This, my dear Pamela, said he, is most kindly said! It shews me that you
enter gratefully into my intention. For I would, by my conduct, supply
all these dear relations to you; and I voluntarily promise, from my
heart, to you, what I think I could not, with such assured resolutions of
performance, to the highest-born lady in the kingdom. For let me tell my
sweet girl, that, after having been long tossed by the boisterous winds
of a more culpable passion, I have now conquered it, and am not so much
the victim of your beauty, all charming as you are, as of your virtue;
and therefore may more boldly promise for myself, having so stable a
foundation for my affection; which, should this outward beauty fail, will
increase with your virtue, and shine forth the brighter, as that is more
illustriously displayed by the augmented opportunities which the
condition you are now entering into will afford you.--O the dear charming
man! how nobly, how encouragingly kind, was all this!
I could not suitably express myself: And he said, I see my girl is at a
loss for words! I doubt not your kind acceptance of my declarations.
And when I have acted too much the part of a libertine formerly, for you
to look back without some anxiety, I ought not, being now happily
convicted, to say less.
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