Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded

That after this, designing to break off all correspondence with the

whole family, and miss too, she found means to engage him to give her

a meeting at Woodstock, in order to clear herself: That, poor lady! she

was there obliged, naughty creature as he was! to make herself quite

guilty of a worse fault, in order to clear herself of a lighter:

That they afterwards met at Godstow often, at Woodstock, and every

neighbouring place to Oxford, where he was then studying, as it proved,

guilty lessons, instead of improving ones; till, at last, the effect

of their frequent interviews grew too obvious to be concealed: That the

young lady then, when she was not fit to be seen, for the credit of the

family, was confined, and all manner of means were used, to induce him

to marry her:

That, finding nothing would do, they at last resolved

to complain to his father and mother; but that he made his sister

acquainted with the matter, who then happened to be at home; and, by her

management and spirit, their intentions of that sort were frustrated;

and, seeing no hopes, they agreed to Lady Davers's proposals, and sent

poor miss down to Marlborough, where, at her expense, which he answered

to her again, she was provided for, and privately lay-in: That Lady

Davers took upon herself the care of the little one, till it came to be

fit to be put to the boarding-school, where it now is: And that he had

settled upon the dear little miss such a sum of money, as the interest

of it would handsomely provide for her: and the principal would be

a tolerable fortune, fit for a gentlewoman, when she came to be

marriageable. And this, my dear, said he, is the story in brief. And

I do assure you, Pamela, added he, I am far from making a boast of, or

taking a pride in, this affair: But since it has happened, I can't say

but I wish the poor child to live, and be happy; and I must endeavour to

make her so. Sir, said I, to be sure you should; and I shall take a very great pride

to contribute to the dear little soul's felicity, if you will permit me

to have her home.--But, added I, does miss know any thing who are her

father and mother? I wanted him to say if the poor lady was living or

dead.--No, answered he. Her governess has been told, by my sister, that

she is the daughter of a gentleman and his lady, who are related, at

a distance, to Lord Davers, and now live in Jamaica; and she calls me

uncle, only because I am the brother to Lady Davers, whom she calls

aunt, and who is very fond of her: as is also my lord, who knows the

whole matter; and they have her, at all her little school recesses, at

their house, and are very kind to her.