Pamela

Pamela’s parents write back to her, and express their concern about the way that Mr. B is treating her. While they “hope that the good squire has no design” (45), they fear he may have ulterior motives, and remind Pamela that her chastity is of the utmost importance. They tell her to be cautious and to come home to them if Mr. B tries to seduce her. They decide not to spend the money she’s sent them until they are sure it was not given with any nefarious intention.

Due to her parents’ letter, Pamela is now “suspicious and fearful” (46) of Mr. B. However, she remains hopeful that Mr. B will behave honorably, since she doesn’t understand why he would pursue her—he is so socially so far above her. She is also insistent that she will maintain her virtue at any cost, since she would rather “die a thousand deaths, rather than be dishonest any way” (47). She mentions that Mrs. Jervis, the housekeeper, has been very kind to her.

Since Lady B’s death, her daughter Lady Davers—the sister of Mr. B—has been visiting. Pamela has heard through the gossip of other servants that Mr. B and Lady Davers were discussing her. Lady Davers said that Pamela was too attractive to work for an unmarried man, since Mr. B’s future wife would undoubtedly be jealous of her, and suggested that Pamela should come and work for her instead. Mr. B readily agreed, which pleases Pamela, since she believes this means that “he has nothing bad in his heart” (48).

Pamela writes cheerfully to her parents. She has nothing particular to tell them, but she enjoys writing, and it is easy to send the letters since John (the footman) is always happy to bring the letters to them. Pamela is getting along well with the kindly Mrs. Jervis, who became protective when a male household servant tried to flirt with Pamela. Pamela also no longer worries about Mr. B: “I am quite fearless of any danger now” (49.)

In the presence of Mrs. Jervis, Mr. B gifts Pamela clothes that used to belong to his mother—an incredibly expensive present in 18th century England. She is concerned that the clothes are “too rich and too good for me” (50), but she appreciates his kindness. Mr. B also asks Mrs. Jervis how Pamela behaves around young men, claiming to be concerned that her beauty might make her vulnerable. Mrs. Jervis reassures him that Pamela is always modest and virtuous.

Mr. B gives Pamela more gifts, but this time, without Mrs. Jervis there. Pamela feels embarrassed and awkward, especially since some of the gifts are intimate items such as stockings. Pamela confides to Mrs. Jervis what has happened, but Mrs. Jervis suggests that Mr. B might be preparing Pamela for a new job with Lady Davers. Pamela is unsettled by the incident, but hopes everything will be fine.

Pamela’s parents write back, expressing their worry, and urging Pamela again to “resolve to lose your life rather than your virtue” (52). They are worried that Mr. B might easily be able to manipulate her, especially because of his power and authority. They wish that Pamela would move to the home of Lady Davers, but are somewhat comforted by the presence of Mrs. Jervis, and urge Pamela to do whatever the housekeeper says.

Pamela reports to her parents that she will not be going to work for Lady Davers after all: Mr. B objected to the presence of Lady Davers’s nephew, claiming to fear that this young man might seduce Pamela or that she might fall in love with him. However, Lady Davers gave the cryptic response “Ah! Brother!” implying there are other factors at play. Pamela admits that, “my heart at times misgives me” (53).

Pamela sends a distressed letter to her parents, lamenting that, “now it is too plain, that all your cautions were well-grounded” (53): Mr. B has betrayed her trust and insulted her honor. Pamela explains that she already wrote a long letter explaining everything that happened, but that letter has gone missing. She suspects that Mr. B may have intercepted it. She has had limited opportunities since then to write down what happened, as Mr. B now seems mistrustful of the time she spends writing and wants her to spend more time on tasks such as embroidering a waistcoat for him.

Pamela finally explains what happened. One day, she was alone in the garden when Mr. B came upon her. He suggested that it was more advantageous for Pamela to stay with him rather than go and work for Lady Davers; when Pamela began to say that she would prefer to go to Lady Davers, he grabbed and kissed her. Pamela chastised him, appealing to his social status and arguing that “to be so free to a poor servant” (55) is demeaning for him. Mr. B became angry, and told Pamela not to tell anyone what happened. He tried to give her money, but when she rejected it, he stormed off. Pamela breaks off her letter, promising to write and continue her story soon.

Pamela continues to describe what happened. She has thought about leaving Mr. B’s household, but is confused about how to proceed, and whether she should take or leave the gifts of clothing that he gave her. To increase her security, she asks Mrs. Jervis to share a bed, and Mrs. Jervis agrees. Pamela tells Mrs. Jervis what happened, deciding that “to keep a secret of such a nature, would be, as I apprehended, to deprive myself of the good advice which I never wanted more” (57). Mrs. Jervis expresses her concern and wishes she and Pamela had the means to live independently somewhere. Pamela decides to stay in the household, although she continues to feel worried, and wishes she had never left her family home.

Pamela’s parents urge Pamela to return home to them and “share our poverty with safety” (59).

Mr. B questions Mrs. Jervis about Pamela’s character, annoyed by Mrs. Jervis’s insistence that Pamela is virtuous and innocent. Mr. B complains that Pamela is “a subtle, artful little gypsey” (60); he tells Mrs. Jervis that Pamela has misconstrued the kindness he has shown towards her, and has been gossiping about what she perceives as his misconduct. Pamela surmises that Mr. B must have stolen the first letter in which she confided to her parents about his sexual overtures to her.

Mr. B finds Pamela as she is writing the previous letter. He complains that after the events in the summerhouse (he forcibly kissed her), he told her not to tell anyone what happened. Nonetheless, Pamela went ahead and told and wrote about these events. Pamela argues that, if he hasn’t done anything wrong, he should not be upset that she spoke about it. She laments that he should not have stolen her letter, and argues that she needed to ask advice because she is in vulnerable position.

Pamela begins to cry and Mr. B seizes her, kissing and fondling her. Pamela manages to break free and run to her room, where she locks herself in, and then collapses in a swoon. Mr. B breaks into the room, but then leaves Mrs. Jervis to tend to Pamela. He later comes back and insists to Mrs. Jervis that he did nothing wrong and that Pamela is overreacting. He arranges a meeting between the three of them the following day, seemingly to turn Pamela out of the house. Pamela dreads the meeting.