An Apology For The Life Of Mrs. Shamela Andrews Part 3

As soon as my Master saw her, he immediately threw his Arms round her Neck, and smothered her with Kisses (for indeed he hath but very little to say for himself to a Woman.) He swore that _Pamela_ was an ugly s.l.u.t, (pardon, dear Madam, the Coa.r.s.eness of the Expression) compared to such divine Excellence. He added, he would turn _Pamela_ away immediately, and take this new Girl, whom he thought to be one of his Tenant's Daughters, in her Room.

Miss _Sham_ smiled at these Words, and so did your humble Servant, which he perceiving, looked very earnestly at your fair Daughter, and discovered the Cheat.

How, _Pamela_, says he, is it you? I thought, Sir, said Miss, after what had happened, you would have known me in any Dress. No, Hussy, says he, but after what hath happened, I should know thee out of any Dress from all thy s.e.x. He then was what we Women call rude, when done in the Presence of others; but it seems it is not the first time, and Miss defended herself with great Strength and Spirit.

The Squire, who thinks her a pure Virgin, and who knows nothing of my Character, resolved to send her into _Lincolns.h.i.+re_, on Pretence of conveying her home; where our old Friend _Nanny Jewkes_ is Housekeeper, and where Miss had her small one by Parson _Williams_ about a Year ago. This is a Piece of News communicated to us by _Robin_ Coachman, who is intrusted by his Master to carry on this Affair privately for him: But we hang together, I believe, as well as any Family of Servants in the Nation.

You will, I believe, Madam, wonder that the Squire, who doth not want Generosity, should never have mentioned a Settlement all this while, I believe it slips his Memory: But it will not be long first, no doubt: For, as I am convinced the young Lady will do nothing unbecoming your Daughter, nor ever admit him to taste her Charms, without something sure and handsome before-hand; so, I am certain, the Squire will never rest till they have danced _Adam_ and _Eve's_ kissing Dance together. Your Daughter set out Yesterday Morning, and told me, as soon as she arrived, you might depend on hearing from her.

Be pleased to make my Compliments acceptable to Mrs. _Davis_ and Mrs.

_Silvester_, and Mrs. _Jolly_, and all Friends, and permit me the Honour, Madam, to be with the utmost Sincerity,

_Your most Obedient_,

_Humble Servant_,

LUCRETIA JERVIS.

If the Squire should continue his Displeasure against me, so as to insist on the Warning he hath given me, you will see me soon, and I will lodge in the same House with you, if you have room, till I can provide for my self to my Liking.

LETTER VIII.

HENRIETTA MARIA HONORA ANDREWS _to_ LUCRETIA JERVIS.

_Madam_,

I Received the Favour of your Letter, and I find you have not forgot your usual Poluteness, which you learned when you was in keeping with a Lord.

I am very much obliged to you for your Care of my Daughter, am glad to hear she hath taken such good Resolutions, and hope she will have sufficient Grace to maintain them.

All Friends are well, and remember to you. You will excuse the Shortness of this Scroll; for I have Sprained my right Hand, with boxing three new made Officers.--Tho' to my Comfort, I beat them all.

I rest,

_Your Friend and Servant_,

HENRIETTA, _&c._

LETTER IX.

SHAMELA ANDREWS _to_ HENRIETTA MARIA HONORA ANDREWS.

_Dear Mamma_,

I Suppose Mrs. _Jervis_ acquainted you with what past 'till I left _Bedfords.h.i.+re_; whence I am after a very pleasant Journey arrived in _Lincolns.h.i.+re_, with your old Acquaintance Mrs. _Jewkes_, who formerly helped Parson _Williams_ to me; and now designs I see, to sell me to my Master; thank her for that; she will find two Words go to that Bargain.

The Day after my Arrival here, I received a Letter from Mr.

_Williams_, and as you have often desired to see one from him, I have inclosed it to you; it is, I think, the finest I ever received from that charming Man, and full of a great deal of Learning.

_O! What a brave Thing it is to be a Schollard, and to be able to talk Latin._

_Parson_ WILLIAMS _to_ PAMELA ANDREWS.

_Mrs. Pamela_,

Having learnt by means of my Clerk, who Yesternight visited the Rev^d. Mr. _Peters_ with my Commands, that you are returned into this County, I purposed to have saluted your fair Hands this Day towards Even: But am obliged to sojourn this Night at a neighbouring Clergyman's; where we are to pierce a Virgin Barrel of Ale, in a Cup of which I shall not be unmindful to celebrate your Health.

I hope you have remembered your Promise, to bring me a leaden Canister of Tobacco (the Saffron Cut) for in Troth, this Country at present affords nothing worthy the replenis.h.i.+ng a Tube with.----Some I tasted, the other Day at an Alehouse, gave me the Heart-Burn, tho'

I filled no oftner than five times.

I was greatly concerned to learn, that your late Lady left you nothing, tho' I cannot say the Tidings much surprized me: For I am too intimately acquainted with the Family; (myself, Father, and Grandfather having been successive Inc.u.mbents on the same Cure, which you know is in their Gift) I say, I am too well acquainted with them to expect much from their Generosity. They are in Verity, as worthless a Family as any other whatever. The young Gentleman I am informed, is a perfect Reprobate that he hath an _Ingenium Versatile_ to every Species of Vice, which, indeed, no one can much wonder at, who animadverts on that want of Respect to the Clergy, which was observable in him when a Child, I remember when he was at the Age of Eleven only, he met my Father without either pulling off his Hat, or riding out of the way. Indeed, a Contempt of the Clergy is the fas.h.i.+onable Vice of the Times; but let such Wretches know, they cannot hate, detest, and despise us, half so much as we do them.

However, I have prevailed on myself to write a civil Letter to your Master, as there is a Probability of his being shortly in a Capacity of rendring me a Piece of Service; my good Friend and Neighbour the Rev^d. Mr. _Squeeze-t.i.the_ being, as I am informed by one whom I have employed to attend for that Purpose, very near his Dissolution.

You see, sweet Mrs. _Pamela_, the Confidence with which I dictate these Things to you; whom after those Endearments which have pa.s.sed between us, I must in some Respects estimate as my Wife: For tho' the Omission of the Service was a Sin; yet, as I have told you, it was a venial One, of which I have truly repented, as I hope you have; and also that you have continued the wholsome Office of reading good Books, and are improved in your Psalmody, of which I shall have a speedy Trial: For I purpose to give you a Sermon next _Sunday_, and shall spend the Evening with you, in Pleasures, which tho' not strictly innocent, are however to be purged away by frequent and sincere Repentance. I am,

_Sweet Mrs._ Pamela,

_Your faithful Servant_,

ARTHUR WILLIAMS.

You find, Mamma, what a charming way he hath of Writing, and yet I a.s.sure you, that is not the most charming thing belonging to him: For, tho' he doth not put any Dears, and Sweets, and Loves into his Letters, yet he says a thousand of them: For he can be as fond of a Woman, as any Man living.

_Sure Women are great Fools, when they prefer a laced Coat to the Clergy, whom it is our Duty to honour and respect._

Well, on _Sunday_ Parson _Williams_ came, according to his Promise, and an excellent Sermon he preached; his Text was, _Be not Righteous over much_; and, indeed, he handled it in a very fine way; he shewed us that the Bible doth not require too much Goodness of us, and that People very often call things Goodness that are not so. That to go to Church, and to pray, and to sing Psalms, and to honour the Clergy, and to repent, is true Religion; and 'tis not doing good to one another, for that is one of the greatest Sins we can commit, when we don't do it for the sake of Religion. That those People who talk of Vartue and Morality, are the wickedest of all Persons. That 'tis not what we do, but what we believe, that must save us, and a great many other good Things; I wish I could remember them all.

As soon as Church was over, he came to the Squire's House, and drank Tea with Mrs. _Jewkes_ and me; after which Mrs. _Jewkes_ went out and left us together for an Hour and half--Oh! he is a charming Man.

After Supper he went Home, and then Mrs. _Jewkes_ began to catechize me, about my Familiarity with him. I see she wants him herself. Then she proceeded to tell me what an Honour my Master did me in liking me, and that it was both an inexcusable Folly and Pride in me, to pretend to refuse him any Favour. Pray, Madam, says I, consider I am a poor Girl, and have nothing but my Modesty to trust to. If I part with that, what will become of me. Methinks, says she, you are not so mighty modest when you are with Parson _Williams_; I have observed you gloat at one another, in a Manner that hath made me blush. I a.s.sure you, I shall let the Squire know what sort of Man he is; you may do your Will, says I, as long as he hath a Vote for Pallamant-Men, the Squire dares do nothing to offend him; and you will only shew that you are jealous of him, and that's all. How now, Mynx, says she; Mynx! No more Mynx than yourself, says I; with that she hit me a Slap on the Shoulder; and I flew at her and scratched her Face, i'cod, 'till she went crying out of the Room; so no more at present, from

_Your Dutiful Daughter_,

SHAMELA.

LETTER X.