 any Child, or that she had ever had any more than Joseph and
herself. The Lady flew into a violent Rage with her, and talked of Upstarts and
disowning Relations, who had so lately been on a level with her. Pamela made no
answer: But her Husband, taking up her Cause, severely reprimanded his Aunt for
her Behaviour to his Wife; he told her, if it had been earlier in the Evening,
she should not have staid a Moment longer in her House; that he was convinced,
if this young Woman could be proved her Sister, she would readily embrace her as
such; and he himself would do the same: He then desired the Fellow might be sent
for, and the young Woman with him; which Lady Booby immediately ordered, and
thinking proper to make some Apology to Pamela for what she had said, it was
readily accepted, and all things reconciled.
    The Pedlar now attended, as did Fanny, and Joseph who would not quit her;
the Parson likewise was induced, not only by Curiosity, of which he had no small
Portion, but by his Duty, as he apprehended, to follow them: for he continued
all the way to exhort them, who were now breaking their Hearts, to offer up
Thanksgivings, and be joyful for so miraculous an Escape.
    When they arrived at Booby-Hall, they were presently called into the
Parlour, where the Pedlar repeated the same Story he had told before, and
insisted on the Truth of every Circumstance; so that all who heard him were
extremely well satisfied of the Truth, except Pamela, who imagined, as she had
never heard either of her Parents mention such an Accident, that it must be
certainly false; and except the Lady Booby, who suspected the Falshood of the
Story, from her ardent Desire that it should be true; and Joseph who feared its
Truth, from his earnest Wishes that it might prove false.
    Mr. Booby now desired them all to suspend their Curiosity and absolute
Belief or Disbelief, till the next Morning, when he expected old Mr. Andrews and
his Wife to fetch himself and Pamela home in his Coach, and then they might be
certain of perfectly knowing the Truth or Falshood of this Relation; in which he
said, as there were many strong Circumstances to induce their Credit, so he
could not perceive any Interest the Pedlar could have in inventing it, or in
endeavouring to impose such a Falshood on them.
    The Lady Booby, who was very little used to such Company, entertained them
all, viz. Her Nephew, his Wife, her
