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CONTENTS

I. II. LOVELACE to Belford. The lady gives a pro-

missory note to Dorcas, to induce her to further her

escape. A fair trial of skill now, he says. A conver-

sation between the vile Dorcas and her lady: in which

she engages her lady's pity. The bonds of wickedness

stronger than the ties of virtue. Observations on that

subject.

III. IV. V. From the same. A new contrivance to take ad-
vantage of the lady's intended escape.-A letter from
Tomlinson. Intent of it.He goes out to give oppor-
tunity for the lady to attempt an escape. His design frus-
trated.

VI. From the same.

An interesting conversation between
the lady and him. No concession in his favour. By his
soul, he swears, this dear girl gives the lie to all their rakish
maxims. He has laid all the sex under obligation to him;
and why.

VII. From the same. Lord M. in extreme danger. The fa-
mily desire his presence. He intercepts a severe letter
from Miss Howe to her friend. Copy of it.

VIII. From the same. The lady, suspecting Dorcas, tries to
prevail upon him to give her her liberty. She disclaims
vengeance, and affectingly tells him all her future views.
Denied, she once more attempts an escape. Prevented,
and terrified with apprehension of instant dishonour, she
is obliged to make some concession.

IX. From the same. Accuses her of explaining away her
concession. Made desperate, he seeks occasion to quarrel
with her. She exerts a spirit which overawes him. He
is ridiculed by the infamous co-partnership. Calls to Bel-
ford to help a gay heart to a little of the dismal, on the
expected death of Lord M.

X. From the same. Another message from M. Hall, to en-

gage him to go down next morning. No concession yet

from the lady.

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XI. XII. From the same. The women's instigations. His

further schemes against the lady. What, he asks, is the

injury which a church-rite will not at any time repair?

XIII. From the same. Himself, the mother, her nymphs, all

assembled with intent to execute his detestable purposes.

Her glorious behaviour on the occasion. He execrates,

detests, and despises himself; and admires her more than

ever. Obliged to set out early that morning for M. Hall,

he will press her with letters to meet him next Thursday,

her uncle's birth-day, at the altar.

XIV. XV. XVI. Lovelace to Clarissa, from M. Hall. Urging

her accordingly, (the licence in her hands) by the most en-

gaging pleas and arguments.

XVII. Lovelace to Belford. Begs he will wait on the lady,

and induce her to write but four words to him, signifying

the church and the day. Is now resolved on wedlock.

Curses his plots and contrivances; which all end, he says,

in one grand plot upon himself.

XVIII. Belford to Lovelace, in answer. Refuses to undertake

for him, unless he can be sure of his honour. Why he

doubts it.

XIX. Lovelace in reply. Curses him for his scrupulousness.

Is in earnest to marry. After one more letter of entreaty

to her, if she keep sullen silence, she must take the conse-

quence.

XX. Lovelace to Clarissa. Once more earnestly entreats her

to meet him at the altar. Not to be forbidden coming, he

I will take for leave to come.

XXI. Lovelace to Patrick M'Donald. Ordering him to visit

the lady, and instructing him what to say, and how to be-

have to her.

XXII. To the same, as Captain Tomlinson. Calculated to be

shown to the lady, as in confidence.

XXIII. M'Donald to Lovelace. Goes to attend the lady ac-

cording to direction. Finds the house in an uproar; and

the lady escaped.

XXIV. Mowbray to Lovelace. With the same news.
XXV. Belford to Lovelace. Ample particulars of the lady's
escape. Makes serious reflections on the distress she must
be in; and on his (Lovelace's) ungrateful usage of her.
What he takes to be the sum of religion.

XXVI. Lovelace to Belford. Runs into affected levity and
ridicule, yet at last owns all his gaiety but counterfeit.
Regrets his baseness to the lady. Inveighs against the
women for their instigations. Will still marry her, if she

can be found out. One misfortune seldom comes alone;
Lord M. is recovering. He had bespoken mourning for him.
XXVII. Clarissa to Miss Howe. Writes with incoherence, to
inquire after her health. Lets her know whither to direct
to her. But forgets in her rambling, her private address.
By which means her letter falls into the hands of Miss
Howe's mother.

XXVIII. Mistress Howe to Clarissa. Reproaches her for
making all her friends unhappy. Forbids her to write any
more to her daughter.

XXIX. Clarissa's meek reply.

XXX. Clarissa to Hannah Burton.
XXXI. Hannah Burton in answer.
XXXII. Clarissa to Mrs. Norton. Excuses her long silence.
Asks her a question, with a view to detect Lovelace.
Hints at his ungrateful villany. Self-recriminations.
XXXIII. Mrs. Norton to Clarissa. Answers her question.
Inveighs against Lovelace. Hopes she has escaped with
her honour. Consoles her by a brief relation of her own
case, and from motives truly pious.

XXXIV. Clarissa to Lady Betty Lawrance. Requests an an-
swer to three questions, with a view further to detect Love-
lace.

XXXV. Lady Betty to Clarissa. Answers her questions. In
the kindest manner offers to mediate between her nephew
and her.

XXXVI. XXXVII. Clarissa to Mrs. Hodges, her uncle Har-
lowe's housekeeper; with a view of still further detecting
Lovelace. -Mrs. Hodges's answer.

XXXVIII. Clarissa to Lady Betty Lawrance. Acquaints her
with her nephew's baseness. Charitably wishes his refor-
mation; but utterly, and from principle, rejects him.
XXXIX. Clarissa to Mrs. Norton. Is comforted by her kind
soothings. Wishes she had been her child. Will not allow
her to come up to her. Why. Some account of the people
she is with; and of a worthy woman, Mrs. Lovick, who
lodges in the house. Briefly hints to her the vile usage she
has received from Lovelace.

XL. Mrs. Norton to Clarissa. Inveighs against Lovelace.
Wishes Miss Howe might be induced to refrain from free-
doms that do hurt, and can do no good. Further piously
consoles her.

XLI. Clarissa to Mrs. Norton. A new trouble. An angry
letter from Miss Howe; the occasion. Her heart is broken.
Shall be uneasy, till she can get her father's curse revoked.

Casts about to whom she can apply for this purpose. At
last resolves to write to her sister to beg her mediation.
XLII. Miss Howe to Clarissa. Her angry and reproachful
letter above-mentioned; demands from her the clearing
up of her conduct.

XLIII. Clarissa to Miss Howe. Gently remonstrates upon

her severity. To this hour knows not all the methods ta-

ken to deceive and ruin her. But will briefly, yet circum-

stantially, enter into the darker part of her sad story,

though her heart sinks under the thoughts of a recollec-

tion so painful.

XLIV. XLV. XLVI. XLVII. She gives the promised par-
ticulars of her story. Begs that the blackest parts of it
may be kept secret. And why. Desires one friendly tear,
and no more, may be dropped from her gentle eye, on the
happy day that shall shut up all her sorrows.
XLVIII. XLIX. Miss Howe to Clarissa. Execrates the
abandoned profligate. She must, she tells her, look to a
world beyond this for her reward. Unravels some of Love-
lace's plots; and detects his forgeries. Is apprehensive for
her own, as well as Clarissa's safety. Advises her to pursue
a legal vengeance. Laudable custom in the Isle of Man.
Offers personally to attend her in a court of justice.

L. Clarissa to Miss Howe. Cannot consent to a prosecution.

Discovers who it was that personated her at Hampstead.

She is quite sick of life, and of an earth in which innocent

and benevolent spirits are sure to be considered as aliens.

LI. Miss Howe to Clarissa. Beseeches her to take comfort,
and not despair. Is dreadfully apprehensive of her own
safety from Mr. Lovelace. An instruction to mothers.
LII. Clarissa to Miss Howe. Averse as she is to appear in a
court of justice against Lovelace, she will consent to pro-
secute him, rather than Miss Howe shall live in terror.
Hopes she shall not despair; but doubts not, from so many
concurrent circumstances, that the blow is given.

LIII. LIV. Lovelace to Belford. Has no subject worth writ-

ing upon, now he has lost his Clarissa. Half in jest, half

in earnest, [as usual with him when vexed or disappointed]

he deplores the loss of her.--Humorous account of Lord

M., of himself, and of his two cousins Montague. His

Clarissa has made him eyeless and senseless to every other

beauty.

LV. LVI. LVII. LVIII. From the same. Lady Sarah Sad-
leir and Lady Betty Lawrance arrive, and engage Lord
M. and his two cousins Montague against him, on account

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