And I hope,
sir, added I, to my master, your goodness will permit me to say this.
You, Pamela, said he, may make what acknowledgments you please to Mr.
Williams's good intentions; and I would have you speak as you think; but
I do not apprehend myself to be quite so much obliged to those
intentions.
Sir, said Mr. Williams, I beg leave to say, I knew well, that, by
education, you was no libertine; nor had I reason to think you so by
inclination; and, when you came to reflect, I hoped you would not be
displeased with me. And this was no small motive to me, at first, to do
as I did.
Ay, but Mr. Williams, said my master, could you think I should have had
reason to thank you, if, loving one person above all her sex, you had
robbed me of her, and married her yourself?--And then, said he, you are
to consider, that she was an old acquaintance of mine, and a quite new
one to you; that I had sent her down to my own house, for better securing
her; and that you, who had access to my house, could not effect your
purpose, without being guilty, in some sort, of a breach of the laws of
hospitality and friendship. As to my designs upon her, I own they had
not the best appearance; but still I was not answerable to Mr. Williams
for those; much less could you be excused to invade a property so very
dear to me, and to endeavour to gain an interest in her affections, when
you could not be certain that matters would not turn out as they have
actually done.
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