mrs. peters whispered lady jones, as my master told me afterwards; did you ever see such excellence, such prudence, and discretion? never in my life, said the other good lady. she will adorn, she was pleased to say, her distinction. ay, says mrs. peters, she would adorn any station in life.

my good master was highly delighted, generous gentleman as he is! with the favourable opinion of the ladies; and i took the more pleasure in it, because their favour seemed to lessen the disgrace of his stooping so much beneath himself.

lady darnford said, we will not oppress you; though we could almost blame your too punctilious exactness: but if we excuse miss andrews from dinner, we must insist upon her company at the card-table, and at a dish of tea; for we intend to pass the whole day with you, sir, as we told you. what say you to that, pamela, said my master. sir, replied i, whatever you and the ladies please, i will cheerfully do. they said, i was very obliging. but sir simon rapt out an oath, and said, that they might dine together, if they would; but he would dine with me, and nobody else: for, said he, i say, sir, as parson williams said, (by which i found my master had told them the story,) you must not think you have chosen one that nobody can like but yourself.

the young ladies said, if i pleased they would take a turn about the garden with me. i answered, i would very gladly attend them; and so we three, and lady jones's sister-in-law, and mr. peters's niece, walked together. they were very affable, kind, and obliging; and we soon entered into a good deal of familiarity; and i found miss darnford a very agreeable person. her sister was a little more on the reserve; and i afterwards heard, that, about a year before, she would fain have had my master make his addresses to her: but though sir simon is reckoned rich, she was not thought sufficient fortune for him. and now, to have him look down so low as me, must be a sort of mortification to a poor young lady!—and i pitied her.—indeed i did!—i wish all young persons of my sex could be as happy as i am like to be.

my master told me afterwards, that i left the other ladies, and sir simon and mr. peters, full of my praises: so that they could hardly talk of any thing else; one launching out upon my complexion, another upon my eyes, my hand, and, in short, for you'll think me sadly proud, upon my whole person and behaviour; and they all magnified my readiness and obligingness in my answers, and the like: and i was glad of it, as i said, for my good master's sake, who seemed quite pleased and rejoiced. god bless him for his goodness to me!

dinner not being ready, the young ladies proposed a tune upon the spinnet. i said, i believed it was not in tune. they said, they knew it was but a few months ago. if it is, said i, i wish i had known it; though indeed, ladies, added i, since you know my story, i must own, that my mind has not been long in tune, to make use of it. so they would make me play upon it, and sing to it; which i did, a song my dear good lady made me learn, and used to be pleased with, and which she brought with her from bath: and the ladies were much taken with the song, and were so kind as to approve my performance: and miss darnford was pleased to compliment me, that i had all the accomplishments of my sex. i said, i had had a good lady, in my master's mother, who had spared no pains nor cost to improve me. she said, she wished mr. b—— could be prevailed upon to give a ball on an approaching happy occasion, that we might have a dancing-match, etc.—but i can't say i do; though i did not say so: for these occasions, i think, are too solemn for the principals, at least of our sex, to take part in, especially if they have the same thoughts of that solemnity that i have: for, indeed, though i have before me a prospect of happiness, that may be envied by ladies of high rank, yet i must own to you, my dear parents, that i have something very awful upon my mind, when i think of the matter; and shall, more and more, as it draws nearer and nearer. this is the song:

i.

go, happy paper, gently steal,

and underneath her pillow lie;

there, in soft dreams, my love reveal,

that love which i must still conceal,

and, wrapt in awful silence, die.

ii.

should flames be doom'd thy hapless fate,

to atoms thou wouldst quickly turn:

my pains may bear a longer date;

for should i live, and should she hate,

in endless torments i should burn.

iii.

tell fair aurelia, she has charms,

might in a hermit stir desire.

t' attain the heav'n that's in her arms,

i'd quit the world's alluring harms,

and to a cell content, retire.

iv.

of all that pleas'd my ravish'd eye,

her beauty should supply the place;

bold raphael's strokes, and titian's dye,

should but in vain presume to vie

with her inimitable face.

v.

no more i'd wish for phoebus' rays,

to gild the object of my sight;

much less the taper's fainter blaze:

her eyes should measure out my days;

and when she slept, it should be night.

about four o'clock.

my master just came up to me, and said, if you should see mr. williams below, do you think, pamela, you should not be surprised?—no, sir, said i, i hope not. why should i? expect, said he, a stranger then, when you come down to us in the parlour; for the ladies are preparing themselves for the card-table, and they insist upon your company.—you have a mind, sir, said i, i believe, to try all my courage. why, said he, does it want courage to see him? no, sir, said i, not at all. but i was grievously dashed to see all those strange ladies and gentlemen; and now to see mr. williams before them, as some of them refused his application for me, when i wanted to get away, it will a little shock me, to see them smile, in recollecting what has passed of that kind. well, said he, guard your heart against surprises, though you shall see, when you come down, a man that i can allow you to love dearly; though hardly preferably to me.

this surprises me much. i am afraid he begins to be jealous of me. what will become of me, (for he looked very seriously,) if any turn should happen now!—my heart aches! i know not what's the matter. but i will go down as brisk as i can, that nothing may be imputed to me. yet i wish this mr. williams had not been there now, when they are all there; because of their fleers at him and me. otherwise i should be glad to see the poor gentleman; for, indeed, i think him a good man, and he has suffered for my sake.

so, i am sent for down to cards. i'll go; but wish i may continue their good opinions of me: for i shall be very awkward. my master, by his serious question, and bidding me guard my heart against surprises, though i should see, when i came down, a man he can allow me to love dearly, though hardly better than himself, has quite alarmed me, and made me sad!—i hope he loves me!—but whether he does or not, i am in for it now, over head and ears, i doubt, and can't help loving him; 'tis a folly to deny it. but to be sure i can't love any man preferably to him. i shall soon know what he means.

now, my dear mother, must i write to you. well might my good master say so mysteriously as he did, about guarding my heart against surprises. i never was so surprised in my life; and never could see a man i loved so dearly!—o my dear mother, it was my dear, dear father, and not mr. williams, that was below ready to receive and to bless your daughter! and both my master and he enjoined me to write how the whole matter was, and what my thoughts were on this joyful occasion.

i will take the matter from the beginning, that providence directed his feet to this house, to this time, as i have had it from mrs. jewkes, from my master, my father, the ladies, and my own heart and conduct, as far as i know of both; because they command it, and you will be pleased with my relation and so, as you know how i came by the connexion, will make one uniform relation of it.

it seems, then, my dear father and you were so uneasy to know the truth of the story which thomas had told you, that fearing i was betrayed, and quite undone, he got leave of absence, and set out the day after thomas was there; and so, on friday morning, he got to the neighbouring town; and there he heard, that the gentry in the neighbourhood were at my master's, at a great entertainment. he put on a clean shirt and neckcloth (which he brought in his pocket) at an alehouse there, and got shaved; and so, after he had eaten some bread and cheese, and drank a can of ale, he set out for my master's house, with a heavy heart, dreading for me, and in much fear of being brow-beaten. he had, it seems, asked, at the alehouse, what family the 'squire had down here, in hopes to hear something of me: and they said, a housekeeper, two maids, and, at present, two coachmen, and two grooms, a footman, and a helper. was that all? he said. they told him, there was a young creature there, belike who was, or was to be, his mistress, or somewhat of that nature; but had been his mother's waiting-maid. this, he said, grieved his heart, and confirmed his fears.

so he went on, and about three o'clock in the afternoon came to the gate; and, ringing there, sir simon's coachman went to the iron gate; and he asked for the housekeeper; though, from what i had written, in his heart he could not abide her. she sent for him in, little thinking who he was, and asked him, in the little hall, what his business with her was?—only, madam, said he, whether i cannot speak one word with the 'squire? no, friend, said she; he is engaged with several gentlemen and ladies. said he, i have business with his honour of greater consequence to me than either life or death; and tears stood in his eyes.

at that she went into the great parlour, where my master was talking very pleasantly with the ladies; and she said, sir, here is a good tight old man, that wants to see you on business of life and death, he says, and is very earnest. ay, said he, who can that be?—let him stay in the little hall, and i'll come to him presently. they all seemed to stare; and sir simon said, no more nor less, i dare say, my good friend, but a bastard-child. if it is, said lady jones, bring it in to us. i will, said he.

mrs. jewkes tells me, my master was much surprised, when he saw who it was; and she much more, when my dear father said,—good god! give me patience! but, as great as you are, sir, i must ask for my child! and burst out into tears. (o what trouble have i given you both!) my master said, taking him by the hand, don't be uneasy, goodman andrews; your daughter is in the way to be happy.

this alarmed my dear father, and he said, what! then, is she dying? and trembled, he could scarce stand. my master made him sit down, and sat down by him, and said, no; god be praised! she is very well: and pray be comforted; i cannot bear to see you thus apprehensive; but she has written you a letter to assure you, that she has reason to be well satisfied, and happy.

ah, sir i said he, you told me once she was in london, waiting on a bishop's lady, when all the time she was a severe prisoner here.—well, that's all over now, goodman andrews, said my master: but the times are altered; for now the sweet girl has taken me prisoner; and in a few days i shall put on the most agreeable fetters that ever man wore.

o, sir! said, he, you are too pleasant for my griefs. my heart's almost broke. but may i not see my poor child? you shall presently, said he; for she is coming down to us; and since you won't believe me, i hope you will her.

i will ask you, good sir, said he, but one question till then, that i may know how to look upon her when i see her. is she honest? is she virtuous?—as the new-born babe, mr. andrews, said my good master; and in twelve days time, i hope, will be my wife.

o flatter me not, good your honour, said he: it cannot be! it cannot be!—i fear you have deluded her with strange hopes; and would make me believe impossibilities!—mrs. jewkes, said he, do you tell my dear pamela's good father, when i go out, all you know concerning me, and your mistress that is to be. meantime, make much of him, and set out what you have; and make him drink a glass of what he likes best. if this be wine, added he, fill me a bumper.

she did so; and he took my father by the hand, and said, believe me, good man, and be easy; for i can't bear to see you tortured in this cruel suspense: your dear daughter is the beloved of my soul. i am glad you are come: for you'll see us all in the same story. and here's your dame's health; and god bless you both, for being the happy means of procuring for me so great a blessing! and so he drank a bumper to this most obliging health.

what do i hear? it cannot surely be! said my father. and your honour is too good, i hope, to mock a poor old man—this ugly story, sir, of the bishop, runs in my head—but you say i shall see my dear child—and i shall see her honest.—if not, poor as i am, i would not own her.

my master bid mrs. jewkes not to let me know yet, that my father was come; and went to the company, and said, i have been agreeably surprised: here is honest old goodman andrews come full of grief to see his daughter; for he fears she is seduced; and tells me, good honest man, that, poor as he is, he will not own her, if she be not virtuous. o, said they all, with one voice almost, dear sir! shall we not see the good old man you have so praised for his plain good sense, and honest heart? if, said he, i thought pamela would not be too much affected with the surprise, i would make you all witness to their first interview; for never did daughter love a father, or a father a daughter, as they two do one another. miss darnford, and all the ladies, and the gentlemen too, begged it might be so. but was not this very cruel, my dear mother? for well might they think i should not support myself in such an agreeable surprise.

he said, kindly, i have but one fear, that the dear girl may be too much affected. o, said lady darnford, we'll all help to keep up her spirits. says he, i'll go up, and prepare her; but won't tell her of it. so he came up to me, as i have said, and amused me about mr. williams, to half prepare me for some surprise; though that could not have been any thing to this: and he left me, as i said, in that suspense, at his mystical words, saying, he would send to me, when they were going to cards.

my master went from me to my father, and asked if he had eaten any thing. no, said mrs. jewkes; the good man's heart is so full, he cannot eat, nor do any thing, till he has seen his dear daughter. that shall soon be, said my master. i will have you come in with me; for she is going to sit down with my guests, to a game at quadrille; and i will send for her down. o, sir, said my father, don't, don't let me; i am not fit to appear before your guests; let me see my daughter by myself, i beseech you. said he, they all know your honest character, goodman andrews, and long to see you, for pamela's sake.

so he took my father by the hand, and led him in, against his will, to the company. they were all very good. my master kindly said, ladies and gentlemen, i present to you one of the honestest men in england, my good pamela's father. mr. peters went to him, and took him by the hand, and said, we are all glad to see you, sir; you are the happiest man in the world in a daughter; whom we never saw before to-day, but cannot enough admire.

said my master, this gentleman, goodman andrews, is the minister of the parish; but is not young enough for mr. williams. this airy expression, my poor father said, made him fear, for a moment, that all was a jest.—sir simon also took him by the hand, and said, ay, you have a sweet daughter, honesty; we are all in love with her. and the ladies came, and said very fine things: lady darnford particularly, that he might think himself the happiest man in england, in such a daughter. if, and please you, madam, said he, she be but virtuous, 'tis all in all: for all the rest is accident. but i doubt his honour has been too much upon the jest with me. no, said mrs. peters, we are all witnesses, that he intends very honourably by her.—it is some comfort, said he, and wiped his eyes, that such good ladies say so—but i wish i could see her.

they would have had him sit down by them; but he would only sit behind the door, in the corner of the room, so that one could not soon see him as one came in; because the door opened against him, and hid him almost. the ladies all sat down; and my master said, desire mrs. jewkes to step up, and tell mrs. andrews the ladies wait for her. so down i came.

miss darnford rose, and met me at the door, and said, well, miss andrews, we longed for your company. i did not see my dear father; and it seems his heart was too full to speak; and he got up, and sat down three or four times successively, unable to come to me, or to say any thing. the ladies looked that way: but i would not, supposing it was mr. williams. and they made me sit down between lady darnford and lady jones; and asked me, what we should play at? i said, at what your ladyships please. i wondered to see them smile, and look upon me, and to that corner of the room; but i was afraid of looking that way, for fear of seeing mr. williams; though my face was that way too, and the table before me.

said my master, did you send your letter away to the posthouse, my good girl, for your father? to be sure, sir, said i, i did not forget that: i took the liberty to desire mr. thomas to carry it. what, said he, i wonder, will the good old couple say to it? o sir, said i, your goodness will be a cordial to their dear honest hearts! at that, my dear father, not able to contain himself, nor yet to stir from the place, gushed out into a flood of tears, which he, good soul! had been struggling with, it seems; and cried out, o my dear child!

i knew the voice, and, lifting up my eyes, and seeing my father, gave a spring, overturned the table, without regard to the company, and threw myself at his feet: o my father! my father! said i, can it be?—is it you? yes, it is! it is!—o bless your happy daughter! i would have said, and down i sunk.

my master seemed concerned—i feared, said he, that the surprise would be too much for her spirits; and all the ladies ran to me, and made me drink a glass of water; and i found myself encircled in the arms of my dearest father.—o tell me, said i, every thing! how long have you been here? when did you come? how does my honoured mother? and half a dozen questions more, before he could answer one.

they permitted me to retire with my father; and then i poured forth all my vows and thanksgivings to god for this additional blessing; and confirmed all my master's goodness to his scarce-believing amazement. and we kneeled together, blessing god, and one another, for several ecstatic minutes and my master coming in soon after, my dear father said, o sir, what a change is this! may, god reward and bless you, both in this world and the next!

may god bless us all! said he. but how does my sweet girl? i have been in pain for you—i am sorry i did not apprise you beforehand.

o sir, said i, it was you; and all you do must be good—but this was a blessing so unexpected!——

well, said he, you have given pain to all the company. they will be glad to see you, when you can: for you have spoiled all their diversion; and yet painfully delighted them at the same time. mr. andrews, added he, do you make this house your own; and the longer you stay, the more welcome you'll be. after you have a little composed yourself, my dear girl, step in to us again. i am glad to see you so well already. and so he left us.

see you, my dear father, said i, what goodness there is in this once naughty master! o pray for him! and pray for me, that i may deserve it!

how long has this happy change been wrought, my dear child?—o, said i, several happy days!—i have written down every thing; and you'll see, from the depth of misery, what god has done for your happy daughter!

blessed be his name! said he. but do you say he will marry you? can it be, that such a brave gentleman will make a lady of the child of such a poor man as i? o the divine goodness! how will your poor dear mother be able to support these happy tidings? i will set out to-morrow, to acquaint her with them: for i am but half happy, till the dear good woman shares them with me!—to be sure, my dear child, we ought to go into some far country to hide ourselves, that we may not disgrace you by our poverty!

o, my dear father, said i, now you are unkind for the first time! your poverty has been my glory, and my riches; and i have nothing to brag of, but that i ever thought it an honour, rather than a disgrace; because you were always so honest, that your child might well boast of such a parentage!

in this manner, my dear mother, did we pass the happy moments, till miss darnford came to me, and said, how do you do, dear madam? i rejoice to see you so well! pray let us have your company. and yours too, good mr. andrews, taking his hand.

this was very obliging, i told her; and we went to the great parlour; and my master took my father by the hand, and made him sit down by him, and drink a glass of wine with him. mean-time, i made my excuses to the ladies, as well as i could, which they readily granted me. but sir simon, after his comical manner, put his hands on my shoulders: let me see, let me see, said he, where your wings grow; for i never saw any body fly like you.—why, said he, you have broken lady jones's shins with the table. shew her else, madam.

his pleasantry made them laugh. and i said, i was very sorry for my extravagancy: and if it had not been my master's doings, i should have said, it was a fault to permit me to be surprised, and put out of myself, before such good company. they said, all was very excusable; and they were glad i suffered no more by it.

they were so kind as to excuse me at cards, and played by themselves; and i went by my master's commands and sat on the other side, in the happiest place i ever was blest with, between two of the dearest men in the world to me, and each holding one of my hands:—my father, every now and then, with tears, lifting up his eyes, and saying, could i ever have hoped this!

i asked him, if he had been so kind as to bring the papers with him? he said, he had; and looked at me, as who should say, must i give them to you now?—i said, be pleased to let me have them. he pulled them from his pocket; and i stood up, and, with my best duty, gave them into my master's hands. he said, thank you, pamela. your father shall take all with him, so see what a sad fellow i have been, as well as the present happier alteration. but i must have them all again, for the writer's sake.

the ladies and gentlemen would make me govern the tea-table, whatever i could do; and abraham attended me, to serve the company. my master and my father sat together, and drank a glass or two of wine instead of tea, and sir simon joked with my master, saying, i warrant you would not be such a woman's man, as to drink tea, for ever so much, with the ladies. but your time's coming, and i doubt not you'll be made as comfortable as i.

my master was very urgent with them to stay supper; and at last they complied, on condition that i would grace the table, as they were pleased to call it. i begged to be excused. my master said, don't be excused, pamela, since the ladies desire it: and besides, said he, we won't part with your father; and so you may as well stay with us.

i was in hopes my father and i might sup by ourselves, or only with mrs. jewkes. and miss darnford, who is a most obliging young lady, said, we will not part with you, indeed we won't.

when supper was brought in, lady darnford took me by the hand, and said to my master, sir, by your leave; and would have placed me at the upper end of the table. pray, pray, madam, said i, excuse me; i cannot do it, indeed i cannot. pamela, said my master, to the great delight of my good father, as i could see by his looks, oblige lady darnford, since she desires it. it is but a little before your time, you know.

dear, good sir, said i, pray don't command it! let me sit by my father, pray! why, said sir simon, here's ado indeed! sit down at the upper end, as you should do; and your father shall sit by you, there. this put my dear father upon difficulties. and my master said, come, i'll place you all: and so put lady darnford at the upper end, lady jones at her right hand, and mrs. peters on the other; and he placed me between the two young ladies; but very genteelly put miss darnford below her younger sister; saying, come, miss, i put you here, because you shall hedge in this little cuckow; for i take notice, with pleasure, of your goodness to her; and, besides, all you very young ladies should sit together. this seemed to please both sisters; for had the youngest miss been put there, it might have piqued her, as matters have been formerly, to be placed below me; whereas miss darnford giving place to her youngest sister, made it less odd she should to me; especially with that handsome turn of the dear man, as if i was a cuckow, and to be hedged in.

my master kindly said, come, mr. andrews, you and i will sit together. and so took his place at the bottom of the table, and set my father on his right hand; and sir simon would sit on his left. for, said he, parson, i think the petticoats should sit together; and so do you sit down by that lady (his sister). a boiled turkey standing by me, my master said, cut up that turkey, pamela, if it be not too strong work for you, that lady darnford may not have too much trouble. so i carved it in a trice, and helped the ladies. miss darnford said, i would give something to be so dexterous a carver. o madam, said i, my late good lady would always make me do these things, when she entertained her female friends, as she used to do on particular days.

ay, said my master, i remember my poor mother would often say, if i, or any body at table, happened to be a little out in carving, i'll send up for my pamela, to shew you how to carve. said lady jones, mrs. andrews has every accomplishment of her sex. she is quite wonderful for her years. miss darnford said, and i can tell you, madam, that she plays sweetly upon the spinnet, and sings as sweetly to it; for she has a fine voice. foolish! said sir simon; who, that hears her speak, knows not that? and who that sees her fingers, believes not that they were made to touch any key? o, parson! said he, 'tis well you're by, or i should have had a blush from the ladies. i hope not, sir simon, said lady jones; for a gentleman of your politeness would not say any thing that would make ladies blush.—no, no, said he, for the world: but if i had, it would have been, as the poet says,

'they blush, because they understand.'

when the company went away, lady darnford, lady jones, and mrs. peters, severally invited my master, and me with him, to their houses; and begged he would permit me, at least, to come before we left those parts. and they said, we hope, when the happy knot is tied, you will induce mr. b—— to reside more among us. we were always glad, said lady darnford, when he was here; but now shall have double reason. o what grateful things were these to the ears of my good father!

when the company was gone, my master asked my father, if he smoked? he answered, no. he made us both sit down by him, and said, i have been telling this sweet girl, that in fourteen days, and two of them are gone, she must fix on one to make me happy. and have left it to her to choose either one of the first or last seven. my father held up his hands, and eyes; god bless your honour! said he, is all i can say. now, pamela, said my master, taking my hand, don't let a little wrong-timed bashfulness take place, without any other reason, because i should be glad to go to bedfordshire as soon as i could; and i would not return till i carry my servants there a mistress, who should assist me to repair the mischiefs she has made in it.

i could not look up for confusion. and my father said, my dear child, i need not, i am sure, prompt your obedience in whatever will most oblige so good a gentleman. what says my pamela? said my master: she does not use to be at a loss for expressions. sir, said i, were i too sudden, it would look as if i doubted whether you would hold in your mind, and was not willing to give you time for reflection: but otherwise, to be sure i ought to resign myself implicitly to your will. said he, i want not time for reflection: for i have often told you, and that long ago, i could not live without you: and my pride of condition made me both tempt and terrify you to other terms; but your virtue was proof against all temptations, and was not to be awed by terrors: wherefore, as i could not conquer my passion for you, i corrected myself, and resolved, since you would not be mine upon my terms, you should upon your own: and now i desire you not on any other, i assure you: and i think the sooner it is done, the better. what say you, mr. andrews? sir, said he, there is so much goodness on your side, and, blessed be god! so much prudence on my daughter's, that i must be quite silent. but when it is done, i and my poor wife shall have nothing to do, but to pray for you both, and to look back, with wonder and joy, on the ways of providence.

this, said my master, is friday night; and suppose, my girl, it be next monday, tuesday, wednesday, or thursday morning?—say, my pamela.

will you, sir, said i, excuse me till to-morrow for an answer? i will, said he; and touched the bell, and called for mrs. jewkes. where, said he, does mr. andrews lie tonight? you'll take care of him. he's a very good man; and will bring a blessing upon every house he sets his foot in.

my dear father wept for joy; and i could not refrain keeping him company. and my master, saluting me, bid us good night, and retired. and i waited upon my dear father, and was so full of prattle, of my master's goodness, and my future prospects, that i believed afterwards i was turned all into tongue: but he indulged me, and was transported with joy; and went to bed, and dreamed of nothing but jacob's ladder, and angels ascending and descending, to bless him and his daughter.

saturday.

i arose early in the morning; but found my father was up before me, and was gone to walk in the garden. i went to him: and with what delight, with what thankfulness, did we go over every scene of it, that had before been so dreadful to me! the fish-pond, the back-door, and every place. o what reason had we for thankfulness and gratitude!

about seven o'clock my good master joined us, in his morning gown and slippers; and looking a little heavy, i said, sir, i fear you had not good rest last night. that is your fault, pamela, said he. after i went from you, i must needs look into your papers, and could not leave them till i had read them through; and so 'twas three o'clock before i went to sleep. i wish, sir, said i, you had had better entertainment. the worst part of it, said he, was what i had brought upon myself; and you have not spared me. sir, said i—he interrupting me, said, well, i forgive you. you had too much reason for it. but i find, plainly enough, that if you had got away, you would soon have been williams's wife: and i can't see how it could well have been otherwise. indeed, sir, said i, i had no notion of it, or of being any body's. i believe so, said he; but it must have come as a thing of course; and i see your father was for it. sir, said he, i little thought of the honour your goodness would confer upon her; and i thought that would be a match above what we could do for her, a great deal. but when i found she was not for it, i resolved not to urge her; but leave all to her own prudence.

i see, said he, all was sincere, honest, and open; and i speak of it, if it had been done, as a thing that could hardly well be avoided; and i am quite satisfied. but, said he, i must observe, as i have a hundred times, with admiration, what a prodigious memory, and easy and happy manner of narration, this excellent girl has! and though she is full of her pretty tricks and artifices, to escape the snares i had laid for her, yet all is innocent, lovely, and uniformly beautiful. you are exceedingly happy in a daughter; and i hope i shall be so in a wife—or, said my father, may she not have that honour! i fear it not, said he; and i hope i shall deserve it of her.

but, pamela, said my master, i am sorry to find in some parts of your journal, that mrs. jewkes carried her orders a little too far: and i the more take notice of it, because you have not complained to me of her behaviour, as she might have expected for some parts of it; though a good deal was occasioned by my strict orders.—but she had the insolence to strike my girl, i find. sir, said i, i was a little provoking, i believe; but as we forgave one another, i was the less entitled to complain of her.

well, said he, you are very good; but if you have any particular resentment, i will indulge it so far, as that she shall hereafter have nothing to do where you are. sir, said i, you are so kind, that i ought to forgive every body; and when i see that my happiness is brought about by the very means that i thought then my greatest grievance, i ought to bless those means, and forgive all that was disagreeable to me at the same time, for the great good that hath issued from it.—that, said he, and kissed me, is sweetly considered! and it shall be my part to make you amends for what you have suffered, that you may still think lighter of the one, and have cause to rejoice in the other.

my dear father's heart was full; and he said, with his hands folded, and lifted up, pray, sir, let me go—let me go—to my dear wife, and tell her all these blessed things, while my heart holds; for it is ready to burst with joy! good man! said my master—i hope to hear this honest heart of yours speaking at your lips. i enjoin you, pamela, to continue your relation, as you have opportunity; and though your father be here, write to your mother, that this wondrous story be perfect, and we, your friends, may read and admire you more and more. ay, pray, pray do, my child, said my father; and this is the reason that i write on, my dear mother, when i thought not to do it, because my father could tell you all that passed while he was here.

my master took notice of my psalm, and was pleased to commend it; and said, that i had very charitably turned the last verses, which, in the original, were full of heavy curses, to a wish that shewed i was not of an implacable disposition though my then usage might have excused it, if i had. but, said he, i think you shall sing it to me to-morrow.

after we have breakfasted, added he, if you have no objection, pamela, we'll take an airing together; and it shall be in the coach, because we'll have your father's company. he would have excused himself; but my master would have it so: but he was much ashamed, because of the meanness of his appearance.

my master would make us both breakfast with him on chocolate; and he said, i would have you, pamela, begin to dress as you used to do; for now, at least, you may call your two other bundles your own; and if you want any thing against the approaching occasion, private as i design it, i'll send to lincoln for it, by a special messenger. i said, my good lady's bounty, and his own, had set me much above my degree, and i had very good things of all sorts; and i did not desire any other, because i would not excite the censure of the ladies. that would be a different thing, he was pleased to say, when he publicly owned his nuptials, after we came to the other house. but, at present, if i was satisfied, he would not make words with me.

i hope, mr. andrews, said he, to my father, you'll not leave us till you see the affair over, and then you'll be sure i mean honourably: and, besides, pamela will be induced to set the day sooner. o, sir, said he, i bless god i have no reason to doubt your meaning honourably: and i hope you'll excuse me, if i set out on monday morning, very early, to my dear wife, and make her as happy as i am.

why, pamela, says my good master, may it not be performed on tuesday? and then your father, maybe, will stay.—i should have been glad to have had it to-morrow, added he; but i have sent monsieur colbrand for a license, that, you may have no scruple unanswered; and he can't very well be back before to-morrow night, or monday morning.

this was most agreeable news. i said, sir, i know my dear father will want to be at home: and as you was so good to give me a fortnight from last thursday, i should be glad you would be pleased to indulge me still to some day in the second seven.

well, said he, i will not be too urgent; but the sooner you fix, the better. mr. andrews, we must leave something to these jephthah's daughters, in these cases, he was pleased to say: i suppose the little bashful folly, which, in the happiest circumstances, may give a kind of regret to quit the maiden state, and an awkwardness at the entrance into a new one, is a reason with pamela; and so she shall name her day. sir, said he, you are all goodness.

i went up soon after, and new dressed myself, taking possession, in a happy moment, i hope, of my two bundles, as my good master was pleased to call them; (alluding to my former division of those good things my lady and himself bestowed upon me;) and so put on fine linen, silk shoes, and fine white cotton stockings, a fine quilted coat, a delicate green mantea silk gown and coat, a french necklace, and a laced cambric handkerchief, and clean gloves; and, taking my fan in my hand, i, like a little proud hussy, looked in the glass, and thought myself a gentlewoman once more; but i forgot not to return due thanks, for being able to put on this dress with so much comfort.

mrs. jewkes would help to dress me, and complimented me highly, saying, among other things, that now i looked like a lady indeed: and as, she said, the little chapel was ready, and divine service would be read in it to-morrow, she wished the happy knot might then be tied. said she, have you not seen the chapel, madam, since it has been cleaned out? no, said i; but are we to have service in it to-morrow, do you say?—i am glad of that; for i have been a sad heathen lately, sore against my will!—but who is to officiate?—somebody, replied she, mr. peters will send. you tell me very good news, said i, mrs. jewkes: i hope it will never be a lumber-room again.—ay, said she, i can tell you more good news; for the two misses darnford, and lady jones, are to be here at the opening of it; and will stay and dine with you. my master, said i, has not told me that. you must alter your style, madam, said she: it must not be master now, sure!—o, returned i, this is a language i shall never forget: he shall always be my master; and i shall think myself more and more his servant.

my poor father did not know i went up to dress myself; and he said his heart misgave him when he saw me first, for fear i was made a fool of, and that here was some fine lady that was to be my master's true wife. and he stood in admiration, and said, o, my dear child, how well will you become your happy condition! why you look like a lady already! i hope, my dear father, said i, and boldly kissed him, i shall always be your dutiful daughter, whatever my condition be.

my master sent me word he was ready; and when he saw me, said, dress as you will, pamela, you're a charming girl! and so handed me to the coach, and would make my father and me sit both on the foreside, and sat backwards, over against me; and bid the coachman drive to the meadow; that is, where he once met mr. williams.

the conversation was most agreeable to me, and to my dear father, as we went; and he more and more exceeded in goodness and generosity; and, while i was gone up to dress, he had presented my father with twenty guineas; desiring him to buy himself and my mother such apparel as they should think proper; and lay it all out: but i knew not this till after we came home; my father having had no opportunity to tell me of it.

he was pleased to inform me of the chapel being got in tolerable order; and said, it looked very well; and against he came down next, it should be all new white-washed, and painted and lined; and a new pulpit-cloth, cushion, desk, etc. and that it should always be kept in order for the future. he told me the two misses darnford, and lady jones, would dine with him on sunday: and, with their servants and mine, said he, we shall make a tolerable congregation. and, added he, have i not well contrived to shew you that the chapel is really a little house of god, and has been consecrated, before we solemnize our nuptials in it?—o, sir, replied i, your goodness to me is inexpressible! mr. peters, said he, offered to come and officiate in it; but would not stay to dine with me, because he has company at his own house: and so i intend that divine service shall be performed in it by one to whom i shall make some yearly allowance, as a sort of chaplain.—you look serious, pamela, added he: i know you think of your friend williams. indeed, sir, said i, if you won't be angry, i did. poor man! i am sorry i have been the cause of his disobliging you.

when we came to the meadow, where the gentry have their walk sometimes, the coach stopt, and my master alighted, and led me to the brook-side, and it is a very pretty summer walk. he asked my father, if he chose to walk out, or go on in the coach to the farther end? he, poor man, chose to go on in the coach, for fear, he said, any gentry should be walking there; and he told me, he was most of the way upon his knees in the coach, thanking god for his gracious mercies and goodness; and begging a blessing upon my good master and me.

i was quite astonished, when we came into the shady walk, to see mr. williams there. see there, said my master, there's poor williams, taking his solitary walk again, with his book. and, it seems, it was so contrived; for mr. peters had been, as i since find, desired to tell him to be in that walk at such an hour in the morning.

so, old acquaintance, said my master, again have i met you in this place? what book are you now reading? he said, it was boileau's lutrin. said my master, you see i have brought with me my little fugitive, that would have been: while you are perfecting yourself in french, i am trying to learn english; and hope soon to be master of it.

mine, sir, said he, is a very beautiful piece of french: but your english has no equal.

you are very polite, mr. williams, said my master: and he that does not think as you do, deserves no share in her. why, pamela, added he, 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 would not permit as an excuse.

i have done, said my master; nor did i meet you here to be angry with you. pamela knew not that she should see you: and now you are both present, i would ask you, mr. williams, if, now you know my honourable designs towards this good girl, you can really be almost, i will not say quite, as well pleased with the friendship of my wife, as you could be with the favour of mrs. andrews?

sir, said he, i will answer you truly. i think i could have preferred, with her, any condition that could have befallen me, had i considered only myself. but, sir, i was very far from having any encouragement to expect her favour; and i had much more reason to believe, that, if she could have hoped for your goodness, her heart would have been too much pre-engaged to think of any body else. and give me leave further to say, sir, that, though i tell you sincerely my thoughts, were i only to consider myself; yet, when i consider her good, and her merit, i should be highly ungenerous, were it put to my choice, if i could not wish her in a condition so much superior to what i could raise her to, and so very answerable to her merit.

pamela, said my master, you are obliged to mr. williams, and ought to thank him: he has distinguished well. but, as for me, who had like to have lost you by his means, i am glad the matter was not left to his choice. mr. williams, added he, i give you pamela's hand, because i know it will be pleasing to her, in token of her friendship and esteem for you; and i give you mine, that i will not be your enemy: but yet i must say, that i think i owe this proper manner of your thinking more to your disappointment, than to the generosity you talk of.

mr. williams kissed my hand, as my master gave it him; and my master said, sir, you will go home and dine with me, and i'll shew you my little chapel; and do you, pamela, look upon yourself at liberty to number mr. williams in the list of your friends.

how generous, how noble, was this! mr. williams (and so had i) had tears of pleasure in his eyes. i was silent: but mr. williams said, sir, i shall be taught, by your generosity, to think myself inexcusably wrong, in every step i took, that could give you offence; and my future life shall shew my respectful gratitude.

we walked on till we came to the coach, where was my dear father. pamela, said my master, tell mr. williams who that good man is. o, mr. williams! said i, it is my dear father! and my master was pleased to say, one of the honestest men in england: pamela owes every thing that she is to be, as well as her being, to him; for, i think, she would not have brought me to this, nor made so great resistance, but for the good lessons, and religious education, she had imbibed from him.

mr. williams said, taking father's hand, you see, good mr. andrews, with inexpressible pleasure, no doubt, the fruits of your pious care; and now are in a way, with your beloved daughter, to reap the happy effects of it.—i am overcome, said my dear father, with his honour's goodness: but i can only say, i bless god, and bless him.

mr. williams and i being nearer the coach than my master, and he offering to draw back, to give way to him, he kindly said, pray, mr. williams, oblige pamela with your hand; and step in yourself. he bowed, and took my hand; and my master made him step in, and sit next me, all that ever he could do; and sat himself over against him, next my father, who sat against me.

and he said, mr. andrews, i told you yesterday that the divine you saw was not mr. williams; i now tell you, this gentleman is: and though i have been telling him, i think not myself obliged to his intentions; yet i will own that pamela and you are; and though i won't promise to love him, i would have you.

sir, said mr. williams, you have a way of overcoming, that hardly all my reading affords an instance of; and it is the more noble, as it is on this side, as i presume, the happy ceremony, which, great as your fortune is, will lay you under an obligation to so much virtue and beauty, when the lady becomes yours; for you will then have a treasure that princes might envy you.

said my generous master, (god bless him!) mr. williams, it is impossible that you and i should long live at variance, when our sentiments agree so well together, on subjects the most material.

i was quite confounded; and my master, seeing it, took my hand, and said, look up, my good girl; and collect yourself.—don't injure mr. williams and me so much, as to think we are capping compliments, as we used to do verses at school. i dare answer for us both, that we say not a syllable we don't think.

o sir, said i, how unequal am i to all this goodness! every moment that passes adds to the weight of the obligations you oppress me with.

think not too much of that, said he most generously. mr. williams's compliments to you have great advantage of mine: for, though equally sincere, i have a great deal to say, and to do, to compensate the sufferings i have made you undergo; and, at last, must sit down dissatisfied, because those will never be balanced by all i can do for you.

he saw my dear father quite unable to support these affecting instances of his goodness;—and he let go my hand, and took his; and said, seeing his tears, i wonder not, my dear pamela's father, that your honest heart springs thus to your eyes, to see all her trials at an end. i will not pretend to say, that i had formerly either power or will to act thus: but since i began to resolve on the change you see, i have reaped so much pleasure in it, that my own interest will keep me steady: for, till within these few days, i knew not what it was to be happy.

poor mr. williams, with tears of joy in his eyes, said, how happily, sir, have you been touched by the divine grace, before you have been hurried into the commission of sins, that the deepest penitence could hardly have atoned for!—god has enabled you to stop short of the evil; and you have nothing to do, but to rejoice in the good, which now will be doubly so, because you can receive it without the least inward reproach.

you do well, said he, to remind me, that i owe all this to the grace of god. i bless him for it; and i thank this good man for his excellent lessons to his daughter; i thank her for following them: and i hope, from her good example, and your friendship, mr. williams, in time, to be half as good as my tutoress: and that, said he, i believe you'll own, will make me, without disparagement to any man, the best fox-hunter in england.—mr. williams was going to speak: and he said, you put on so grave a look, mr. williams, that, i believe, what i have said, with you practical good folks, is liable to exception: but i see we are become quite grave; and we must not be too serious neither.

what a happy creature, my dear mother, is your pamela!—o may my thankful heart, and the good use i may be enabled to make of the blessings before me, be a means to continue this delightful prospect to a long date, for the sake of the dear good gentleman, who thus becomes the happy instrument, in the hand of providence, to bless all he smiles upon! to be sure, i shall never enough acknowledge the value he is pleased to express for my unworthiness, in that he has prevented my wishes, and, unasked, sought the occasion of being reconciled to a good man, who, for my sake, had incurred his displeasure; and whose name he could not, a few days before, permit to pass through my lips! but see the wonderful ways of providence! the very things that i most dreaded his seeing or knowing, the contents of my papers, have, as i hope, satisfied all his scruples, and been a means to promote my happiness.

henceforth let not us poor short-sighted mortals pretend to rely on our own wisdom; or vainly think, that we are absolutely to direct for ourselves. i have abundant reason, i am sure, to say, that, when i was most disappointed, i was nearer my happiness: for had i made my escape, which was so often my chief point in view, and what i had placed my heart upon, i had escaped the blessings now before me, and fallen, perhaps headlong, into the miseries i would have avoided. and yet, after all, it was necessary i should take the steps i did, to bring on this wonderful turn: o the unsearchable wisdom of god!—and how much ought i to adore the divine goodness, and humble myself, who am made a poor instrument, as i hope, not only to magnify his graciousness to this fine gentleman and myself, but also to dispense benefits to others! which god of his mercy grant!

in the agreeable manner i have mentioned, did we pass the time in our second happy tour; and i thought mrs. jewkes would have sunk into the ground, when she saw mr. williams brought in the coach with us, and treated so kindly. we dined together in a most pleasant, easy, and frank manner; and i found i need not, from my master's generosity, to be under any restraint, as to my conduct to this good clergyman: for he, so often as he fancied i was reserved, moved me to be free with him, and to him; and several times called upon me to help my father and mr. williams; and seemed to take great delight in seeing me carve, as, indeed, he does in every thing i do.

after dinner we went and looked into the chapel, which is a very pretty one, and very decent; and, when finished as he designs it, against his next coming down, will be a very pretty place.

my heart, my dear mother, when i first set my foot in it, throbbed a good deal, with awful joy, at the thoughts of the solemnity, which, i hope, will in a few days be performed here. and when i came up towards the little pretty altar-piece, while they were looking at a communion-picture, and saying it was prettily done, i gently stept into a corner, out of sight, and poured out my soul to god on my knees, in supplication and thankfulness, that, after having been so long absent from divine service, the first time i entered into a house dedicated to his honour, should be with such blessed prospects before me; and begging of god to continue me humble, and to make me not unworthy of his mercies; and that he would be pleased to bless the next author of my happiness, my good master.

i heard my master say, where's pamela? and so i broke off sooner than i would, and went up to him.

he said, mr. williams, i hope i have not so offended you by my conduct past, (for really it is what i ought to be ashamed of,) as that you will refuse to officiate, and to give us your instructions here to-morrow. mr. peters was so kind, for the first time, to offer it; but i knew it would be inconvenient for him; and, besides, i was willing to make this request to you an introduction to our reconciliation.

sir, said he, most willingly, and most gratefully, will i obey you: though, if you expect a discourse, i am wholly unprepared for the occasion. i would not have it, replied he, pointed to any particular occasion; but if you have one upon the text—there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety-nine just persons that need no repentance; and if it makes me not such a sad fellow as to be pointed at by mine and the ladies' servants we shall have here, i shall be well content. 'tis a general subject, added he, makes me speak of that; but any one you please will do; for you cannot make a bad choice, i am sure.

sir, said he, i have one upon that text; but i am ready to think, that a thanksgiving one, which i made on a great mercy to myself, if i may be permitted to make my own acknowledgments of your favour the subject of a discourse, will be suitable to my grateful sentiments. it is on the text;—now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.

that text, said i, will be a very suitable one for me. not so, pamela, said my master; because i don't let you depart in peace; but i hope you will stay here with content.

o but, sir, said i, i have seen god's salvation!—i am sure, added i, if any body ever had reason, i have to say, with the blessed virgin, my soul doth magnify the lord; for he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden—and exalted one of low degree.

said my good father, i am sure, if there were time for it, the book of ruth would afford a fine subject for the honour done my dear child.

why, good mr. andrews, said my master, should you say so?—i know that story, and mr. williams will confirm what i say, that my good girl here will confer at least as much honour as she will receive.

sir, said i, you are inexpressibly generous; but i shall never think so. why, my pamela, said he, that's another thing: it will be best for me to think you will; and it will be kind in you to think you shan't; and then we shall always have an excellent rule to regulate our conduct by to one another.

was not this finely, nobly, wisely said, my dear mother?—o what a blessed thing it is to be matched to a man of sense and generosity!—how edifying! how!—but what shall i say?—i am at loss for words.

mr. williams said, when we came out of the little chapel, he would go home, and look over his discourses, for one for the next day. my master said, i have one thing to say before you go—when my jealousy, on account of this good girl, put me upon such a vindictive conduct to you, you know i took a bond for the money i had caused you to be troubled for: i really am ashamed of the matter; because i never intended, when i presented it to you, to have it again, you may be sure: but i knew not what might happen between you and her, nor how far matters might have gone between you; and so i was willing to have that in awe over you. and i think it is no extraordinary present, therefore, to give you up your bond again cancelled. and so he took it from his pocket, and gave it him. i think, added he, all the charges attending it, and the trouble you had, were defrayed by my attorney; i ordered that they should. they were, sir, said he; and ten thousand thanks to you for this goodness, and the kind manner in which you do it.—if you will go, mr. williams, said he, shall my chariot carry you home? no, sir, answered he, i thank you. my time will be so well employed all the way, in thinking of your favours, that i choose to meditate upon them, as i walk home.

my dear father was a little uneasy about his habit, for appearing at chapel next day, because of misses darnford and the servants, for fear, poor man, he should disgrace my master; and he told me, when he was mentioning this, of my master's kind present of twenty guineas for clothes, for you both; which made my heart truly joyful. but oh! to be sure, i can never deserve the hundredth part of his goodness!—it is almost a hard thing to be under the weight of such deep obligations on one side, and such a sense of one's own unworthiness on the other.—o! what a godlike power is that of doing good!—i envy the rich and the great for nothing else.

my master coming to us just then, i said, oh! sir, will your bounty know no limits? my dear father has told me what you have given him.—a trifle, pamela, said he, a little earnest only of my kindness.—say no more of it. but did i not hear the good man expressing some sort of concern for somewhat? hide nothing from me, pamela. only, sir, said i, he knew not how to absent himself from divine service, and yet is afraid of disgracing you by appearing.

fie, mr. andrews! said he, i thought you knew that the outward appearance was nothing. i wish i had as good a habit inwardly as you have. but i'll tell you, pamela, your father is not so much thinner than i am, nor much shorter; he and i will walk up together to my wardrobe; though it is not so well stored here, as in bedfordshire.

and so, said he, pleasantly, don't you pretend to come near us, till i call for you; for you must not yet see how men dress and undress themselves. o sir, said my father, i beg to be excused. i am sorry you were told. so am not i, said my master: pray come along with me.

he carried him up stairs, and shewed him several suits, and would have had him take his choice. my poor father was quite confounded: for my master saw not any he thought too good, and my father none that he thought bad enough. and my good master, at last, (he fixed his eye upon a fine drab, which he thought looked the plainest,) would help him to try the coat and waistcoat on himself; and, indeed, one would not have thought it, because my master is taller, and rather plumper, as i thought but, as i saw afterwards, they fitted him very well. and being plain, and lined with the same colour, and made for travelling in a coach, pleased my poor father much. he gave him the whole suit, and, calling up mrs. jewkes, said, let these clothes be well aired against tomorrow morning. mr. andrews brought only with him his common apparel, not thinking to stay sunday with us. and pray see for some of my stockings, and whether any of my shoes will fit him: and see also for some of my linen; for we have put the good man quite out of his course, by keeping him sunday over. he was then pleased to give him the silver buckles out of his own shoes. so, my good mother, you must expect to see my dear father a great beau. wig, said my master, he wants none; for his own venerable white locks are better than all the perukes in england.—but i am sure i have hats enough somewhere.—i'll take care of every thing, sir, said mrs. jewkes.—and my poor father, when he came to me, could not refrain tears. i know not how, said he, to comport myself under these great favours. o my child, it is all owing to the divine goodness, and your virtue.

sunday.

this blessed day all the family seemed to take delight to equip themselves for the celebration of the sabbath in the little chapel; and lady jones and mr. williams came in her chariot, and the two misses darnford in their own. and we breakfasted together in a most agreeable manner. my dear father appeared quite spruce and neat, and was quite caressed by the three ladies. as we were at breakfast, my master told mr. williams, we must let the psalms alone, he doubted, for want of a clerk: but mr. williams said, no, nothing should be wanting that he could supply. my father said, if it might be permitted him, he would, as well as he was able, perform that office; for it was always what he had taken delight in. and as i knew he had learnt psalmody formerly, in his youth, and had constantly practised it in private, at home, on sunday evenings, (as well as endeavoured to teach it in the little school he so unsuccessfully set up, at the beginning of his misfortunes, before he took to hard labour,) i was in no pain for his undertaking it in this little congregation. they seemed much pleased with this; and so we went to chapel, and made a pretty tolerable appearance; mrs. jewkes, and all the servants, attending, but the cook: and i never saw divine service performed with more solemnity, nor assisted at with greater devotion and decency; my master, lady jones, and the two misses, setting a lovely example.

my good father performed his part with great applause, making the responses, as if he had been a practised parish-clerk; and giving the xxiiid psalm,

[the lord is only my support,

and he that doth me feed:

how can i then lack any thing

whereof i stand in need?

in pastures green he feedeth me,

where i do safely lie;

and after leads me to the streams,

which run most pleasantly.

and when i find myself near lost,

then home he doth me take;

conducting me in his right paths,

e'en for his own name's sake.

and tho' i were e'en at death's door,

yet would i fear no ill:

for both thy rod and shepherd's crook

afford me comfort still.

thou hast my table richly spread

in presence of my foe:

thou hast my head with balm refresh'd,

my cup doth overflow.

and finally, while breath doth last,

thy grace shall me defend:

and in the house of god will i

my life for ever spend.]

which consisted of but three staves, we had it all; and he read the line, and began the tune with a heart so entirely affected with the duty, that he went through it distinctly, calmly, and fervently at the same time; so that lady jones whispered me, that good man were fit for all companies, and present to every laudable occasion: and miss darnford said, god bless the dear good man!—you must think how i rejoiced in my mind.

i know, my dear mother, you can say most of the shortest psalms by heart; so i need not transcribe it, especially as your chief treasure is a bible; and a worthy treasure it is. i know nobody makes more or better use of it.

mr. williams gave us an excellent discourse on liberality and generosity, and the blessings attending the right use of riches, from the xith chapter of proverbs, ver. 24, 25. there is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. the liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself. and he treated the subject in so handsome a manner, that my master's delicacy, who, at first, was afraid of some personal compliments, was not offended. mr. williams judiciously keeping to generals; and it was an elegant and sensible discourse, as my master said.

my father was in the clerk's place, just under the desk; and lady jones, by her footman, whispered him to favour us with another psalm, when the sermon was ended. he thinking, as he said afterwards, that the former was rather of the longest, chose the shortest in the book, which you know is the cxviith.

[o all ye nations of the world,

praise ye the lord always:

and all ye people every where

set forth his noble praise.

for great his kindness is to us;

his truth doth not decay:

wherefore praise ye the lord our god;

praise ye the lord alway.]

my master thanked mr. williams for his excellent discourse, and so did the ladies; as also did i most heartily: and he was pleased to take my dear father by the hand, as did also mr. williams, and thanked him. the ladies, likewise, made him their compliments; and the servants all looked upon him with countenances of respect and pleasure.

at dinner, do what i could, i was forced to take the upper end of the table; and my master sat at the lower end, between mr. williams and my father. and he said, pamela, you are so dexterous, that i think you may help the ladies yourself; and i will help my two good friends. i should have told you, though, that i dressed myself in a flowered satin, that was my lady's, and looked quite fresh and good, and which was given me, at first, by my master; and the ladies, who had not seen me out of my homespun before, made me abundance of fine compliments, as soon as they saw me first.

talking of the psalms just after dinner, my master was very naughty, if i may so say: for he said to my father, mr. andrews, i think in the afternoon, as we shall have only prayers, we may have one longer psalm; and what think you of the cxxxviith? o, good sir! said i, pray, pray, not a word more! say what you will, pamela, said he, you shall sing it to us, according to your on version, before these good ladies go away. my father smiled, but was half concerned for me; and said, will it bear, and please your honour?—o ay, said he, never fear it; so long as mrs. jewkes is not in the hearing.

this excited all the ladies' curiosity; and lady jones said, she would be loath to desire to hear any thing that would give me concern; but should be glad i would give leave for it. indeed, madam, said i, i must beg you won't insist upon it. i cannot bear it.—you shall see it, indeed, ladies, said my master; and pray, pamela, not always as you please, neither.—then, pray sir, said i, not in my hearing, i hope.—sure, pamela, returned he, you would not write what is not fit to be heard!—but, sir, said i, there are particular cases, times, and occasions, that may make a thing passable at one time, that would not be tolerable at another. o, said he, let me judge of that, as well as you, pamela. these ladies know a good part of your story; and, let me tell you, what they know is more to your credit than mine; so that if i have no averseness to reviving the occasion, you may very well bear it. said he, i will put you out of your pain, pamela: here it is: and took it out of his pocket.

i stood up, and said, indeed, sir, i can't bear it; i hope you'll allow me to leave the room a minute, if you will read it. indeed but i won't, answered he. lady jones said, pray, good sir, don't let us hear it, if mrs. andrews be so unwilling. well, pamela, said my master, i will put it to your choice, whether i shall read it now, or you will sing it by and by. that's very hard, sir, said i. it must be one, i assure you, said he. why then, sir, replied i, you must do as you please; for i cannot sing it.

well, then, said my master, i find i must read it; and yet, added he, after all, i had as well let it alone, for it is no great reputation to myself. o then, said miss darnford, pray let us hear it, to choose.

why then, proceeded he, the case was this: pamela, i find, when she was in the time of her confinement, (that is, added he, when she was taken prisoner, in order to make me one; for that is the upshot of the matter,) in the journal she kept, which was intended for nobody's perusal but her parents, tells them, that she was importuned, one sunday, by mrs. jewkes, to sing a psalm; but her spirits not permitting, she declined it: but after mrs. jewkes was gone down, she says, she recollected, that the cxxxviith psalm was applicable to her own case; mrs. jewkes having often, on other days, in vain, besought her to sing a song: that thereupon she turned it more to her own supposed case; and believing mrs. jewkes had a design against her honour, and looking upon her as her gaoler, she thus gives her version of this psalm. but pray, mr. williams, do you read one verse of the common translation, and i will read one of pamela's. then mr. williams, pulling out his little pocket common-prayer-book, read the first two stanzas:

i.

when we did sit in babylon,

the rivers round about;

then in remembrance of sion,

the tears for grief burst out.

ii.

we hang'd our harps and instruments

the willow trees upon:

for in that place, men, for that use,

had planted many a one.

my master then read:

i.

when sad i sat in b——n-hall,

all guarded round about,

and thought of ev'ry absent friend,

the tears for grief burst out.

ii.

my joys and hopes all overthrown,

my heart-strings almost broke,

unfit my mind for melody,

much more to bear a joke.

the ladies said, it was very pretty; and miss darnford, that somebody else had more need to be concerned than the versifier.

i knew, said my master, i should get no credit by shewing this. but let us read on, mr. williams. so mr. williams read:

iii.

then they, to whom we pris'ners were,

said to us, tauntingly,

now let us hear your hebrew songs,

and pleasant melody.

now this, said my master, is very near; and read:

iii.

then she, to whom i prisoner was,

said to me tauntingly,

now cheer your heart, and sing a song,

and tune your mind to joy.

mighty sweet, said mr. williams. but let us see how the next verse is turned. it is this:

iv.

alas! said we; who can once frame

his heavy heart to sing

the praises of our living god,

thus under a strange king?

why, said my master, it is turned with beautiful simplicity, thus:

iv.

alas! said i, how can i frame

my heavy heart to sing,

or tune my mind, while thus enthrall'd

by such a wicked thing?

very pretty, said mr. williams. lady jones said, o, dear madam! could you wish that we should be deprived of this new instance of your genius and accomplishments?

o! said my dear father, you will make my good child proud. no, said my master very generously, pamela can't be proud. for no one is proud to hear themselves praised, but those who are not used to it.—but proceed, mr. williams. he read:

v.

but yet, if i jerusalem

out of my heart let slide;

then let my fingers quite forget

the warbling harp to guide.

well, now, said my master, for pamela's version:

v.

but yet, if from my innocence

i ev'n in thought should slide,

then let my fingers quite forget

the sweet spinnet to guide.

mr. williams read:

vi.

and let my tongue, within my mouth,

be ty'd for ever fast,

if i rejoice, before i see

thy full deliv'rance past.

this, also, said my master, is very near:

vi.

and let my tongue, within my mouth,

be lock'd for ever fast,

if i rejoice, before i see

my full deliv'rance past.

now, good sir, said i, oblige me; don't read any further: pray don't! o pray, madam, said mr. williams, let me beg to have the rest read; for i long to know whom you make the sons of edom, and how you turn the psalmist's execrations against the insulting babylonians.

well, mr. williams, replied i, you should not have said so. o, said my master, that is one of the best things of all. poor mrs. jewkes stands for edom's sons; and we must not lose this, because i think it one of my pamela's excellencies, that, though thus oppressed, she prays for no harm upon the oppressor. read, mr. williams, the next stanza. so he read:

vii.

therefore, o lord! remember now

the cursed noise and cry,

that edom's sons against us made,

when they ras'd our city.

viii.

remember, lord, their cruel words,

when, with a mighty sound,

they cried, down, yea down with it,

unto the very ground!

well, said my master, here seems, in what i am going to read, a little bit of a curse indeed, but i think it makes no ill figure in the comparison.

vii.

and thou, almighty! recompense

the evils i endure

from those who seek my sad disgrace,

so causeless, to procure.

and now, said he, for edom's sons. though a little severe in the imputation.

viii.

remember, lord, this mrs. jewkes,

when with a mighty sound,

she cries, down with her chastity,

down to the very ground!

sure, sir, said i, this might have been spared! but the ladies and mr. williams said, no, by no means! and i see the poor wicked woman has no favourers among them.

now, said my master, read the psalmist's heavy curses: and mr. williams read:

ix.

ev'n so shalt thou, o babylon!

at length to dust be brought:

and happy shall that man be call'd,

that our revenge hath wrought.

x.

yea, blessed shall the man be call'd

that takes thy little ones,

and dasheth them in pieces small

against the very stones.

thus he said, very kindly, has my pamela turned these lines:

ix.

ev'n so shalt thou, o wicked one!

at length to shame be brought;

and happy shall all those be call'd,

that my deliv'rance wrought.

x.

yea, blessed shall the man be call'd

that shames thee of thy evil,

and saves me from thy vile attempts,

and thee, too, from the d—-l.

i fancy this blessed man, said my master smiling, was, at that time, hoped to be you, mr. williams, if the truth was known. sir, said he, whoever it was intended for then, it can be nobody but your good self now.

i could hardly hold up my head for the praises the kind ladies were pleased to heap upon me. i am sure, by this, they are very partial in my favour; all because my master is so good to me, and loves to hear me praised; for i see no such excellence in these lines, as they would make me believe, besides what is borrowed from the psalmist.

we all, as before, and the cook-maid too, attended the prayers of the church in the afternoon; and my dear father concluded with the following stanzas of the cxlvth psalm; suitably magnifying the holy name of god for all mercies; but did not observe, altogether, the method in which they stand; which was the less necessary, he thought, as he gave out the lines.

the lord is just in all his ways:

his works are holy all:

and he is near all those that do

in truth upon him call.

he the desires of all them

that fear him, will fulfil;

and he will hear them when they cry,

and save them all he will.

the eyes of all do wait on thee;

thou dost them all relieve:

and thou to each sufficient food,

in season due, dost give.

thou openest thy plenteous hand,

and bounteously dost fill

all things whatever, that do live,

with gifts of thy good will.

my thankful mouth shall gladly speak

the praises of the lord:

all flesh, to praise his holy name,

for ever shall accord.

we walked in the garden till tea was ready; and as he went by the back-door, my master said to me, of all the flowers in the garden, the sun-flower is the fairest!—o, sir, said i, let that be now forgot! mr. williams heard him say so, and seemed a little out of countenance: whereupon my master said, i mean not to make you serious, mr. williams; but we see how strangely things are brought about. i see other scenes hereabouts, that, in my pamela's dangers, give me more cause of concern, than any thing you ever did should give you. sir, said he, you are very generous.

my master and mr. williams afterwards walked together for a quarter of an hour; and talked about general things, and some scholastic subjects; and joined us, very well pleased with one another's conversation.

lady jones said, putting herself on one side of me, as my master was on the other, but pray, sir, when is the happy time to be? we want it over, that we may have you with us as long afterwards as you can. said my master, i would have it to-morrow, or next day at farthest, if pamela will: for i have sent for a license, and the messenger will be here to-night, or early in the morning, i hope. but, added he, pray, pamela, do not take beyond thursday. she was pleased to say, sure it will not be delayed by you, madam, more than needs!—well, said he, now you are on my side, i will leave you with her to settle it: and, i hope, she will not let little bashful niceties be important with her; and so he joined the two misses.

lady jones told me, i was to blame, she would take upon her to say, if i delayed it a moment; because she understood lady davers was very uneasy at the prospect, that it would be so; and if any thing should happen, it would be a sad thing!—madam, said i, when he was pleased to mention it to me first, he said it should be in fourteen days; and afterwards, asked me if i would have it in the first or the second seven? i answered—for how could i do otherwise?—in the second. he desired it might not be the last day of the second seven. now, madam, said i, as he was then pleased to speak his mind, no doubt, i would not, for any thing, seem too forward.

well, but, said she, as he now urges you in so genteel and gentlemanly a manner for a shorter day, i think, if i was in your place, i would agree to it. she saw me hesitate and blush, and said, well, you know best; but i say only what i would do. i said, i would consider of it; and if i saw he was very earnest, to be sure i should think i ought to oblige him.

misses darnford were begging to be at the wedding, and to have a ball: and they said, pray, mrs. andrews, second our requests, and we shall be greatly obliged to you. indeed, ladies, said i, i cannot promise that, if i might.—why so? said they.—because, answered i—i know not what! but i think one may, with pleasure, celebrate an anniversary of one's nuptials; but the day itself—indeed, ladies, i think it is too solemn a business, for the parties of our sex to be very gay upon: it is a quite serious and awful affair: and i am sure, in your own cases, you would be of my mind. why, then, said miss darnford, the more need one has to be as light-hearted and merry as one can.