!) must have
had a great effect upon you. One would have thought, sir, it was enough
to reclaim you for ever! All your naughty purposes, I make no doubt,
were quite changed?

Why, my dear, said he, I was much moved, you may be sure, when I came to
reflect: But, at first, I was so assured of being a successful tempter,
and spoiling her voyage, that I was vexed, and much out of humour;
but when I came to reflect, as I said, I was quite overcome with this
instance of her prudence, her penitence, and her resolution; and more
admired her than I ever had done. Yet I could not bear she should so
escape me neither; so much overcome me, as it were, in an heroical
bravery; and I hastened away, and got a bill of credit of Lord Davers,
upon his banker in London, for five hundred pounds; and set out for that
place, having called at Oxford, and got what light I could, as to where
I might hear of her there.

When I arrived in town, which was not till Monday morning, I went to a
place called Crosby-square, where the friends of the two ladies lived.
She had set out in the flying-coach on Tuesday; got to the two ladies
that very night; and, on Saturday, had set out with them for Gravesend,
much about the time I was expecting her at Woodstock.

You may suppose that I was much affected, my dear, with this. However,
I got my bill of credit converted into money; and I set out with my
servant on Monday afternoon, and reached Gravesend that night; and there
I understood that she and the two ladies had gone on board from the very
inn I put up at, in the morning; and the ship waited only for the wind,
which then was turning about in its favour.

I got a boat directly, and went on board the ship, and asked for Mrs.
Godfrey. But judge you, my dear Pamela, her surprise and confusion, when
she saw me! She had like to have fainted away. I offered any money to
put off the sailing till next day, but it would not be complied with;
and fain would I have got her on shore, and promised to attend her, if
she would go over land, to any part of England the ship would touch at.
But she was immovable.

Every one concluded me her humble servant, and were touched at the
moving interview; the young ladies, and their female attendants,
especially. With great difficulty, upon my solemn assurances of honour,
she trusted herself with me in one of the cabins; and there I tried,
what I could, to prevail upon her to quit her purpose; but all in
vain: She said, I ha