LETTER V


MY DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,

John being to go your way, I am willing to write, because he is so
willing to carry any thing for me. He says it does him good at his heart
to see you both, and to hear you talk. He says you are both so sensible,
and so honest, that he always learns something from you to the purpose.
It is a thousand pities, he says, that such worthy hearts should not have
better luck in the world! and wonders, that you, my father, who are so
well able to teach, and write so good a hand, succeeded no better in the
school you attempted to set up; but was forced to go to such hard labour.
But this is more pride to me, that I am come of such honest parents, than
if I had been born a lady.

I hear nothing yet of going to Lady Davers; and I am very easy at present
here: for Mrs. Jervis uses me as if I were her own daughter, and is a
very good woman, and makes my master's interest her own. She is always
giving me good counsel, and I love her next to you two, I think, best of
any body. She keeps so good rule and order, she is mightily respected by
us all; and takes delight to hear me read to her; and all she loves to
hear read, is good books, which we read whenever we are alone; so that I
think I am at home with you. She heard one of our men, Harry, who is no
better than he should be, speak freely to me; I think he called me his
pretty Pamela, and took hold of me, as if he would have kissed me; for
which, you may be sure, I was very angry: and she took him to task, and
was as angry at him as could be; and told me she was very well pleased to
see my prudence and modesty, and that I kept all the fellows at a
distance. And indeed I am sure I am not proud, and carry it civilly to