I believe, added he, the truth of the matter is very little known

or suspected; for, as her mother is of no mean family, her friends

endeavour to keep it secret, as much as I: and Lady Davers, till her

wrath boiled over, t'other day, has managed the matter very dexterously

and kindly. The words, mother is of no mean family, gave me not to doubt the poor

lady was living. And I said, But how, sir, can the dear miss's poor

mother be content to deny herself the enjoyment of so sweet a child?

Ah, Pamela, replied he, now you come in; I see you want to know what's

become of the poor mother. 'Tis natural enough you should; but I was

willing to see how the little suspense would operate upon you.--Dear

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sir, said I.--Nay, replied he, 'tis very natural, my dear! I think you

have had a great deal of patience, and are come at this question so

fairly that you deserve to be answered.

You must know then, there is some foundation for saying, that her

mother, at least, lives in Jamaica; for there she does live, and very

happily too. For I must observe, that she suffered so much in child-bed,

that nobody expected her life; and this, when she was up, made such an

impression upon her, that she dreaded nothing so much as the thoughts of

returning to her former fault; and, to say the truth, I had intended to

make her a visit as soon as her month was well up. And so, unknown to

me, she engaged herself to go to Jamaica, with two young ladies, who

were born there; and were returning to their friends, after they had

been four years in England for their education: and, recommending to me,

by a very moving letter, her little baby, and that I would not suffer it

to be called by her name, but Goodwin, that her shame might be the less

known, for hers and her family's sake; she got her friends to assign

her five hundred pounds, in full of all her demands upon her family, and

went up to London, and embarked, with her companions, at Gravesend,

and so sailed to Jamaica; where she is since well and happily married,

passing to her husband for a young widow, with one daughter, which her

husband's friends take care of, and provide for. And so you see, Pamela,

that in the whole story on both sides, the truth is as much preserved as

possible.

Poor lady! said I; how her story moves me! I am glad she is so happy

at last!--And, my dear, said he, are you not glad she is so far off

too?--As to that, sir, said I, I cannot be sorry, to be sure, as she

is so happy; which she could not have been here. For, sir, I doubt you

would have proceeded with your temptations, if she had not gone; and

it shewed she was much in earnest to be good, that she could leave her

native country, leave all her relations, leave you, whom she so well

loved, leave her dear baby, and try a new fortune, in a new world, among

quite strangers, and hazard the seas; and all to preserve herself from

further guiltiness! Indeed, indeed, sir, said I, I bleed for what

her distresses must be, in this case I am grieved for her poor mind's

remorse, through her childbed terrors, which could have so great and so

worthy an effect upon her afterwards; and I honour her resolution; and

would rank such a returning dear lady in the class of those who are

most virtuous; and doubt not God Almighty's mercy to her; and that her

present happiness is the result of his gracious providence, blessing her

penitence and reformation.--But, sir, said I, did you not once see the

poor lady after her lying-in?




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