coach and six drove into the court, and a servant
acquainted her with the arrival of her nephew Booby
and his lady. She ordered them to be conducted
into a drawing-room, whither she presently repaired,
having composed her countenance as well as she could,
and being a little satisfied that the wedding would
by these means be at least interrupted, and that she
should have an opportunity to execute any resolution
she might take, for which she saw herself provided
with an excellent instrument in Scout.
The Lady Booby apprehended her servant had made a
mistake when he mentioned Mr Booby’s lady; for
she had never heard of his marriage: but how
great was her surprize when, at her entering the room,
her nephew presented his wife to her; saying, “Madam,
this is that charming Pamela, of whom I am convinced
you have heard so much.” The lady received
her with more civility than he expected; indeed with
the utmost; for she was perfectly polite, nor had
any vice inconsistent with good-breeding. They
past some little time in ordinary discourse, when a
servant came and whispered Mr Booby, who presently
told the ladies he must desert them a little on some
business of consequence; and, as their discourse during
his absence would afford little improvement or entertainment
to the reader, we will leave them for a while to attend
Mr Booby.
Containing justice business; curious precedents
of depositions, and other matters necessary to be
perused by all justices of the peace and their clerks.
The young squire and his lady were no sooner alighted
from their coach than the servants began to inquire
after Mr Joseph, from whom they said their lady had
not heard a word, to her great surprize, since he had
left Lady Booby’s. Upon this they were instantly
informed of what had lately happened, with which they
hastily acquainted their master, who took an immediate
resolution to go himself, and endeavour to restore
his Pamela her brother, before she even knew she had
lost him.
The justice before whom the criminals were carried,
and who lived within a short mile of the lady’s
house, was luckily Mr Booby’s acquaintance,
by his having an estate in his neighbourhood.
Ordering therefore his horses to his coach, he set
out for the judgment-seat, and arrived when the justice
had almost finished his business. He was conducted
into a hall, where he was acquainted that his worship
would wait on him in a moment; for he had only a man
and a woman to commit to Bridewell first. As
he was now convinced he had not a minute to lose, he
insisted on the servant’s introducing him directly
into the room where the justice was then executing
his office, as he called it. Being brought thither,
and the first compliments being passed between the
squire and his worship, the former asked the latter
what crime those two young people had been guilty
of? “No great crime,” answered the
