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. She was greatly moved at this, and the noble manner in which the dear
gentleman owned and repented of his faults; and gushed out into tears,
and said, No, don't yet go, Pamela, I beseech you. My passion has
carried me too far, a great deal; and, coming to me, she shook my hand,
and said, You must stay to hear me beg his pardon; and so took his
hand.--But, to my concern, (for I was grieved for her ladyship's grief,)
he burst from her; and went out of the parlour into the garden in a
violent rage, that made me tremble. Her ladyship sat down, and leaned
her head against my bosom, and made my neck wet with her tears, holding
me by the hands; and I wept for company.--Her kinsman walked up and down
the parlour in a sad fret; and going out afterwards, he came in, and
said, Mr. B---- has ordered his chariot to be got ready, and won't be
spoken to by any body. Where is he? said she.--Walking in the garden
till it is ready, replied he. Well, said she, I have indeed gone too far. I was bewitched! And
now, said she, malicious as he calls me, will he not forgive me for a
twelvemonth: for I tell you, Pamela, if ever you offend, he will not
easily forgive. I was all delighted, though sad, to see her ladyship so
good to me.