to the
disgrace you will have brought upon yourself: for, indeed, I will be
very circumspect, and try to be as discreet as I can; and as humble too,
as shall be consistent with your honour.

Cards, 'tis true, I can play at, in all the usual games that our sex
delight in; but this I am not fond of, nor shall ever desire to play,
unless to induce such ladies, as you may wish to see, not to abandon
your house for want of an amusement they are accustomed to.

Music, which our good lady taught me, will fill up some intervals, if I
should have any.

And then, sir, you know, I love reading and scribbling; and though all
the latter will be employed in the family accounts, between the servants
and me, and me and your good self: yet reading, at proper times, will
be a pleasure to me, which I shall be unwilling to give up, for the best
company in the world, except yours. And, O sir! that will help to polish
my mind, and make me worthier of your company and conversation; and,
with the explanations you will give me, of what I shall not understand,
will be a sweet employment, and improvement too.

But one thing, sir, I ought not to forget, because it is the chief: My
duty to God will, I hope, always employ some good portion of my time,
with thanks for his superlative goodness to me; and to pray for you and
myself: for you, sir, for a blessing on you, for your great goodness
to such an unworthy creature: for myself, that I may be enabled to
discharge my duty to you, and be found grateful for all the blessings
I shall receive at the hands of Providence, by means of your generosity
and condescension.

With all this, sir, said I, can you think I shall be at a loss to pass
my time? But, as I know, that every slight to me, if I come to be so
happy, will be, in some measure, a slight to you, I will beg of you,
sir, not to let me go very fine in dress; but appear only so, as that
you may not be ashamed of it after the honour I shall have of being
called by your worthy name: for well I know, sir, that nothing so
much excites the envy of my own sex, as seeing a person above them in
appearance, and in dress. And that would bring down upon me an hundred
saucy things, and low-born brats, and I can't tell what!

There I stopped; for I had prattled a great deal too much so early: and
he said, clasping me to him, Why stops my dear Pamela?--Why does she not
proceed? I could dwell upon your words all the day long; and you shall
be the directres