10. Dearest Child,

’Your father and I have just now received a letter from a gentleman who pretends love to you, with a proposal that insults our misfortunes, and would throw us to a lower degree of misery than any thing which is come upon us.  How could this barbarous man think that the tenderest of parents would be tempted to supply their wants, by giving up the best of children to infamy and ruin!  It is a mean and cruel artifice to make this proposal at a time when he thinks our necessities must compel us to any thing; but we will not eat the bread of shame; and therefore we charge thee not to think of us, but to avoid the snare which is laid for thy virtue.  Beware of pitying us:  it is not so bad as you have perhaps been told.  All things will yet be well, and I shall write my child better news.

’I have been interrupted.  I know not how I was moved to say things would mend.  As I was going on, I was startled by the noise of one that knocked at the door, and had brought us an unexpected supply of a debt which had long been owing.  Oh!  I will now tell thee all.  It is some days I have lived almost without support, having conveyed what little money I could raise to your poor father.  Thou wilt weep to think where he is, yet be assured he will soon be at liberty.  That cruel letter would have broke his heart, but I have concealed it from him.  I have no companion at present besides little Fanny, who stands watching my looks as I write, and is crying for her sister; she says she is sure you are not well, having discovered that my present trouble is about you.  But do not think I would thus repeat my sorrows to grieve thee.  No, it is to intreat thee not to make them insupportable, by adding what would be worse than all.  Let us bear cheerfully an affliction which we have not brought on ourselves, and remember there is a Power who can better deliver us out of it, than by the loss of thy innocence.  Heaven preserve my dear child.

‘Thy affectionate mother—.’

11.  The messenger, notwithstanding he promised to deliver this letter to Amanda, carried it first to his master, who, he imagined, would be glad to have an opportunity of giving it into her hands himself.  His master was impatient to know the success of his proposal, and therefore broke open the letter privately, to see the contents.

12.  He was not a little moved at so true a picture of virtue in distress:  but, at the same time, was infinitely surprised to find his offers rejected.  However, he resolved not to suppress the letter, but carefully sealed it up again, and carried it to Amanda.  All his endeavours to see her were in vain, till she was assured he brought a letter from her mother.  He would not part with it but upon condition that she should read it without leaving the room.

13.  While she was perusing it, he fixed his eyes on her face with the deepest attention; her concern gave a new softness to her beauty, and when she burst into tears, he could no longer refrain from bearing a part in her sorrow, and telling her, that he too had read the letter, and was resolved to make reparation for having been the occasion of it.  My reader will not be displeased to see the second epistle which he now wrote to Amanda’s mother.