d, we press him to death, or till he does plead. And so now,
Pamela, that is a punishment shall certainly be yours, if you won't tell
without.

Tears stood in my eyes, and I said, This, sir, is very cruel and
barbarous.--No matter, said he; it is but like your Lucifer, you know,
in my shape! And, after I have done so many heinous things by you as
you think, you have no great reason to judge so hardly of this; or, at
least, it is but of a piece with the rest.

But, sir, said I, (dreadfully afraid he had some notion they were about
me,) if you will be obeyed in this unreasonable manner, though it is sad
tyranny, to be sure!--let me go up to them, and read them over again,
and you shall see so far as to the end of the sad story that follows
those you have.

I'll see them all, said he, down to this time, if you have written so
far:--Or, at least, till within this week.--Then let me go up to them,
said I, and see what I have written, and to what day, to shew them
to you; for you won't desire to see every thing. But I will, replied
he.--But say, Pamela, tell me truth: Are they above? I was much
affrighted. He saw my confusion. Tell me truth, said he. Why, sir,
answered I, I have sometimes hid them under the dry mould in the garden;
sometimes in one place, sometimes in another; and those you have in your
hand, were several days under a rose-bush, in the garden. Artful slut!
said he, What's this to my question?--Are they not about you?--If, said
I, I must pluck them out of my hiding-place behind the wainscot, won't
you see me?--Still more and more artful! said he--Is this an answer to
my question?--I have searched every place above, and in your closet, for
them, and cannot find them; so I will know where they are. Now, said he,
it is my opinion they are about you; and I never undressed a girl in my
life; but I will now begin to strip my pretty Pamela; and I hope I shall
not go far before I find them.

I fell a crying, and said, I will not be used in this manner. Pray, sir,
said I, (for he began to unpin my handkerchief,) consider! Pray sir,
do!--And pray, said he, do you consider. For I will see these papers.
But may be, said he, they are tied about your knees, with your garters,
and stooped. Was ever any thing so vile and so wicked?--I fell on my
knees, and said, What can I do? What can I do? If you'll let me go up
I'll fetch them to you. Will you, said he, on your honour, let me see
them uncurtailed, and not offer to make