, be missed till the morning, this
will give me opportunity to get a great way off; and I am sure I will
run for it when I am out. And so I trust, that Providence will direct my
steps to some good place of safety, and make some worthy body my friend;
for sure, if I suffer ever so, I cannot be in more danger, nor in worse
hands, than where I am; and with such avowed bad designs.

O my dear parents! don't be frightened when you come to read this!--But
all will be over before you can see it; and so God direct me for the
best! My writings, for fear I should not escape, I will bury in the
garden; for, to be sure, I shall be searched and used dreadfully if I
can't get off. And so I will close here, for the present, to prepare for
my plot. Prosper thou, O gracious Protector of oppressed innocence! this
last effort of thy poor handmaid! that I may escape the crafty devices
and snares that have begun to entangle my virtue; and from which, but
by this one trial, I see no way of escaping. And oh! whatever becomes of
me, bless my dear parents, and protect poor Mr. Williams from ruin! for
he was happy before he knew me.

Just now, just now! I heard Mrs. Jewkes, who is in her cups, own to the
horrid Colbrand, that the robbing of poor Mr. Williams was a contrivance
of hers, and executed by the groom and a helper, in order to seize my
letters upon him, which they missed. They are now both laughing at the
dismal story, which they little think I overheard--O how my heart
aches! for what are not such wretches capable of! Can you blame me for
endeavouring, through any danger, to get out of such clutches?

Past eleven o'clock.

Mrs. Jewkes is come up, and gone to bed; and bids me not stay long in my
closet, but come to bed. O for a dead sleep for the treacherous brute! I
never saw her so tipsy, and that gives me hopes. I have tried again, and
find I can get my head through the iron bars. I am now all prepared,
as soon as I hear her fast; and now I'll seal up these, and my other
papers, my last work: and to thy providence, O my gracious God! commit
the rest.--Once more, God bless you both! and send us a happy meeting;
if not here, in his heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, the 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st days
of my distress.

And distress indeed! For here I am still; and every thing has been worse
and worse! Oh! the poor unhappy Pamela!--Without any hope left, and
ruined in all my contrivances. But, oh! my