Pamela

Pamela and Mr. B wake to Lady Davers banging on their bedroom door—she wants proof that Pamela and her brother are sleeping together. Mr. B puts on a dressing gown and lets his sister in; she is enraged when she sees Pamela, threatening to “tear the creature out of bed before your face and […] expose you both as you deserve” (435). Mr. B physically drags his sister out of the room.

Pamela is too frightened to come down all day. Mr. B tries to coax her to be braver, but Lady Davers interrupts them, complaining that everyone is avoiding her. Mr. B argues that he has the right to marry whomever he wants, but Lady Davers alludes to an Italian duel. At the mention of this subject, Mr. B becomes very agitated and tells her to get out. Pamela tries to intercede on Lady Davers’s behalf, but this enrages the aristocratic woman even more. As Mr. B openly talks about being married to Pamela, Lady Davers becomes increasingly agitated. Mr. B persuades her to stay for dinner, but insists that Pamela will also dine with them. Over dinner, the group becomes friendlier, and Mr. B even invites his sister to accompany him and Pamela to Bedfordshire. Lady Davers makes a snide comment that Pamela has a powerful hold on Mr. B, and mentions a woman named Sally Godfrey.

Mr. B explains the “Italian duel.” After a friend of his was assassinated, Mr. B learned the identity of the Italian nobleman who had hired the assassins and challenged the Italian nobleman to a duel. Although he only injured the other man slightly, the Italian died of a fever shortly thereafter. Mr. B also explains that when he was a student, he had an affair with Sally Godfrey, whose mother ambitiously arranged the relationship in hopes they would marry. Mr. B planned to tell Pamela all of these things himself.

Lady Davers regrets her impulsive actions, and begins to weep and ask for forgiveness. Mr. B storms off, complaining that Pamela was too meek with his sister. Pamela is horrified to learn that Mr. B is displeased with her, and begs for his forgiveness. Mr. B calms down, and forgives both women. Mr. B and his sister, now reconciled, go for a drive together, and end up visiting friends. Pamela peacefully passes her time with Mrs. Jewkes and Lady Davers’s maid. When Mr. B and Lady Davers return, Lady Davers explains that all of their friends spoke highly of Pamela, and this has softened her perspective on the marriage. Mr. B tells Pamela that, as a member of the upper class, he is very used to getting his own way. For their marriage to work, Pamela will need to learn to accommodate his temper and soothe him. Pamela listens earnestly, and writes down the lessons she takes away from this discussion, along with her own reflections. Nonetheless, she finds herself wondering about Sally Godfrey, and wanting to know more.

The next morning, Lady Davers asks Pamela more about her experiences. Lady Davers concludes that Pamela is so clearly sweet and virtuous that, “I believe I shall be forced to love thee” (475). Lady Davers is also eager to read Pamela’s writing, believing that it will further endear her new sister-in-law to her.

Pamela enjoys a pleasant dinner with Mr. B, Lady Davers, and their various friends. Everyone is on good terms; Pamela gives gifts to various servants, and reiterates her forgiveness to Mrs. Jewkes.

Pamela is now back in Bedfordshire. Pamela is awe-struck to realize that she began as “a poor cast-off servant girl; and now returning a joyful wife, and the mistress of the noble house I was turned out of” (477). Pamela reunites joyfully with Mrs. Jervis, and also greets the other servants warmly, especially Mr. Longman and Mr. Jonathan. She and Mr. B give generous gifts to their various employees, while Mr. B arranges for Pamela’s father to move into the estate in Kent. Mr. B also gives Pamela all of his late mother’s possessions and jewels.

Pamela and Mr. B spend a quiet day at home.

Pamela and Mr. B. select fabric for the elegant gowns she will have made for their first official public appearance on Sunday. Pamela encourages her parents to also have new clothes made, and to come to visit her whenever they wish. She promises them money to pay off any debts and bills, and also sends along her most recent writings. Pamela “will continue writing till I am settled […] and then I shall apply myself to the duties of the family” (490).

The previous day, Mr. B spontaneously brought home several of his male friends for dinner. They were very curious and intrigued by the unusual marriage, but praised Pamela’s beauty and sweet disposition. They were surprised at how happy Mr. B seems, joking, “did you ever think our good friend here, who used to ridicule matrimony so much, would have made so complaisant a husband?” (493).

Pamela is happy that her father has agreed to manage the estate in Kent. She mentions in passing that Mr. B is going to take her on an outing to a nearby farmhouse and dairy.

Pamela and Mr. B go to the farmhouse, and the owner mentions that young girls from a nearby boarding school often come to visit. A group of girls soon arrives, and Mr. B is very affectionate with one named Miss Goodwin. Pamela deduces that she must be the illegitimate daughter of Mr. B and Sally Godfrey. Pamela is very kind and affectionate with the child, but feels concerned about the mother: “if she be living, that she must call her chiefest delight her greatest shame” (497). Pamela asks if Miss Goodwin can come and live with them.

Mr. B tells Pamela more details: Sally Godfrey came from a good family, but her mother was a widow with several daughters, and hoped that she could lure Mr. B into marrying Sally. While Mr. B was a student, he was allowed to spend a lot of time with Sally, but he never had any intention to marry her. Nevertheless, he and Sally began a sexual relationship, which continued until Sally got pregnant. At that point, Mr. B confided in his sister, who arranged for Sally to discreetly give birth. Afterwards, the baby was fostered, and then sent to boarding school.

Miss Goodwin thinks that she is a distant relation of Lady Davers and Mr. B., and spends a lot of time with Lady Davers. She has a happy life. Mr. B also explains that Sally Godfrey nearly died in childbirth, and repented her sinful past as a fallen woman. Suspecting (correctly) that Mr. B would want to resume their relationship, she fled to Jamaica, asking him to provide for their child. She ended up marrying and is now happy. Mr. B admits that he tried to pursue Sally and lure her to stay in England as his mistress, but Sally’s steadfastness eventually wore him down, and he went home. After this, Mr. B. lived as a rake for some time; when he first saw of Pamela’s beauty, he planned to make her “Sally Godfrey the second” (505).

The previous day, Pamela and Mr. B went to church together, making their public debut as a married couple. Pamela wore a lavish gown and beautiful jewels; all of the aristocrats and gentry attending the service marveled at her beauty, and complimented Mr. B on his happy marriage. Some of the ladies were initially judgmental about Pamela’s social class, but now changed their minds. In addition to winning the hearts of the upper-classes, Pamela gave very generously to the poor, which has made her very popular in the neighborhood.

Pamela and Mr. B walk in the garden; he tells her that he has been arranging a will and other legal documents so as to ensure that if he were to die without a male heir, Pamela would be amply provided for. Pamela is touched, but also distressed by the idea of Mr. B dying. He makes one request: if he dies, she may marry anyone she wants, except for Mr. Williams. Pamela readily consents, and Mr. B. says how happy he is.

Pamela recounts a pleasant visit, in which many aristocrats came to the house. Pamela looks forward eagerly to her parents visiting. Lady Davers has also written a kind note, planning to visit as well. Pamela is going to see Miss Goodwin soon and plans to play an active role in her education and development. Pamela looks forward optimistically to her future, and the good she hopes to do in the world.