Well, but, Mrs. Jervis, said I, let me ask you, if he can stoop to like
such a poor girl as me, as perhaps he may, (for I have read of things
almost as strange, from great men to poor damsels,) What can it be for?--
He may condescend, perhaps, to think I may be good enough for his harlot;
and those things don't disgrace men that ruin poor women, as the world
goes. And so if I was wicked enough, he would keep me till I was undone,
and till his mind changed; for even wicked men, I have read, soon grow
weary of wickedness with the same person, and love variety. Well, then,
poor Pamela must be turned off, and looked upon as a vile abandoned
creature, and every body would despise her; ay, and justly too, Mrs.
Jervis; for she that can't keep her virtue, ought to live in disgrace.
But, Mrs. Jervis, I continued, let me tell you, that I hope, if I was
sure he would always be kind to me, and never turn me off at all, that I
shall have so much grace, as to hate and withstand his temptations, were
he not only my master, but my king: and that for the sin's sake. This my
poor dear parents have always taught me; and I should be a sad wicked
creature indeed, if, for the sake of riches or favour, I should forfeit
my good name; yea, and worse than any other young body of my sex; because
I can so contentedly return to my poverty again, and think it a less
disgrace to be obliged to wear rags, and live upon rye-bread and water,
as I used to do, than to be a harlot to the greatest man in the world.
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