my Hand all the time, at last said, I will now talk to
you in a serious manner.
 
You have a great deal of Wit, a great deal of Penetration, much beyond your
Years; and, as I thought, your Opportunities. You are possess'd of an open,
frank and generous Mind; and a Person so lovely, that you excel all your Sex in
my Eyes. All these Accomplishments have engag'd my Affections so deeply, that,
as I have often said, I cannot live without you; and I would divide with all my
Soul, my Estate with you, to make you mine upon my own Terms. These you have
absolutely rejected; and that, tho' in sawcy Terms enough, yet, in such a
manner, as makes me admire you more. Your pretty Chit-chat to Mrs. Jewkes, the
last Sunday Night, so innocent, and so full of beautiful Simplicity, half
disarmed my Resolutions before I approach'd your Bed. And I see you so watchful
over your Virtue, that tho' I hop'd to find it otherwise, I cannot but say, my
Passion for you is increas'd by it. But now what shall I say further, Pamela? -
I will make you, tho' a Party, my Adviser in this Matter; tho' not perhaps my
definitive Judge.
    You know I am not a very abandon'd Profligate: I have hitherto been guilty
of no very enormous or vile Actions. This of seizing you, and confining you
thus, may, perhaps, be one of the worst, at least to Persons of real Innocence.
Had I been utterly given up to my Passions, I should before now have gratify'd
them, and not have shewn that Remorse and Compassion for you, which have
repriev'd you more than once, when absolutely in my Power; and you are as
inviolate a Virgin as you was when you came into my House.
    But, what can I do? Consider the Pride of my Condition. I cannot endure the
Thought of Marriage, even with a Person of equal or superior Degree to myself;
and have declin'd several Proposals of that kind: How then, with the Distance
between us, and in the World's Judgment, can I think of making you my Wife? -
Yet I must have you; I cannot bear the Thoughts of any other Man supplanting me
in your Affections. And the very Apprehension of that, has made me hate the Name
of Williams, and use him in a manner