comfortable. O! said
I to myself, that is a rich thought; but let me not dwell upon it, for
fear I should indulge it to my ruin.--What can he do for me, poor girl
as I am!--What can his greatness stoop to! He talks, thought I, of his
pride of heart, and pride of condition; O these are in his head, and in
his heart too, or he would not confess them to me at such an instant.
Well then, thought I, this can be only to seduce me.--He has promised
nothing.--But I am to see what he will do, if I stay a fortnight; and
this fortnight, thought I again, is no such great matter; and I shall
see in a few days how he carries it.--But then, when I again reflected
upon this distance between him and me, and his now open declaration of
love, as he called it; and that after this he would talk with me on that
subject more plainly than ever, and I shall be less armed, may be,
to withstand him; and then I bethought myself, why, if he meant no
dishonour, he should not speak before Mrs. Jervis; and the odious
frightful closet came again into my head, and my narrow escape upon it;
and how easy it might be for him to send Mrs. Jervis and the maids out
of the way; and so that all the mischief he designed me might be brought
about in less than that time; I resolved to go away and trust all to
Providence, and nothing to myself. And how ought I to be thankful for
this resolution!--as you shall hear.

But just as I have writ to this place, John sends me word, that he is
going this minute your way; and so I will send you so far as I have
written, and hope by to-morrow night, to ask your blessings, at your own
poor, but happy abode, and tell you the rest by word of mouth; and so I
rest, till then, and for ever, Your dutiful DAUGHTER.

LETTER XXXI

DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,

I will continue my writing still, because, may be, I shall like to
read it, when I am with you, to see what dangers I have been enabled to
escape; and though I bring it along with me.

I told you my resolution, my happy resolution as I have reason to think
it: and just then he came in again, with great kindness in his looks,
and said, I make no doubt, Pamela, you will stay this fortnight to
oblige me. I knew not how to frame my words so as to deny, and yet not
make him storm. But, said I, Forgive, sir, your poor distressed servant.
I know I cannot possibly deserve any favour at your hands, consistent
with virtue; and I beg you will let me go to my poor father. Why, said