I Little feared when I sent away my last that all my Hopes would be
so soon frustrated; but I am certain you will blame Fortune and not
me. To proceed then. About two Hours after I had left the Squire, he
sent for me into the Parlour. _Pamela_, said he, and takes me gently
by the hand, will you walk with me in the Garden; yes, Sir, says I,
and pretended to tremble; but I hope your Honour will not be rude.
Indeed, says he, you have nothing to fear from me, and I have
something to tell you, which if it doth not please you, cannot
offend. We walked out together, and he began thus, _Pamela_, will you
tell me Truth? Doth the Resistance you make to my Attempts proceed
from Vartue only, or have I not some Rival in thy dear Bosom who
might be more successful? Sir, says I, I do assure you I never had a
thought of any Man in the World. How says he, not of Parson
_Williams_! Parson _Williams_, says I, is the last Man upon Earth;
and if I was a Dutchess, and your Honour was to make your Addresses
to me, you would have no reason to be jealous of any Rival,
especially such a Fellow as Parson _Williams_. If ever I had a
Liking, I am sure----but I am not worthy of you one Way, and no
Riches should ever bribe me the other. My Dear, says he, you are
worthy of every Thing, and suppose I should lay aside all
Considerations of Fortune, and disregard the Censure of the World,
and marry you. O Sir, says I, I am sure you can have no such
Thoughts, you cannot demean your self so low. Upon my Soul, I am in
earnest, says he,--O Pardon me, Sir, says I, you can't persuade me of
this. How Mistress, says he, in a violent Rage, do you give me the
Lie? Hussy, I have a great mind to box your saucy Ears, but I am
resolved I will never put it in your power to affront me again, and
therefore I desire you to prepare your self for your Journey this
Instant. You deserve no better Vehicle than a Cart; however, for once
you shall have a Chariot, and it shall be ready for you within this
half Hour; and so he flung from me in a Fury.
_What a foolish Thing it is for a Woman to dally too long with her
Lover's Desires; how many have owed their being old Maids to their
holding out too long._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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