Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded

My best friend, who always takes delight to have me praised, seemed much

pleased with our conversation; and he said the kindest, tenderest, and

most respectful things in the world to me. Insomuch, that the rough

Mr. Martin said, Did you ever think our good friend here, who used to

ridicule matrimony so much, would have made so complaisant a husband?

How long do you intend, sir, that this shall hold? As long as my good

girl deserves it, said he; and that, I hope, will be for ever. But,

continued the kind gentleman, you need not wonder I have changed my mind

as to wedlock; for I never expected to meet with one whose behaviour and

sweetness of temper were so well adapted to make me happy.

After dinner, and having drank good healths to each of their ladies, I

withdrew; and they sat and drank two bottles of claret a-piece, and were

very merry; and went away, full of my praises, and vowing to bring their

ladies to see me. John having brought me your kind letter, my dear father, I told my good

master, after his friends were gone, how gratefully you received his

generous intentions as to the Kentish farm, and promised your best

endeavours to serve him in that estate; and that you hoped your industry

and care would be so well employed in it, that you should be very little

troublesome to him,--as to the liberal manner in which he had intended

to add to a provision, that of itself exceeded all you wished. He was

very well pleased with your cheerful acceptance of it.

I am glad your engagements in the world lie in so small a compass. As

soon as you have gotten an account of them exactly, you will be pleased

to send it me, with the list of the poor folks you are so kind to

promise to procure me. I think, as my dear master is so generous, you should account nothing

that is plain, too good. Pray don't be afraid of laying out upon

yourselves. My dear sir intends that you shall not, when you come to us,

return to your old abode; but stay with us, till you set out for Kent;

and so you must dispose of yourselves accordingly. And I hope, my dear

father, you have quite left off all slavish business. As farmer Jones

has been kind to you, as I have heard you say, pray, when you take leave

of them, present them with three guineas worth of good books; such as

a family bible, a common prayer, a whole duty of man, or any other you

think will be acceptable; for they live a great way from church; and in

winter the ways from their farm thither are impassable.