This sweet goodness overpowered all my reserves. I threw myself at his
feet, and embraced his knees: What pleasure, sir, you give me at these
gracious words, is not lent your poor servant to express!--I shall be too
much rewarded for all my sufferings, if this goodness hold! God grant it
may, for your own soul's sake as well as mine. And oh! how happy should
I be, if----

He stopt me, and said, But, my dear girl, what must we do about the
world, and the world's censure? Indeed, I cannot marry!

Now was I again struck all of a heap. However, soon recollecting myself,
Sir, said I, I have not the presumption to hope such an honour. If I may
be permitted to return in peace and safety to my poor parents, to pray
for you there, it is all I at present request! This, sir, after all my
apprehensions and dangers, will be a great pleasure to me. And, if I
know my own poor heart, I shall wish you happy in a lady of suitable
degree; and rejoice most sincerely in every circumstance that shall make
for the happiness of my late good lady's most beloved son.

Well, said he, this conversation, Pamela, is gone farther than I intended
it. You need not be afraid, at this rate, of trusting yourself with me:
but it is I that ought to be doubtful of myself, when I am with you.--But
before I say any thing farther on this subject, I will take my proud
heart to task; and, till then, let every thing be as if this conversation
had never passed. Only, let me tell you, that the more confidence you
place in me, the more you'll oblige me: but your doubts will only beget
cause of doubts. And with this ambiguous saying, he saluted me with a
more formal manner, if I may so say, than before, and lent me his hand;
and so we walked toward the house, side by side, he seeming very
thoughtful and pensive, as if he had already repented him of his