Pamela

While Mr. B is still with his friend, Pamela is startled when Lady Davers arrives unexpectedly. When Lady Davers asks Mrs. Jewkes if Pamela is married, Mrs. Jewkes lies and says no. Lady Davers demands to see Pamela, and Pamela resigns herself to the meeting. As Lady Davers is rude to her, Pamela wonders, “ought I not rather to be entitled to your pity, than your anger?” (405). Lady Davers explains that she did indeed feel pity for Pamela when she believed that Pamela was being persecuted while attempting to maintain her chastity, but she believes that Pamela is now Mr. B’s mistress, so Lady Davers feels only disdain. Lady Davers adds that Mr. B has seduced and ruined other young women before.

Lady Davers tests Pamela: She asks her to live in her household or offers to let her leave immediately for her parents’ home. Pamela declines and tries to deflect, and finally pleads that she is late for the dinner at the house of Mr. B’s friend Sir Simon, leading Lady Davers to conclude, “I see thou art quite spoiled: of a modest, innocent girl, that thou wert, and humble too, thou now art fit for nothing in the world, but what, I fear, thou art” (408).