The Rakehell Regency(295)

But that was not to say they didn't try. Some men confined their attentions to prodigious flattery. Others took a few more liberties on the dance floor or in the crush at the Lower Rooms.



At first Pamela was pleased and flattered to be the center of so much handsome male attention. Soon it started to get embarrassing, and tedious. She began to feel as if she were a Christmas goose being checked over for the right degree of plumpness.



Also, she felt conscious of the steel-gray eyes observing her more and more coldly as the days passed, as if all was not as it should be.



The second Sunday that they were there, Jonathan said a special prayer over the breakfast table, which Pamela was sure was intended for her.



"I should like to read to you from the Proverbs concerning Life and Conduct.



"The preparations of the heart in man,



and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.



All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;



but the Lord weigheth the spirits.



Commit thy works unto the Lord,



and thy thoughts shall be established.



The Lord hath made all things for himself:



yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.



Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord:



though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.



By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:



and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.



When a man's ways please the Lord,



he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.



Better is a little with righteousness,



than great revenues without right."





She felt chastened by the message. She had been doing so well in Brimley, but now felt like a backslider. She had allowed her head to be turned by her social successes, and had not spared a thought for the poor people she had left behind, or the people in Bath who also needed her help.



Pamela knew she had to make the most of the opportunity she had been given to visit Bath. However, that was not to say she had to go out every single morning, noon and night to be entertained.



She began to spend more time in the sitting room with her hostess and Vanessa, engaging in conversation while they made clothes and other useful items for the poor. She also participated in readings with them, and fascinating discussions.



She had become convinced of the evils of slavery thanks to several tracts Jonathan had given her. However, she expressed her doubts as to her ability to make a difference, and her unwillingness to offend people.



Jonathan smiled indulgently. "What is it Woolman says in his Journal?



'As writing is a profitable employ, and as offending sober people was disagreeable to my inclination, I was straitened in my mind; but as I looked to the Lord, he inclined my heart to his testimony. I told the man that I believed the practice of continuing slavery to this people was not right, and that I had a scruple in my mind against doing writings of that kind; that though many in our Society kept them as slaves, still I was not easy to be concerned in it, and desired to be excused from going to write the will. I spake to him in the fear of the Lord, and he made no reply to what I said, but went away; he also had some concerns in the practice, and I thought he was displeased with me. In this case I had fresh confirmation that acting contrary to present outward interest, from a motive of Divine love and in regard to truth and righteousness, and thereby incurring the resentments of people, opens the way to a treasure better than silver, and to a friendship exceeding the friendship of men.



"As with John Woolman, if you are convinced of the justice of your cause, you must speak your mind, Miss Ashton, even if you fear offending people. Better to offend, than to let injustice thrive."



But however hard she tried to resist the worldly temptations of Bath, there was always some new novelty for her to enjoy. The new circle of acquaintance she formed, which included, surprisingly, a much more lively and elegant Earl of Ferncliffe, gossiped, drank and gambled more than any other group in Bath.



She had to own she was a bit shocked at much of what they said, and even more disturbed when they hinted that Jonathan was not all he should be.



"I don't understand," she said to the Earl one evening when they were dancing. "What is it you are accusing Mr. Deveril of?"



The Earl shrugged and said evasively, "No more than any other young man who was born wealthy, or any man in the Army."



She knew what he was hinting at with regard to her friend. In other cases he came right out and told the most deplorable tales about illicit love affairs and illegitimate children. She could not tell sometimes what he was speaking of, but tried to giggle with the rest of the crowd.



But in the back of her mind, she knew it was wrong to gossip so. And the poor sinners were rather to be pitied than made a mockery of. She could grasp now easily enough how love could lead to all sorts of temptations.