able you to overcome a regard so
unworthy your condition: And this, good sir, is the best advice I can
offer.

Charming creature! lovely Pamela! said he, (with an ardour that was
never before so agreeable to me,) this generous manner is of a piece
with all the rest of your conduct. But tell me, still more explicitly,
what you would advise me to, in the case.

O, sir! said I, take not advantage of my credulity, and these my weak
moments: but were I the first lady in the land, instead of the poor
abject Pamela, I would, I could tell you. But I can say no more--

O my dear father and mother! now I know you will indeed be concerned for
me;--for now I am for myself.--And now I begin to be afraid I know
too well the reason why all his hard trials of me, and my black
apprehensions, would not let me hate him.

But be assured still, by God's grace, that I shall do nothing unworthy
of your Pamela; and if I find that he is still capable of deceiving me,
and that this conduct is only put on to delude me more, I shall think
nothing in this world so vile, and so odious; and nothing, if he be
not the worst of his kind, (as he says, and, I hope, he is not,) so
desperately guileful, as the heart of man.

He generously said, I will spare your confusion, Pamela. But I hope I
may promise myself, that you can love me preferably to any other man;
and that no one in the world has had any share in your affections; for
I am very jealous of what I love; and if I thought you had a secret
whispering in your soul, that had not yet come up to a wish, for any
other man breathing, I should not forgive myself to persist in my
affection for you; nor you, if you did not frankly acquaint me with it.

As I still continued on my knees, on the grass border by the pond-side,
he sat himself down on the grass by me, and took me in his arms: Why
hesitates my Pamela? said he.--Can you not answer me with truth, as I
wish? If you cannot, speak, and I will forgive you.

O good sir, said I, it is not that; indeed it is not: but a frightful
word or two that you said to Mrs. Jewkes, when you thought I was not
in hearing, comes cross my mind; and makes me dread that I am in more
danger than ever I was in my life.

You have never found me a common liar, said he, (too fearful and foolish
Pamela!) nor will I answer how long I may hold in my present mind; for
my pride struggles hard within me, I'll assure you; and if you doubt me,
I have no obligation to your confi