:up: - though this risks a misunderstanding of what 'bear with me' means. ;-) A lot of shop assistants today think it's a fancy way of saying 'Wait'.It's an antiquated way of saying 'Bear with me.'
Rover
:up: - Yes, but 'Pay attention' in the specific sense 'listen to what I have to say, and engage in a subsequent conversation if necessary', not just 'notice'.
Georgette Heyer would certainly have used it - but as between social equals. In those days, polite conversation was lavishly sprinkled with this sort of language; at the end of a conversation, one or both participants would say 'Your servant, sir'*.
b
PS* For Lusophones: this is reminiscent of 'Às ordens da sua Excelência'.
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