This is one of the good-natured hints that might shock your sweetness, on
reflecting that you are yoked with a murderer. The other--Nay, brother,
said she, say no more. 'Tis your own fault if you go further. She shall
know it all, said he; and I defy the utmost stretch of your malice.
When I was at college, I was well received by a widow lady, who had
several daughters, and but small fortunes to give them; and the old lady
set one of them (a deserving good girl she was,) to draw me into marriage
with her, for the sake of the fortune I was heir to; and contrived many
opportunities to bring us and leave us together. I was not then of age;
and the young lady, not half so artful as her mother, yielded to my
addresses before the mother's plot could be ripened, and so utterly
disappointed it. This, my Pamela, is the Sally Godfrey, this malicious
woman, with the worst intentions, has informed you of. And whatever
other liberties I may have taken, (for perhaps some more I have, which,
had she known, you had heard of, as well as this,) I desire Heaven will
only forgive me, till I revive its vengeance by the like offences, in
injury to my Pamela.
And now, my dear, you may withdraw; for this worthy sister of mine has
said all the bad she knows of me; and what, at a proper opportunity, when
I could have convinced you, that they were not my boast, but my concern,
I should have acquainted you with myself; for I am not fond of being
thought better than I am: though I hope, from the hour I devoted myself
to so much virtue, to that of my death, my conduct shall be
irreproachable.
Pages:
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724