And I did, As to my poor thoughts of what you
ought to do, I must needs say, that indeed I think you ought to regard
the world's opinion, and avoid doing any thing disgraceful to your birth
and fortune; and, therefore, if you really honour the poor Pamela with
your respect, a little time, absence, and the conversation of worthier
persons of my sex, will effectually enable you to overcome a regard so
unworthy your condition: And this, good sir, is the best advice I can
offer.
Charming creature! lovely Pamela! said he, (with an ardour that was never
before so agreeable to me,) this generous manner is of a piece with all
the rest of your conduct. But tell me, still more explicitly, what you
would advise me to, in the case.
O, sir! said I, take not advantage of my credulity, and these my weak
moments: but were I the first lady in the land, instead of the poor
abject Pamela, I would, I could tell you. But I can say no more--
O my dear father and mother! now I know you will indeed be concerned for
me;--for now I am for myself.--And now I begin to be afraid I know too
well the reason why all his hard trials of me, and my black
apprehensions, would not let me hate him.
But be assured still, by God's grace, that I shall do nothing unworthy of
your Pamela; and if I find that he is still capable of deceiving me, and
that this conduct is only put on to delude me more, I shall think nothing
in this world so vile, and so odious; and nothing, if he be not the worst
of his kind, (as he says, and, I hope, he is not,) so desperately
guileful, as the heart of man.
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