I could no longer refrain tears, but said, Pray your ladyship, let me
ask what I have done, to be thus severely treated? I never did your
ladyship any harm. And if you think I am deceived, as you was pleased to
hint, I should be more entitled to your pity, than your anger.
She rose, and took me by the hand, and led me to her chair; and then sat
down; and still holding my hand, said, Why Pamela, I did indeed pity
you while I thought you innocent; and when my brother seized you, and
brought you down hither, without your consent, I was concerned for you;
and I was still more concerned for you, and loved you, when I heard of
your virtue and resistance, and your laudable efforts to get away from
him. But when, as I fear, you have suffered yourself to be prevailed
upon, and have lost your innocence, and added another to the number
of the fools he has ruined, (This shocked me a little,) I cannot help
shewing my displeasure to you. Madam, replied I,
I must beg no hasty judgment; I have not lost my
innocence.--Take care, take care, Pamela! said she: don't lose your
veracity, as well as your honour!--Why are you here, when you are at
full liberty to go whither you please?--I will make one proposal to you,
and if you are innocent, I am sure you'll accept it. Will you go and
live with me?--I will instantly set out with you in my chariot, and not
stay half an hour longer in this house, if you'll go with me.--Now, if
you are innocent, and willing to keep so, deny me, if you can.
I am innocent, madam, replied I, and willing to keep so; and yet I
cannot consent to this. Then, said she, very mannerly, Thou liest,
child, that's all: and I give thee up!
And so she arose, and walked about the room in great wrath. Her nephew
and her woman said, Your ladyship's very good; 'tis a plain case; a very
plain case! I would have removed the chair, to have gone out; but her nephew came
and sat in it. This provoked me; for I thought I should be unworthy of
the honour I was raised to, though I was afraid to own it, if I did not
shew some spirit; and I said, What, sir, is your pretence in this house,
to keep me a prisoner here? Because, said he--I like it.--Do you so,
sir? replied I: if that is the answer of a gentleman to such an one
as I, it would not, I dare say, be the answer of a gentleman to a
gentleman.--My lady! my lady! said he, a challenge, a challenge, by gad!
No, sir, said I, I am of a sex that gives no challenges; and you think
so too, or you would not give this occasion for the word.