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CLARISSA;

OR,

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THE HISTORY OF A YOUNG LADY:

COMPREHENDING

THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCERNS

OF PRIVATE LIFE; AND PARTICULARLY SHEWING
THE DISTRESSES THAT MAY ATTEND THE
MISCONDUCT BOTH OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN,
IN RELATION TO MARRIAGE.

BY

S. RICHARDSON.

COMPLETE IN FOUR VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LEIPZIG

BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ

1862.

THE HISTORY OF CLARISSA HARLOWE.

LETTER I.

Mr. Lovelace to John Belford, Esq.

St. Alban's, Monday night.

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But did I say my joy was perfect? O no! It receives some abatement from my disgusted pride. For how can I endure to I SNATCH a few moments while think that I owe more to her relamy beloved is retired [as I hope, to tions' persecutions than to her rest] to perform my promise. No favour for me? - Or even, as far pursuit nor have I apprehen- as I know, to her preference of me sions of any; though I must make to another man?

my charmer dread that there will But let me not indulge this

be one.

And now, let me tell thee, that never was joy so complete as mine! But let me enquire — is not the angel flown away?

* * *

O no! she is in the next apartment! Securely mine! Mine for ever!

O ecstasy! breast,

thought. Were I to do so, it might cost my charmer dear. Let me rejoice that she has passed the Rubicon: that she cannot return: that, as I have ordered it, the flight will appear to the implacables to be altogether with her own consent: and that if I doubt her love, I can put her to trials as My heart will burst my mortifying to her niceness as glorious to my pride. — For, let me tell thee, dearly as I love her, if I thought there was but the shadow of a doubt in her mind, whether she preferred me to any man living, I would shew her no mercy.

To leap into her bosom!

Tuesday day-dawn.

I knew that the whole stupid family were in a combination to do my business for me. I told thee that they were all working for me, like so many under-ground moles; and still more blind than the moles are said to be, unknowing that BUT, on the wings of love, I fly they did so. I myself the director to my charmer, who perhaps by of their principal motions; which this time is rising to encourage the falling in with the malice of their tardy dawn. I have not slept a little hearts, they took to be all wink of the hour and half I lay their own. down to invite sleep. It seems to Clarissa. II.

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me, that I am not so much body purpose to have refused entering as to require such vulgar renova- into it, had he not in my fright lifted me in, as he did: and it

tion.

But why, as in the chariot, as instantly drove away at full gallop, in the inn, at alighting, all heart- and stopped not till it brought us bursting grief, my dearest crea- to St. Alban's; which was just as ture? So persecuted as thou wert the day shut in. persecuted! So much in danger

I thought I should have fainted of the most abhorred compulsion! several times by the way. With - Yet grief so unsuspectedly sin- uplifted hands and eyes, God procere for an escape so critical!-tect me! said I often to myselfTake care take care - O be- can it be I that am here! - My loved of my soul! for jealous is eyes running over, and my heart the heart in which love has erected ready to burst with sighs as ina temple to thee. voluntary as my flight.

Yet, it must be allowed, that How different, how inexpresssuch a sudden transition must ibly different, the gay wretch; affect her; must ice her over. visibly triumphing (as I could not When a little more used to her but construe his almost rapturous new situation; when her hurries joy) in the success of his arts! are at an end; when she sees how But overflowing with complireligiously I shall observe all her mental flourishes, yet respectfully INJUNCTIONS; she will undoubtedly distant his address, all the way have the gratitude to distinguish we flew; for that, rather than galbetween the confinement she has loping, was the motion of the escaped from and the liberty she horses; which took, as I believe, has reason to rejoice in. a round - about way, to prevent being traced.

She comes! She comes! and the sun is just rising to attend I have reason to think there her!-Adieu! Be half as happy were other horsemen at his devoas I am (for all diffidences, like tion; three or four different pernight-fogs before the sun, disperse sons, above the rank of servants, at her approach) and, next to my-galloping by us now and then, on self, thou wilt be the happiest man in the world.

LETTER II.

Miss Clarissa Harlowe to Miss Howe.

Wednesday, April 12. I WILL pursue my melancholy story.

each side of the chariot: but he
took no notice of them; and I had
too much grief, mingled with in-
dignation, notwithstanding all
his blandishments, to ask any
questions about them, or any
thing else.

Think, my dear, what were my thoughts on alighting from the Being thus hurried to the chariot; having no attendant of chariot, it would have been to no my own sex; no clothes but what

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I had on, and those little suited to my friends, to whom he was now such a journey as I had already conducting me; and that having taken, and was still to take: given me no time for a travelling neither cloak nor hat, nor any dress, I was greatly offended at thing but a handkerchief about him.

for the attendance.

as a fit

my neck and shoulders: fatigued So, my dear, your frank, your to death: my mind still more open-hearted friend, was forced fatigued than my body: and in to countenance this tale; which such a foam the horses, that every indeed suited me the better, beone in the inn we put up at guessed cause I was unable for some time [they could not do otherwise] that to talk, speak, or look up: and I was a young giddy creature, so my dejection, and grief, and who had run away from her friends. silence, might very well pass beThis it was easy to see, by their fore the gentlewoman and her whispering and gaping: more of niece, who attended me, the people of the house also com- of sullenness. ing in by turns than were necessary The room I was in being a bedchamber, I chose to go down, at The mistress of the house, whom his repeated message, attended he sent in to me, shewed me an- by the mistress of the house, to other apartment; and seeing me that in which he was. He apready to faint, brought me harts-proached me with great respect, horn and water; and then, upon yet not exceeding a brotherly pomy desiring to be left alone for liteness, where a brother is polite: half an hour, retired: for I found and, calling me his dearest sister, my heart ready to burst, on re- asked after the state of my mind: volving every thing in my and hoped I would forgive him; thoughts: and the moment she for never brother half SO well loved was gone, fastening the door, I a sister as he me. threw myself into an old great chair, and gave way to a violent flood of tears, which a little relieved me.

I

A wretch! how naturally did he fall into the character, although was so much out of mine! Unthinking creatures have some Mr. Lovelace, sooner than I comfort in the shortness of their wished, sent up the gentlewoman, views: in their unapprehensivewho pressed me, in his name, to ness: and that they penetrate not admit my brother, or to come beyond the present moment: in down to him: for he had told her short that they are unthinking! I was his sister; and that he had But, for a person of my thoughtbrought me against my will, and ful disposition, who has been acwithout warning, from a friend's customed to look forward, as well house, where I had been all the to the possible as to the probable, winter, in order to prevent my what comfort can I have in my remarrying against the consent of flections?

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