Polly Horton.−− His honour loves his lady too well to
make her suffer much: little as she requites his love!−−−−
Every body sees that, cried Sally−−too well, indeed, for his honour, I was going to say.
Till now, I thought she deserved my love−−But to bribe a servant thus, who she supposed had orders to watch
her steps, for fear of another elopement; and to impute that precaution to me as a crime!−−Yet I must love
her−−Ladies, forgive my weakness!−−−−
Curse upon my grimaces!−−if I have patience to repeat them!−−But thou shalt have it all−−thou canst not
despise me more than I despise myself!
***
But suppose, Sir, said Sally, you have my lady and the wench face to face! You see she cares not to confess.
O my carelessness! cried Dorcas−−Don't let my poor lady suffer!−−Indeed, if you all knew what I know, you
would say her ladyship has been cruelly treated−−
See, see, see, see!−−repeatedly, every one at once−−Only sorry for the detection, as your honour said−−not