But let me give you the parti- | Betty Lawrence's (Lady Sarah culars of our conversation a little was a melancholy woman) I should before and after our supper-time, be the most welcome guest she joining both in one. ever received.

When we were alone, he beI told him I wished not to go sought me (I cannot say but with all the tokens of a passionate and the frame I was in, and likely not (immediately, however, and in respectful tenderness) to be better to be out of) to any of his relareconciled to myself and to him; tions: that my reputation was he repeated all the vows of honour

and inviolable affection that he concerned to have him absent from me: that, if I were in some ever made me: he promised to be wholly governed by me in every less to be suspected (as it would be private lodging, the meaner the future step. He asked me to give known that I went away by his him leave to propose, whether I means, and he would be supposed chose to set out next day to either to have provided me handsome I was silent. I knew not what accommodations) it would be most to say nor what to do.

of his aunts?

Whether I chose to have private lodgings procured for me in either of those ladies' neighbourhood, as were once my thoughts?

I was still silent.

Whether I chose to go to either of Lord M.'s seats; that of Berks, or that in the county we were in? In lodgings, I said, any where, where he was not to be.

suitable both to my mind and to my situation: that this might be best, I should think, in the country for me; in town for him. And no matter how soon he was known to be there.

If he might deliver his opinion, he said, it was, that since I declined going to any of his relations, London was the only place in the world to be private in. He had promised this, he owned; Every new comer in a country and he would religiously keep to town or village excited a curiosity: his word, as soon as he found all a person of my figure [and many danger of pursuit over, and that I compliments he made me] would was settled to my mind. But, if excite more. Even messages and the place were indifferent to me, letters, where none used to be London was the safest, and the brought, would occasion inquiry. most private: and his relations He had not provided a lodging should all visit me there, the mo- any where, supposing I would ment I thought fit to admit them. choose to go either to London, His cousin Charlotte, particularly, where accommodations of that should attend me as my compa- sort might be fixed upon in an nion, if I would accept of her, as hour's time, or to Lady Betty's; soon as she was able to go abroad. or to Lord M.'s Hertfordshire seat, Meantime, would I go to Lady where was the housekeeper, an

excellent woman, Mrs. Greme, or my actions; that I could not such another as my Norton. but think I had been dealt artfully

To be sure, I said, if I were with; that he had seemed to pursued, it would be in their first have taken, what he might suppassion; and some one of his re- pose, the just measure of my weaklation's houses would be the place ness, founded on my youth and they would expect to find me at-inexperience: that I could not forI knew not what to do. give myself for meeting him: that My pleasure should determine my heart bled for the distresses of him, he said, be it what it would. my father and mother on this ocOnly that I were safe was all he casion: that I would give the was solicitous about. He had world, and all my hopes in it, to lodgings in town; but he did not have been still in my father's offer to propose them. He knew house, whatever had been my I would have more objections to usage: that, let him protest and go to them than I could have to go vow what he would, I saw someto Lord M.'s or to Lady Betty's. thing low and selfish in his love, No doubt of it, I replied, with that he could study to put a young such an indignation in my manner, creature upon making such a sacas made him run over with profes-rifice of her duty and conscience: sions, that he was far from pro- when a person, actuated by a posing them, or wishing for my generous love, must seek to oblige acceptance of them. And again the object of it in every thing eshe repeated, that my honour and sential to her honour and to her safety were all he was solicitous peace of mind. about; assuring me, that my will should be a law to him in every particular.

I was too peevish, and too much afflicted, and indeed too much incensed against him, to take well any thing he said.

He was very attentive to all I said, never offering to interrupt me once. His answer to every article, almost methodically, shewed his memory.

"What I had said, he told me, made him very grave, and he would answer accordingly.

I thought, myself, I said, extremely unhappy. I knew not "He was grieved at his heart what to determine upon: my re- to find that he had so little share putation now, no doubt, utterly in my favour or confidence. ruined: destitute of clothes: unfit "As to my reputation (he must to be seen by any body: my very be very sincere with me); that indigence, as I might call it, pro- could not suffer half so much by claiming my folly to every one the step I so greatly regretted to who saw me; who would suppose have taken as by the confinement, that I had been taken at advantage, and equally foolish and unjust or had given an undue one; and treatment, I had met with from had no power over either my will my relations: that every mouth

was full of blame of them, of my redeem me from my persecutors; brother and sister particularly; and little expected a change of and of wonder at my patience: sentiment, and that he should have that he must repeat what he had so much difficulty to prevail upon written to me, he believed, more me as he had met with: that perthan once, that my friends them- haps I might think his offer to go selves expected, that I should take into the garden with me, and to face a proper opportunity to free my-my assembled relations, was a self from their persecutions; why piece of art only: but that if I did, else did they confine me? That I wronged him: since to this hour, my exalted character, as he called seeing my excessive uneasiness, he it, would still bear me out with wished, with all his soul, he had those who knew me: who knew been permitted to accompany me my brother's and sister's motives; in. It was always his maxim to and who knew the wretch they brave a threatened danger. Threatwere for compelling me to have. eners, where they have an oppor

"With regard to clothes; who, tunity to put in force their threat, as matters were circumstanced, were seldom to be feared. But could expect that I should be able had he been assured of a private to bring away any others than stab, or of as many death's wounds those I had on at the time? For as there were persons in my fapresent use or wear, all the ladies mily (made desperate as he should of his family would take a pride to have been by my return), he would supply me: for future, the product have attended me into the house." of the best looms, not only in Eng- So, my dear, what I have to do, land, but throughout the world, is to hold myself inexcusable for were at my command. meeting such a determined and

"If I wanted money, as no doubt audacious spirit; that's all! I I must, he should be proud to have hardly any question now, supply me: would to Heaven, he but that he would have contrived might presume to hope there were some wicked stratagem or other but one interest between us!" to have got me away, had I met And then he would fain have him at a midnight hour, as once or had me to accept of a bank note twice I had thoughts to do; and of an hundred pounds: which, un- that would have been more terawares to me, he put into my hand: rible still. but which, you may be sure, I refused with warmth.

He concluded this part of his talk with saying, "That he "He was inexpressibly grieved doubted not, but that had he atand surprised, he said, to hear me tended me in, he should have come say he had acted artfully by me. off in every one's opinion so well, He came provided, according to that he should have had general my confirmed appointment" (a leave to renew his visits."

wretch to upbraid me thus!] "to He went on "He must be so

bold as to tell me, that he should chose rather to have run the risk have paid a visit of this kind (but of being Solmes's wife, than to indeed accompanied by several of have it in my power to reward a his trusty friends) had I not met man who, I must forgive him, had him; and that very afternoon too: been as much insulted on my acfor he could not tamely let the count as I had been on his - who dreadful Wednesday come, with- had watched my commands, and out making some effort to change (pardon me, madam) every changetheir determinations." able motion of your pen, all hours, in all weathers, and with a cheerfulness and ardour that nothing but the most faithful and obsequious passion could inspire."

What, my dear, was to be done with such a man!

I now, my dear, began to revive into a little more warmth of attention.

"That therefore for my sake, as well as for his own, he had reason to wish that a disease so desperate had been attempted to be overcome by as desperate a remedy. We all know, said he, "And all, madam, for what?" that great ends are sometimes How I stared! for he stopt then brought about by the very means a moment or two "Only," went by which they are endeavoured to he on, "to prevail upon you to be frustrated." free yourself from ungenerous and base oppression"

My present situation, I am sure, thought I, affords a sad evidence of this truth!

Sir, Sir! indignantly, said IHear me but out, dearest maI was silent all this time. My dam! My heart is full- I must blame was indeed turned inward. speak what I have to say to be Sometimes too I was half frighted told (for your words are yet in my at his audaciousness: at others, ears and at my heart!) that you had the less inclination to inter- would give the world, and all your rupt him, being excessively fa- hopes in it, to have been still in tigued, and my spirits sunk to your cruel and gloomy father's nothing, with the view even of the house" best prospects with such a man. This gave him opportunity to proceed: and that he did; assuming a still more serious air.

Not a word, sir, against my father! - I will not bear that

"Whatever had been your usage: and you have a credulity, ma"As to what further remained dam, against all probability, if for him to say, in answer to what I you believe you should have had said, he hoped I would pardon avoided being Solmes's wife: that him; but, upon his soul, he was I have put you upon sacrificing concerned, infinitely concerned, your duty and conscience - yet, he repeated (his colour and his dearest creature! see you not the voice rising) that it was necessary contradiction that your warmth of for him to observe, how much I temper has surprised you into,

when the reluctance you shewed "And have you not furthermore to the last to leave your persecu- declared, proceeded he, that you tors has cleared your conscience will engage to renounce me for ever, from the least reproach of this if your friends insist upon that cruel sort?" renunciation as the terms of being reconciled to you?

"But, nevertheless, madam, all the merit of having saved you from an odious compulsion shall be mine: I glory in it, though I were to lose you for ever As I see I am but too likely to do, from your present displeasure: and especially, if your friends insist upon the terms you are ready to comply with.

O sir! sir! are you so critical then? Are you so light in your anger as to dwell upon words? Indeed, my dear, I have since thought, that his anger was not owing to that sudden impetus which cannot be easily bridled: but rather was a sort of manageable anger, let loose to intimidate me. "Forgive me, madam I have just done have I not, in your "That you are your own misown opinion, hazarded my life to tress, through my means, is, I reredeem you from oppression? peat, my boast. As such, I humbly Yet is not my reward, after all, implore your favour and that precarious? For, madam, have only upon the conditions I have you not conditioned with me (and, yielded to hope for it. As I now hard as the condition is, most sa- do thus humbly [the proud wretch credly will I observe it) that all my falling on one knee] your forgivehope must be remote? That you ness, for so long detaining your are determined to have it in your ear, and for all the plain dealing power to favour or reject me totally, that my undesigning heart would as you please?" not be denied to utter by my lips." See, my dear! in every respect O sir, pray rise! my condition changed for the worse! Is it in my power to take your advice, if I should think it ever so right to take it?*

* Clarissa has been censured as be

having to Mr. Lovelace, in their first con

versation at St. Alban's, and afterwards,

Let the obliged kneel, if one of us must kneel! But, nevertheless, proceed not in this strain, I beseech you. You have had a great deal of trouble about me: but had you let me know in time, that you expected to be rewarded for it at the price of

with too much reserve, and even with haughtiness. Surely those who have serve the conditions which she in her thought her to blame on this account present circumstances and situation (in have not paid a due attention to the pursuance of Miss Howe's advice) would story. How early, as above, and in what gladly have dispensed with? — To say immediately follows, does he remind her nothing of the resentment which she was of the terms of distance which she pre- under a necessity to shew at the manner scribed to him before she was in his of his getting her away, in order to justify power, in hopes to leave a door open for to him the sincerity of her refusal to go off a reconciliation with her friends, which with him. See in her subsequent letter to her heart was set upon? And how art- Miss Howe, No. v. her own sense upon ully does he (unrequired) promise to ob- this subject.