Hitherto, my dearest sir, replied I, you have not only prevented my
wishes, but my hopes, and even my thoughts. And yet I must own, since
your kind command of speaking my mind seems to shew, that you expect from
me I should say something; that I have only one or two things to wish
more, and then I shall be too happy. Say, said he, what they are. Sir,
proceeded I, I am, indeed, ashamed to ask any thing, lest it should not
be agreeable to you; and lest it should look as if I was taking advantage
of your kind condescensions to me, and knew not when to be satisfied!
I will only tell you, Pamela, said he, that you are not to imagine, that
these things, which I have done, in hopes of obliging you, are the sudden
impulses of a new passion for you. But, if I can answer for my own mind,
they proceed from a regular and uniform desire of obliging you: which, I
hope, will last as long as your merit lasts; and that, I make no doubt,
will be as long as I live. And I can the rather answer for this, because
I really find so much delight in myself in my present way of thinking and
acting, as infinitely overpays me; and which, for that reason, I am
likely to continue, for both our sakes. My beloved wife, therefore, said
he, for methinks I am grown fond of a name I once despised, may venture
to speak her mind; and I will promise, that, so far as it is agreeable to
me, and I cheerfully can, I will comply; and you will not insist upon it,
if that should not be the case.
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