ladies may say any thing.

Says Lady Towers, Can the pretty image speak, Mrs. Jervis? I vow she has
speaking eyes! O you little rogue, said she, and tapped me on the cheek,
you seem born to undo, or to be undone!

God forbid, and please your ladyship, said I, it should be either!--I
beg, said I, to withdraw; for the sense I have of my unworthiness renders
me unfit for such a presence.

I then went away, with one of my best courtesies; and Lady Towers said,
as I went out, Prettily said, I vow!--And Lady Brooks said, See that
shape! I never saw such a face and shape in my life; why, she must be
better descended than you have told me!

And so they run on for half an hour more in my praises, as I was told;
and glad was I, when I got out of the hearing of them.

But, it seems, they went down with such a story to my master, and so full
of me, that he had much ado to stand it; but as it was very little to my
reputation, I am sure I could take no pride in it; and I feared it would
make no better for me. This gives me another cause for wishing myself
out of this house.

This is Thursday morning, and next Thursday I hope to set out; for I have
finished my task, and my master is horrid cross! And I am vexed his
crossness affects me so. If ever he had any kindness towards me, I
believe he now hates me heartily.

Is it not strange, that love borders so much upon hate? But this wicked