dear father and mother,

i am sorry to write you word, that the hopes i had of going to wait on lady davers, are quite over. my lady would have had me; but my master, as i heard by the by, would not consent to it. he said her nephew might be taken with me, and i might draw him in, or be drawn in by him; and he thought, as his mother loved me, and committed me to his care, he ought to continue me with him; and mrs. jervis would be a mother to me. mrs. jervis tells me the lady shook her head, and said, ah! brother! and that was all. and as you have made me fearful by your cautions, my heart at times misgives me. but i say nothing yet of your caution, or my own uneasiness, to mrs. jervis; not that i mistrust her, but for fear she should think me presumptuous, and vain and conceited, to have any fears about the matter, from the great distance between such a gentleman, and so poor a girl. but yet mrs. jervis seemed to build something upon lady davers's shaking her head, and saying, ah! brother! and no more. god, i hope, will give me his grace: and so i will not, if i can help it, make myself too uneasy; for i hope there is no occasion. but every little matter that happens, i will acquaint you with, that you may continue to me your good advice, and pray for

your sad-hearted pamela.