very
generously, why so strange, where you have once been so familiar? I
do assure you both, that I mean not, by this interview, to insult Mr.
Williams, or confound you. Then I said, Mr. Williams, I am very glad
to see you well; and though the generous favour of my good master has
happily changed the scene, since you and I last saw one another, I am
nevertheless very glad of an opportunity to acknowledge, with gratitude,
your good intentions, not so much to serve me, as me, but as a
person--that then had great reason to believe herself in distress. And
I hope, sir, added I, to my master, your goodness will permit me to say
this.

You, Pamela, said he, may make what acknowledgments you please to Mr.
Williams's good intentions; and I would have you speak as you think;
but I do not apprehend myself to be quite so much obliged to those
intentions.

Sir, said Mr. Williams, I beg leave to say, I knew well, that, by
education, you was no libertine; nor had I reason to think you so by
inclination; and, when you came to reflect, I hoped you would not be
displeased with me. And this was no small motive to me, at first, to do
as I did.

Ay, but Mr. Williams, said my master, could you think I should have had
reason to thank you, if, loving one person above all her sex, you had
robbed me of her, and married her yourself?--And then, said he, you are
to consider, that she was an old acquaintance of mine, and a quite
new one to you; that I had sent her down to my own house, for better
securing her; and that you, who had access to my house, could not effect
your purpose, without being guilty, in some sort, of a breach of the
laws of hospitality and friendship. As to my designs upon her, I own
they had not the best appearance; but still I was not answerable to Mr.
Williams for those; much less could you be excused to invade a property
so very dear to me, and to endeavour to gain an interest in her
affections, when you could not be certain that matters would not turn
out as they have actually done.

I own, said he, that some parts of my conduct seem exceptionable, as
you state it. But, sir, I am but a young man. I meant no harm. I had no
interest, I am sure, to incur your displeasure; and when you think of
every thing, and the inimitable graces of person, and perfections of
mind, that adorn this excellent lady, (so he called me,) you will,
perhaps, find your generosity allow something as an extenuation of a
fault, which your anger