Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded

I could no longer refrain tears, but said, Pray your ladyship, let me

ask what I have done, to be thus severely treated? I never did your

ladyship any harm. And if you think I am deceived, as you was pleased to

hint, I should be more entitled to your pity, than your anger.

She rose, and took me by the hand, and led me to her chair; and then sat

down; and still holding my hand, said, Why Pamela, I did indeed pity

you while I thought you innocent; and when my brother seized you, and

brought you down hither, without your consent, I was concerned for you;

and I was still more concerned for you, and loved you, when I heard of

your virtue and resistance, and your laudable efforts to get away from

him. But when, as I fear, you have suffered yourself to be prevailed

upon, and have lost your innocence, and added another to the number

of the fools he has ruined, (This shocked me a little,) I cannot help

shewing my displeasure to you. Madam, replied I,

I must beg no hasty judgment; I have not lost my

innocence.--Take care, take care, Pamela! said she: don't lose your

veracity, as well as your honour!--Why are you here, when you are at

full liberty to go whither you please?--I will make one proposal to you,

and if you are innocent, I am sure you'll accept it. Will you go and

live with me?--I will instantly set out with you in my chariot, and not

stay half an hour longer in this house, if you'll go with me.--Now, if

you are innocent, and willing to keep so, deny me, if you can.

I am innocent, madam, replied I, and willing to keep so; and yet I

cannot consent to this. Then, said she, very mannerly, Thou liest,

child, that's all: and I give thee up!

And so she arose, and walked about the room in great wrath. Her nephew

and her woman said, Your ladyship's very good; 'tis a plain case; a very

plain case! I would have removed the chair, to have gone out; but her nephew came

and sat in it. This provoked me; for I thought I should be unworthy of

the honour I was raised to, though I was afraid to own it, if I did not

shew some spirit; and I said, What, sir, is your pretence in this house,

to keep me a prisoner here? Because, said he--I like it.--Do you so,

sir? replied I: if that is the answer of a gentleman to such an one

as I, it would not, I dare say, be the answer of a gentleman to a

gentleman.--My lady! my lady! said he, a challenge, a challenge, by gad!

No, sir, said I, I am of a sex that gives no challenges; and you think

so too, or you would not give this occasion for the word.