When I reflect upon all that has happened to me, it is apparent, that
this generally-supposed thoughtless seducer has acted by me upon a
regular and preconcerted plan of villany.
In order to set all his vile plots in motion, nothing was wanting, from
the first, but to prevail upon me, either by force or fraud, to throw
myself into his power: and when this was effected, nothing less than
the intervention of the paternal authority, (which I had not deserved
to be exerted in my behalf,) could have saved me from the effect of his
deep machinations. Opposition from any other quarter would but too
probably have precipitated his barbarous and ungrateful violence: and
had you yourself been with me, I have reason now to think, that somehow
or other you would have suffered in endeavouring to save me: for never
was there, as now I see, a plan of wickedness more steadily and
uniformly pursued than his has been, against an unhappy creature who
merited better of him: but the Almighty has thought fit, according to
the general course of His providence, to make the fault bring on its
own punishment: but surely not in consequence of my father’s dreadful
imprecation, ‘That I might be punished here,’ [O my mamma Norton, pray
with me, if so, that here it stop!] ‘by the very wretch in whom I had
placed my wicked confidence!’
I am sorry, for your sake, to leave off so heavily. Yet the rest must
be brief.
Let me desire you to be secret in what I have communicated to you; at
least till you have my consent to divulge it.
God preserve to you your more faultless child!
I will hope for His mercy, although I should not obtain that of any
earthly person.