said the good gentleman, let me hear what my dear girl would
have said in her justification, could I have trusted myself with her, as
to her fears, and the reason of her wishing herself from me, at a time
that I had begun to shew my fondness for her, in a manner that I thought
would have been agreeable to her and virtue.

I pulled out of my pocket the gipsy letter; but I said, before I shewed
it to him, I have this letter, sir, to shew you, as what, I believe, you
will allow must have given me the greatest disturbance: but, first, as
I know not who is the writer, and it seems to be in a disguised hand, I
would beg it as a favour, that, if you guess who it is, which I cannot,
it may not turn to their prejudice, because it was written, very
probably, with no other view, than to serve me.

He took it, and read it. And it being signed Somebody, he said, Yes,
this is indeed from Somebody; and, disguised as the hand is, I know the
writer: Don't you see, by the setness of some of these letters, and a
little secretary cut here and there, especially in that c, and that r,
that it is the hand of a person bred in the law-way? Why, Pamela, said
he, 'tis old Longman's hand: an officious rascal as he is!--But I have
done with him. O sir, said I, it would be too insolent in me to offer
(so much am I myself overwhelmed with your goodness,) to defend any body
that you are angry with: Yet, sir, so far as they have incurred your
displeasure for my sake, and for no other want of duty or respect, I
could wish--But I dare not say more.

But, said he, as to the letter and the information it contains: Let me
know, Pamela, when you received this? On the Friday, sir, said I, that
you were gone to the wedding at Stamford.--How could it be conveyed
to you, said he, unknown to Mrs. Jewkes, when I gave her such a strict
charge to attend you, and you had promised me, that you would not throw
yourself in the way of such intelligence? For, said he, when I went to
Stamford, I knew, from a private intimation given me, that there would
be an attempt made to see you, or give you a letter, by somebody, if not
to get you away; but was not certain from what quarter, whether from my
sister Davers, Mrs. Jervis, Mr. Longman, or John Arnold, or your father;
and as I was then but struggling with myself, whether to give way to my
honourable inclinations, or to free you, and let you go to your father,
that I might avoid the danger I found myself in of the former;