Shut the door, Pamela, and come to me in my closet: I want to have a
little serious talk with you. How can I, sir, said I, how can I! and
wrung my hands. O pray, sir, let me go out of your presence, I beseech
you! By the God that made me, said he, I'll do you no harm. Shut the
parlour door, and come to me in my library.

He then went into his closet, which is his library, and full of rich
pictures besides; a noble apartment, though called a closet, and next the
private garden, into which it has a door that opens. I shut the parlour
door, as he bid me; but stood at it irresolute. Place some confidence in
me, said he: Surely you may, when I have spoken thus solemnly. So I
crept towards him with trembling feet, and my heart throbbing through my
handkerchief. Come in, said he, when I bid you. I did so. Pray, sir,
said I, pity and spare me. I will, said he, as I hope to be saved. He
sat down upon a rich settee; and took hold of my hand, and said, Don't
doubt me, Pamela. From this moment I will no more consider you as my
servant: and I desire you'll not use me with ingratitude for the kindness
I am going to express towards you. This a little emboldened me; and he
said, holding both my hands between his, You have too much wit and good
sense not to discover, that I, in spite of my heart, and all the pride of
it, cannot but love you. Yes, look up to me, my sweet-faced girl! I
must say I love you; and have put on a behaviour to you, that was much
against my heart, in hopes to frighten you from your reservedness. You
see I own it ingenuously; and don't play your sex upon me for it.

I was unable to speak; and he, seeing me too much oppressed with
confusion to go on in that strain, said, Well, Pamela, let me know in
what situation of life is your father: I know he is a poor man; but is he
as low and as honest as he was when my mother took you?