Then I could speak a little; and with a down look, (and I felt my face
glow like fire,) I said, Yes, sir, as poor and as honest too; and that is
my pride. Says he, I will do something for him, if it be not your fault,
and make all your family happy. All, sir, said I, he is happier already
than ever he can be, if his daughter's innocence is to be the price of
your favour: and I beg you will not speak to me on the only side that can
wound me. I have no design of that sort, said he. O sir, said I, tell
me not so, tell me not so!--'Tis easy, said he, for me to be the making
of your father, without injuring you. Well, sir, said I, if this can be
done, let me know how; and all I can do with innocence shall be the study
and practice of my life.--But, O! what can such a poor creature as I do,
and do my duty?--Said he, I would have you stay a week or fortnight only,
and behave yourself with kindness to me; I stoop to beg it of you, and
you shall see all shall turn out beyond your expectation. I see, said
he, you are going to answer otherwise than I would have you; and I begin
to be vexed I should thus meanly sue; and so I will say, that your
behaviour before honest Longman, when I used you as I did, and you could
so well have vindicated yourself, has quite charmed me. And though I am
not pleased with all you said yesterday, while I was in the closet, yet
you have moved me more to admire you than before; and I am awakened to
see more worthiness in you, than ever I saw in any lady in the world.
All the servants, from the highest to the lowest, doat upon you, instead
of envying you; and look upon you in so superior a light, as speaks what
you ought to be. I have seen more of your letters than you imagine,
(This surprised me!) and am quite overcome with your charming manner of
writing, so free, so easy, and many of your sentiments so much above your
years, and your sex; and all put together, makes me, as I tell you, love
you to extravagance. Now, Pamela, when I have stooped to acknowledge all
this, oblige me only to stay another week or fortnight, to give me time
to bring about some certain affairs, and you shall see how much you may