cy to
me, and said, she would be the making of me, if I was a good girl; and
she put me to sing, to dance, to play on the spinnet, in order to divert
her melancholy hours; and also taught me all manner of fine needle-work;
but still this was her lesson, My good Pamela, be virtuous, and keep the
men at a distance. Well, so I was, I hope, and so I did; and yet, though
I say it, they all loved me and respected me; and would do any thing for
me, as if I was a gentlewoman.

But, then, what comes next?--Why, it pleased God to take my good lady:
and then comes my master: And what says he?--Why, in effect, it is, Be
not virtuous, Pamela.

So here I have lived about sixteen years in virtue and reputation; and
all at once, when I come to know what is good, and what is evil, I must
renounce all the good, all the whole sixteen years' innocence, which,
next to God's grace, I owed chiefly to my parents, and my lady's good
lessons and examples, and choose the evil; and so, in a moment's time,
become the vilest of creatures! And all this, for what, I pray? Why,
truly, for a pair of diamond ear-rings, a necklace, and a diamond ring
for my finger; which would not become me: For a few paltry fine
clothes, which, when I wore them, would make but my former poverty more
ridiculous to every body that saw me; especially when they knew the base
terms I wore them upon. But, indeed, I was to have a great parcel of
guineas beside; I forget how many; for, had there been ten times more,
they would have been not so much to me, as the honest six guineas you
tricked me out of, Mrs. Jewkes.

Well, forsooth! but then I was to have I know not how many pounds a year
for my life; and my poor father (there was the jest of it!) was to be
the manager for the abandoned prostitute his daughter: And then, (there
was the jest again!) my kind, forgiving, virtuous master, would pardon
me all my misdeeds!

Yes, thank him for nothing, truly. And what, pray, are all these violent
misdeeds?--Why, they are for daring to adhere to the good lessons that
were taught me; and not learning a new one, that would have reversed all
my former: For not being contented when I was run away with, in order to
be ruined; but contriving, if my poor wits had been able, to get out of
danger, and preserve myself honest.

Then was he once jealous of poor John, though he knew John was his own
creature, and helped to deceive me.

Then was he outrageous against poor Parson Williams! and