s experienced, and is all involved in the dark bosom of futurity, and
only to be proved by the event.

This, my dear Pamela, said he, is most kindly said! It shews me that you
enter gratefully into my intention. For I would, by my conduct, supply
all these dear relations to you; and I voluntarily promise, from my
heart, to you, what I think I could not, with such assured resolutions
of performance, to the highest-born lady in the kingdom. For let me tell
my sweet girl, that, after having been long tossed by the boisterous
winds of a more culpable passion, I have now conquered it, and am not
so much the victim of your beauty, all charming as you are, as of your
virtue; and therefore may more boldly promise for myself, having so
stable a foundation for my affection; which, should this outward beauty
fail, will increase with your virtue, and shine forth the brighter,
as that is more illustriously displayed by the augmented opportunities
which the condition you are now entering into will afford you.--O the
dear charming man! how nobly, how encouragingly kind, was all this!

I could not suitably express myself: And he said, I see my girl is at a
loss for words! I doubt not your kind acceptance of my declarations. And
when I have acted too much the part of a libertine formerly, for you
to look back without some anxiety, I ought not, being now happily
convicted, to say less.--But why loses my girl her time? I will now only
add, that I hope for many happy years to make good, by my conduct, what
so willingly flows from my lips.

He kissed me again, and said, But, whatever you do, Pamela, be cheerful;
for else, may be, of the small company we shall have, some one, not
knowing how to account for your too nice modesty, will think there is
some other person in the world, whose addresses would be still more
agreeable to you.

This he said with an air of sweetness and pleasantry; but it alarmed
me exceedingly, and made me resolve to appear as calm and cheerful as
possible. For this was, indeed, a most affecting expression, and enough
to make me, if any thing can, behave as I ought, and to force my idle
fears to give way to hopes so much better grounded.--And I began almost,
on this occasion, to wish Mr. Williams were not to marry me, lest I
should behave like a fool; and so be liable to an imputation, which I
should be most unworthy, if I deserved.

So I set about dressing me instantly; and he sent Mrs. Jewkes to assist
me. But I